Jeremiah 17:27

27 "'But if you won't listen to me, won't keep the Sabbath holy, won't quit using the Sabbath for doing your own work, busily going in and out of the city gates on your self-important business, then I'll burn the gates down. In fact, I'll burn the whole city down, palaces and all, with a fire nobody will be able to put out!'"

Jeremiah 17:27 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 17:27

But if ye will not hearken unto me
With respect to this particular point, more especially: to hallow the sabbath day;
to keep it holy to the Lord in a religious way, in the exercise of the duties of religion, both public and private: and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem
on the sabbath day;
or, "and go through"; or, so as "to go through" F12 &c; and may intend either one and the same thing, namely entering in at the gates with a burden upon the shoulders; or two things, bearing a burden, and carrying it any where in or out of the city; and an unnecessary passing and repassing through the gates of the city, whether a man has or has not a burden upon him, since the sabbath might be violated either way: then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof;
where the prophet was to publish all this, and where the people sinned by passing and repassing, and carrying burdens in and out on the sabbath day: and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem;
the king's palace, and the palaces of the princes and nobles, as well as the cottages of the poorer sort: and it shall not be quenched;
until it has utterly destroyed the city: this was fulfilled by the Chaldeans, ( Jeremiah 52:13 ) . The Jews say there is no fire kindled but where the sabbath is profaned; and that Jerusalem was destroyed because they profaned the sabbath F13.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (vb abw) "et intretis per portas", Cocceius, Schmidt.
F13 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 119. 2.

Jeremiah 17:27 In-Context

25 Then kings from the time of David and their officials will continue to ride through these gates on horses or in chariots. The people of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem will continue to pass through them, too. Jerusalem will always be filled with people.
26 People will stream in from all over Judah, from the province of Benjamin, from the Jerusalem suburbs, from foothills and mountains and deserts. They'll come to worship, bringing all kinds of offerings - animals, grains, incense, expressions of thanks - into the Sanctuary of God.
27 "'But if you won't listen to me, won't keep the Sabbath holy, won't quit using the Sabbath for doing your own work, busily going in and out of the city gates on your self-important business, then I'll burn the gates down. In fact, I'll burn the whole city down, palaces and all, with a fire nobody will be able to put out!'"
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.