Jeremiah 34:11
in Jeremiah 34but later they changed their minds and took back the menservants and maidservants they had freed, and they forced them to become slaves again.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but afterwards 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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Jeremiah 34
Commentary
4 notes on this verseBut afterward they turned - They had agreed to manumit them at the end of the seventh year; but when the seventh year was ended, they recalled their engagement, and detained their servants. This, I believe, is what is here meant.
This site's exposition
After King Zedekiah had made a
on Jeremiah 34:8-12
Under the siege, Zedekiah made a covenant with the people “to proclaim liberty,” “that each man should free his Hebrew slaves.” The reversal followed, “later they changed their minds and took back the menservants and maidservants they had freed,” and verse 12 brings the LORD's answer.
This site's exposition
later they changed their minds
Verses 21 and 22 place the reversal in the pause when the army of Babylon had withdrawn. Matthew Henry reads that retreat as what emboldened the owners. Adam Clarke reads the verse another way, as masters who promised release at the close of the seventh year and kept their servants.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But afterwards they turned,.... From the law of God, and their own agreement, and returned to their former usage of their servants; they changed their minds and measures.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ | vaiyashuvu | and they turned back | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| אַחֲרֵי־ | ʾacharei- | after | H310 → | 715 times |
| כֵ֔ן | khen | thus | H3651 → | 771 times |
| וַיָּשִׁ֗בוּ | vaiyashivu | and they took back | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָֽעֲבָדִים֙ | haavadim | the [male] slaves | H5650 → | 799 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַשְּׁפָח֔וֹת | hashefachot | the female slaves | H8198 → | 63 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | whom | H834 → | 5497 times |
| שִׁלְּח֖וּ | shilechu | they had let go | H7971 → | 845 times |
| חָפְשִׁ֑ים | chafeshim | free [people] | H2670 → | 17 times |
| וַֽיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּם | vaiyakhbishum | and they subjugated them | H3533 → | |
| לַעֲבָדִ֖ים | laavadim | for [male] slaves | H5650 → | 799 times |
| וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ ס | velishfachot | and for female slaves | H8198 → | 63 times |
וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙and they turned back
vaiyashuvuH7725 →1056 times
אַחֲרֵי־after
ʾacharei-H310 →715 times
כֵ֔ןthus
khenH3651 →771 times
וַיָּשִׁ֗בוּand they took back
vaiyashivuH7725 →1056 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הָֽעֲבָדִים֙the [male] slaves
haavadimH5650 →799 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
הַשְּׁפָח֔וֹתthe female slaves
hashefachotH8198 →63 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhom
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
שִׁלְּח֖וּthey had let go
shilechuH7971 →845 times
חָפְשִׁ֑יםfree [people]
chafeshimH2670 →17 times
וַֽיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּםand they subjugated them
vaiyakhbishumH3533 →
לַעֲבָדִ֖יםfor [male] slaves
laavadimH5650 →799 times
וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ סand for female slaves
velishfachotH8198 →63 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 26:11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 2:22
Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
- Matthew 12:45
Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So…
- Exodus 8:15
When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.
- 2 Peter 2:22
Through
Ecclesiastes 8:11When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.
it leads to
- Isaiah 26:10
Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD.
- Psalms 50:21–22
You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.
- Romans 2:4–5
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
- 2 Peter 3:3–10
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
- Matthew 24:49–50
And he begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.
- Isaiah 26:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Jeremiah

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
