King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 34:13 Mean?

Jeremiah 34:13 in the King James Version says “Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of ...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 34 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying,”

Jeremiah 34:13 · KJV

Context

11

But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

12

Therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

13

Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying,

14

At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear. hath been: or, hath sold himself

15

And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: now: Heb. to day which: Heb. whereupon my name is called

Read Jeremiah 34 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen (בְּרִית כָּרַתִּי, berit karati—"I cut a covenant"). God anchors His indictment in the Exodus deliverance, the foundational saving act that created covenant obligation. The phrase beyt avadim ("house of bondmen/slaves") creates devastating irony: God freed them from Egyptian slavery, yet they now re-enslaved their Hebrew brothers, violating the very purpose of redemption.

The covenant reference points to Deuteronomy 15:12-15, where slave release laws explicitly invoke Exodus memory: "remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt." Jeremiah's contemporaries knew this law but disregarded it. Their refusal to free Hebrew slaves demonstrated amnesia regarding God's saving grace—the root of all covenant breaking. As redeemed people should extend redemption to others, Israel's failure to release slaves revealed they'd forgotten their own slave-past and God's liberating character.

Paul later uses similar logic in Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13—forgive as God in Christ forgave you. The pattern is consistent: experiencing God's deliverance creates obligation to extend grace. Refusal to do so questions whether one truly grasped God's salvation. Reformed theology's emphasis on grace producing grateful obedience finds Old Testament foundation here.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Exodus covenant (c. 1446 or 1260 BCE depending on dating) included comprehensive social legislation protecting the vulnerable. Deuteronomy 15:12-18 mandated releasing Hebrew servants after six years, explicitly grounding this in Israel's Egyptian bondage. By Jeremiah's time (c. 587 BCE), these laws were systematically ignored—the powerful exploited the poor, treating covenant brothers as permanent property. This contributed to social collapse preceding Babylon's conquest.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does remembering your own 'slavery' to sin and God's deliverance affect your treatment of others?
  2. In what ways might Christians today violate the spirit of redemption by exploiting those whom Christ also died to save?
  3. Why does forgetting God's past grace inevitably lead to present disobedience?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
כֹּֽה1 of 18
H3541

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

לֵאמֹֽר׃2 of 18

“Thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֖ה3 of 18

“the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֵ֣י4 of 18

“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

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל5 of 18

“of Israel”

H3478

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

אָנֹכִ֗י6 of 18
H595

i

כָּרַ֤תִּֽי7 of 18

“I made”

H3772

to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt

בְרִית֙8 of 18

“a covenant”

H1285

a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)

אֶת9 of 18
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

אֲב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם10 of 18

“with your fathers”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

בְּי֨וֹם11 of 18

“in the day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הוֹצִאִ֤י12 of 18

“that I brought them forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אוֹתָם֙13 of 18
H853

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

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ14 of 18

“out of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַ֔יִם15 of 18

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

מִבֵּ֥ית16 of 18

“out of the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

עֲבָדִ֖ים17 of 18

“of bondmen”

H5650

a servant

לֵאמֹֽר׃18 of 18

“Thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

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 34:13 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 34:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 6:8Joshua 24:17Exodus 24:3Deuteronomy 5:27Exodus 24:7-8Jeremiah 31:32

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Jeremiah 34 →

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