Jeremiah 32:11

11 Then I took both copies of the deed of purchase - the sealed copy containing the contract and its conditions, and the open copy -

Jeremiah 32:11 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 32:11

So I took the evidence of the purchase
The deed of purchase, the book or bill of sale, the instrument of the bargain, as before mentioned: [both] that which is sealed, [according] to the law and custom;
which was both sealed by the buyer and seller, and was sealed up, and not to be looked into by everyone, only when there might be a necessity; this was the original copy: and that which was open;
the counter part or copy of the former, which though signed and sealed as the other, yet not sealed up, but was open and exposed to view; either for the relations to see what was done, as some; or for the judges, as others, to ratify and make authentic: or, as is most probable, this copy was laid up in some public register, to have recourse unto upon any occasion; however it was, it was according to the laws and customs of those times, which Jeremiah carefully attended to: or, as others, it lay open for the witnesses to sign; so there are three distinct things; first the written contract; then that as signed and sealed by buyer and seller, according to law; and then as signed, but not sealed, by the witnesses.

Jeremiah 32:11 In-Context

9 I bought the field from Hanamel and weighed out the money to him; the price came to seventeen pieces of silver.

10 I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the money on scales.

11 Then I took both copies of the deed of purchase - the sealed copy containing the contract and its conditions, and the open copy -

12 and gave them to Baruch, the son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. I gave them to him in the presence of Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed of purchase and of the people who were sitting in the courtyard.

13 Before them all I said to Baruch,