King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 27:8 Mean?

Jeremiah 27:8 in the King James Version says “And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon,... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Jeremiah 27:8 · KJV


Context

6

And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

7

And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

8

And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

9

Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: dreamers: Heb. dreams

10

For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God declares judgment on any nation that refuses to serve Babylon: sword, famine, and pestilence until consumed. This seems to reward submission to evil, but it recognizes God's sovereign appointment of Nebuchadnezzar for that historical moment. Wisdom discerns God's will in specific circumstances rather than applying general principles inappropriately. Resistance to God's appointed instrument brings judgment.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This was controversial teaching - appearing to support the enemy. Yet it was God's word for that time. Judah's role was to submit to discipline, not resist it.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you discern when to resist evil and when to submit to God's disciplinary purposes?
  2. What does this teach about God's sovereignty over historical circumstances?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 33 words
וְהָיָ֨ה1 of 33
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

הַגּ֤וֹי2 of 33

And it shall come to pass that the nation

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֗ה3 of 33

and kingdom

H4467

dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)

אֲשֶׁ֨ר4 of 33
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹֽא5 of 33
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יַעַבְד֤וּ6 of 33

which will not serve

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

אֹתוֹ֙7 of 33
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֶת8 of 33
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר9 of 33

the same Nebuchadnezzar

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶ֣לֶךְ10 of 33

of the king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֑ל11 of 33

of Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

וְאֵ֨ת12 of 33
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֲשֶׁ֤ר13 of 33
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹֽא14 of 33
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יִתֵּן֙15 of 33

and that will not put

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אֶת16 of 33
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

צַוָּאר֔וֹ17 of 33

their neck

H6677

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)

בְּעֹ֖ל18 of 33

under the yoke

H5923

a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively

מֶ֣לֶךְ19 of 33

of the king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֑ל20 of 33

of Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

בַּחֶרֶב֩21 of 33

with the sword

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

וּבָרָעָ֨ב22 of 33

and with the famine

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

וּבַדֶּ֜בֶר23 of 33

and with the pestilence

H1698

a pestilence

אֶפְקֹ֨ד24 of 33

will I punish

H6485

to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc

עַל25 of 33
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַגּ֤וֹי26 of 33

And it shall come to pass that the nation

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

הַהוּא֙27 of 33
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

נְאֻם28 of 33

saith

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָ֔ה29 of 33

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

עַד30 of 33
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

תֻּמִּ֥י31 of 33

until I have consumed

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

אֹתָ֖ם32 of 33
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בְּיָדֽוֹ׃33 of 33

them by his hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 27:8 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 27:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Places in This Verse

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study