King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 34:19 Mean?

Jeremiah 34:19 in the King James Version says “The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which ...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 34 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;”

Jeremiah 34:19 · KJV

Context

17

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. to be: Heb. for a removing

18

And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof,

19

The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;

20

I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.

21

And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you.

Read Jeremiah 34 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land—this comprehensive list indicts every level of society. Sarim ("princes") were government officials; sarisim ("eunuchs") likely refers to court officials (the term can mean "officers" generally, not exclusively castrated individuals); kohanim ("priests") were religious leaders; and am ha-aretz ("people of the land") means landed citizens with legal standing. The fourfold categorization emphasizes total societal culpability—from palace to temple to general populace, all participated in covenant breaking.

This hierarchy's inclusion reveals covenant violation wasn't limited to the powerful oppressing the weak, though certainly the wealthy enslaved the poor. Rather, even those lower in social standing who had any servants participated in the re-enslavement. The phrase "which passed between the parts of the calf" (v. 18) applies to all these groups—aristocrats and commoners alike performed the covenant ceremony, then broke it. Corporate guilt pervades the society when covenant becomes culturally normative to violate.

Romans 3:23 echoes this totality: "all have sinned." Like Jeremiah 34, which indicts every societal level, Paul demonstrates universal human guilt before God. The comprehensive judgment coming on Judah (vv. 20-22) anticipates the comprehensive judgment at Christ's return, when "every knee shall bow" (Philippians 2:10). Only the comprehensive atonement of Christ's blood can answer comprehensive human guilt—a truth these covenant ceremonies dimly foreshadowed.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Zedekiah's covenant to free slaves (34:8-10) was a desperate political-religious maneuver during Babylon's 588 BCE siege. The social pyramid included royal princes (Davidic dynasty members and appointed governors), Jerusalem's municipal officials, temple personnel, and property-owning citizens. When Egyptian forces briefly threatened Babylon's siege lines (v. 21, 37:5), creating temporary hope, this entire social structure unanimously re-enslaved freed servants, revealing how deeply exploitation was embedded in Judean culture.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does corporate cultural sin become so normalized that all societal levels participate without recognizing the evil?
  2. In what areas might contemporary church culture be corporately guilty of covenant violations that transcend individual sin?
  3. Why is it significant that religious leaders (priests) participated equally in covenant breaking alongside secular authorities?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וְשָׂרֵ֣י1 of 13

“The princes”

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

יְהוּדָ֜ה2 of 13

“of Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וְשָׂרֵ֣י3 of 13

“The princes”

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם4 of 13

“of Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

הַסָּֽרִסִים֙5 of 13

“the eunuchs”

H5631

a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state

וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים6 of 13

“and the priests”

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

וְכֹ֖ל7 of 13
H3605

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

עַ֣ם8 of 13

“and all the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

הָאָ֑רֶץ9 of 13

“of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

הָעֹ֣בְרִ֔ים10 of 13

“which passed”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

בֵּ֖ין11 of 13
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

בִּתְרֵ֥י12 of 13

“between the parts”

H1335

a section

הָעֵֽגֶל׃13 of 13

“of the calf”

H5695

a (male) calf (as frisking round), especially one nearly grown (i.e., a steer)

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 34:19 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 34:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Zephaniah 3:3-4Jeremiah 34:10Jeremiah 29:2Daniel 9:12Jeremiah 38:72 Kings 24:15

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in Jeremiah 34 →

Test Your Knowledge

Jeremiah 34 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJeremiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Jeremiah 34 with CommentaryAll Jeremiah ChaptersComplete Jeremiah QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes