King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 28:14 Mean?

Jeremiah 28:14 in the King James Version says “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that ... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.

Jeremiah 28:14 · KJV


Context

12

Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,

13

Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.

14

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.

15

Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.

16

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. rebellion: Heb. revolt


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also (כִּי־כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת...עֹל בַּרְזֶל נָתַתִּי עַל־צַוַּאר כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה לַעֲבֹד אֶת־נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל וַעֲבָדֻהוּ, ki-khoh amar YHWH tseva'ot...ol barzel natatti al-tsavvar kol-haggoyim ha'eleh la'avod et-n'vukhadnetsar melekh-bavel va'avaduhu)—God explicitly claims authorship of Babylon's dominance: I have put (נָתַתִּי, natatti) the iron yoke. The verb עָבַד (avad, 'serve') appears twice—that they may serve...and they shall serve—emphasizing inevitability. Even beasts of the field (חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה, chayyat hassadeh) are given to Nebuchadnezzar, echoing Daniel 2:38's vision of Babylonian empire.

This theology is crucial: Babylon isn't merely human empire succeeding through military might; it's divine instrument of judgment. God has actively placed nations under Babylonian rule for specific purposes. Resisting Babylon equals resisting God's appointed judgment. This doesn't make Babylon righteous (God later judges Babylon too, Jer 50-51), but it makes current submission wise. Sometimes God uses wicked instruments to discipline His people; opposing the instrument means opposing the Discipliner.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Nebuchadnezzar's empire (605-539 BC) dominated the ancient Near East comprehensively, from Egypt to Elam. Daniel 2:37-38 explicitly states God gave Nebuchadnezzar this universal dominion. Jeremiah's counsel to submit wasn't political defeatism but theological realism—recognizing God's sovereignty over international affairs. Other prophets (Habakkuk, Ezekiel) similarly acknowledged Babylon as divine instrument.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you recognize when opposition to human powers actually opposes God's purposes?
  2. What does it mean that God uses wicked instruments to accomplish His righteous purposes?
  3. When might submission to unjust authorities reflect wisdom rather than compromise?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
כִּ֣י1 of 27
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

כֹֽה2 of 27
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַר֩3 of 27

For thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֨ה4 of 27

the LORD

H3068

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

צְבָא֜וֹת5 of 27

of hosts

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

אֱלֹהֵ֣י6 of 27

the God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל7 of 27

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

עֹ֣ל8 of 27

a yoke

H5923

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

בַּרְזֶ֡ל9 of 27

of iron

H1270

iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement

נָתַ֥תִּי10 of 27

I have put

H5414

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

עַל11 of 27
H5921

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

צַוַּ֣אר׀12 of 27

upon the neck

H6677

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

כָּל13 of 27
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַגּוֹיִ֣ם14 of 27

of all these nations

H1471

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

הָאֵ֗לֶּה15 of 27
H428

these or those

וַעֲבָדֻ֑הוּ16 of 27

and they shall serve

H5647

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

אֶת17 of 27
H853

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

נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר18 of 27

Nebuchadnezzar

H5019

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

מֶֽלֶךְ19 of 27

king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֖ל20 of 27

of Babylon

H894

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

וַעֲבָדֻ֑הוּ21 of 27

and they shall serve

H5647

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

וְגַ֛ם22 of 27
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

אֶת23 of 27
H853

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

חַיַּ֥ת24 of 27

him the beasts

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה25 of 27

of the field

H7704

a field (as flat)

נָתַ֥תִּי26 of 27

I have put

H5414

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

לֽוֹ׃27 of 27
H0

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 28:14 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 28:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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