Jeremiah 32:1-7

Jeremiah Buys a Field During the Siege

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD 1in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, 2which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.
2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet 3was shut up in 4the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah.
3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, "Why do you prophesy and say, 'Thus says the LORD: 5Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it;
4 6Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, 7but shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye.
5 And 8he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him, declares the LORD. 9Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed'?"
6 Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me:
7 Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, 10'Buy my field that is at 11Anathoth, 12for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.'

Jeremiah 32:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 32

This chapter contains an account of Jeremiah's imprisonment, and the cause of it; of his buying a field of his uncle's son, and the design of it; of his prayer to God, and of the answer returned to him. The time of his imprisonment, the place where, and the reasons of it, are observed in Jer 32:1-5; that his uncle's son would come and offer the sale of a field to him was told him by the Lord, which he did accordingly, Jer 32:6,7; of whom he bought the field, paid the money, had the purchase confirmed in a legal way, before witnesses, Jer 32:8-12; and the writings of it he committed to Baruch, to put in an earthen vessel, where they were to continue some time as a pledge of houses, fields, and vineyards, being possessed again after the captivity, Jer 32:13-15; then follows a prayer of his to the Lord, in which he addresses him as the Maker of all things; as the Lord God omnipotent; as a God of great grace and mercy, as well as strict justice; as a God of wisdom, counsel, and might, and an omniscient and righteous Being, Jer 32:16-19; and recounts the wonderful things he had done for the people of Israel, Jer 32:20-22; and observes the ingratitude and disobedience of that people, which were the cause of the present siege of the city, which should surely be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans, Jer 32:23-25; to which prayer an answer is returned, Jer 32:26; in which the Lord describes himself as the God of all flesh, and as able to do what he pleases, Jer 32:27; and confirms the delivery of the city of Jerusalem unto the Chaldeans, Jer 32:28,29; and assigns the causes of it, the backslidings, disobedience, and dreadful idolatry of the people, Jer 32:30-35; and, notwithstanding, promises a restoration of them to their own land again, Jer 32:36,37; when an opportunity is taken to insert the covenant of grace, and the special articles and peculiar promises of it, for the comfort of the spiritual Israel of God, whether Jews or Gentiles, Jer 32:38-40; and the chapter is concluded with a fresh assurance of the return of the captivity, and of the punctual performance of the promise of it; when fields should be bought in every part of the land, in like manner as Jeremiah had bought his, Jer 32:41-44.

Cross References 12

  • 1. [Jeremiah 37:5, 11; Jeremiah 39:1, 2; Jeremiah 52:4; 2 Kings 25:2]
  • 2. [Jeremiah 52:12; 2 Kings 25:8]
  • 3. Psalms 88:8
  • 4. ver. 8, 12; Jeremiah 33:1; Jeremiah 37:21; Jeremiah 38:6, 13; Jeremiah 39:14; [Nehemiah 3:25]
  • 5. ver. 25, 36, 43; Jeremiah 21:10; Jeremiah 34:2; Jeremiah 37:17; Jeremiah 38:3
  • 6. Jeremiah 34:3
  • 7. [See ver. 3 above]
  • 8. Jeremiah 39:7; Jeremiah 52:11
  • 9. [Jeremiah 21:4; Jeremiah 33:5]
  • 10. ver. 25
  • 11. Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 29:27; Joshua 21:18
  • 12. Leviticus 25:25; [Ruth 4:4]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.