Jeremiah 32:11

11 Then I took the deed of purchase - the sealed copy that contained the contract and its conditions and also 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 "So I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel. I paid him seventeen silver shekels.
10 I followed all the proper procedures: In the presence of witnesses I wrote out the bill of sale, sealed it, and weighed out the money on the scales.
11 Then I took the deed of purchase - the sealed copy that contained the contract and its conditions and also the open copy -
12 and gave them to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah. All this took place in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and the witnesses who had signed the deed, as the Jews who were at the jail that day looked on.
13 "Then, in front of all of them, I told Baruch,
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.