Jeremiah 32

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 32

1¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which [was] the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.

2For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which [was] in the king of Judah's house.

3For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

4And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;

5And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.

6And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

7Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that [is] in Anathoth: for the right of redemption [is] thine to buy [it].

8So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that [is] in Anathoth, which [is] in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance [is] thine, and the redemption [is] thine; buy [it] for thyself. Then I knew that this [was] the word of the LORD.

9And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that [was] in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, [even] seventeen shekels of silver.

10And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed [it], and took witnesses, and weighed [him] the money in the balances.

11So I took the evidence of the purchase, [both] that which was sealed [according] to the law and custom, and that which was open:

12And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's [son], and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.

13And I charged Baruch before them, saying,

14Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.

15For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.

16¶ Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,

17Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee:

18Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, [is] his name,

19Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes [are] open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

20Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, [even] unto this day, and in Israel, and among [other] men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;

21And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;

22And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;

23And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:

24Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest [it].

25And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.

26¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,

27Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

28Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:

29And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.

30For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.

31For this city hath been to me [as] a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,

32Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

33And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching [them], yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.

34But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.

35And they built the high places of Baal, which [are] in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through [the fire] unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

36And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;

37Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:

38And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:

39And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

41Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.

42For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

43And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It [is] desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.

44Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal [them], and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

During the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, Jeremiah, imprisoned for prophesying the city's fall, is divinely commanded to purchase a field in Anathoth from his cousin. This seemingly illogical act, performed with legal precision, serves as a symbolic promise of future restoration. Though judgment is imminent due to Israel's sin, the LORD assures a future return from captivity and the repopulation of the land. God's dual message combines severe judgment with an ultimate promise of hope and renewal.

Medium Summary

In the tenth year of King Zedekiah, with Jerusalem under Babylonian siege, Jeremiah was imprisoned for prophesying the city's destruction and Zedekiah's capture. While in prison, the LORD instructed him to buy a field from his cousin Hanameel in Anathoth, exercising his right of redemption. Jeremiah meticulously completed the purchase, entrusting the deeds to Baruch for preservation, signifying that land would again be bought in the future. Jeremiah then prayed, acknowledging God's omnipotence and Israel's past disobedience. The LORD responded by reaffirming the coming judgment due to widespread idolatry, but also promised a future gathering of His people, a new heart, and an everlasting covenant, ensuring their return and prosperous dwelling in the land.

Long Summary

In the tenth year of King Zedekiah, as the Babylonian army besieged Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the prison. King Zedekiah had imprisoned him for boldly prophesying that the city would fall into the hands of the king of Babylon and that Zedekiah himself would be captured and led to Babylon. While in this confinement, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, instructing him to purchase a field in Anathoth from his cousin Hanameel, as the right of redemption and inheritance belonged to him. Jeremiah, recognizing this as a divine command despite the dire circumstances, bought the field for seventeen shekels of silver, meticulously subscribing and sealing the evidence, taking witnesses, and weighing the money. He then entrusted the purchase deeds, both sealed and open, to Baruch, instructing him to place them in an earthen vessel for long-term preservation, as a sign that "houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land." Following this prophetic act, Jeremiah prayed, acknowledging the Almighty God who created heaven and earth, to whom nothing is too hard. He recounted God's past faithfulness, bringing Israel out of Egypt with wonders and giving them the promised land, yet lamented their persistent disobedience and idolatry, which had brought about the current judgment and siege. The LORD then responded, reaffirming His identity as the God of all flesh, to whom nothing is impossible. He declared that Jerusalem would indeed be given into the hand of the Chaldeans and burned, specifically citing the people's long history of provoking Him to anger with Baal worship, child sacrifice, and other abominations. However, the LORD immediately pivoted to a profound promise of future restoration. He vowed to gather His people from all the countries where He had driven them, bring them back to this land, and cause them to dwell safely. He promised to give them one heart and one way to fear Him forever, establishing an everlasting covenant, and planting them in the land with His whole heart and soul. The chapter concludes by reiterating that the buying of fields, like Jeremiah's purchase, would again take place throughout the land of Judah, signifying the assured return from captivity and the complete restoration of the people.

Core Concepts

  • Prophetic Act of PurchaseJeremiah's purchase of a field in Anathoth during the siege served as a tangible sign and prophecy that land would again be bought and sold in Judah, symbolizing future restoration despite imminent destruction.
  • Divine Sovereignty and OmnipotenceJeremiah's prayer and God's response emphasize the LORD's absolute power over creation and history, affirming that nothing is too hard for Him, even amidst seemingly impossible circumstances.
  • Judgment for DisobedienceThe fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian siege are presented as direct consequences of Israel and Judah's persistent idolatry, rebellion, and failure to obey God's laws, provoking His anger.
  • Promise of RestorationDespite severe judgment, God promises a future gathering of His scattered people, their return to the land, and a renewed, secure dwelling, demonstrating His enduring faithfulness to His covenant.
  • Everlasting CovenantThe LORD pledges to establish a new, perpetual covenant with His people, giving them a unified heart to fear Him and ensuring that He will not turn away from doing them good, securing their future.
  • Right of RedemptionJeremiah's purchase was based on the legal right of redemption, highlighting the importance of ancient Israelite land laws even in times of crisis, and foreshadowing a future reclaiming of their inheritance.
  • Imprisonment and ProphecyJeremiah's confinement by King Zedekiah for his truthful, albeit unpopular, prophecies underscores the prophet's unwavering commitment to delivering God's message, regardless of personal cost.