Jeremiah 17:27

27 Forsooth if ye hear not me, that ye hallow the day of sabbath, and that ye bear not a burden, and that ye bring not in by the gates of Jerusalem in the day of sabbath, I shall kindle fire in the gates thereof; and it shall devour the houses of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. (But if ye do not listen to me, so that ye hallow the day of sabbath, and so that ye do not carry a burden, and so that ye do not bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem on the day of sabbath, then I shall kindle a fire in its gates; and it shall devour the houses of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.)

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 kings and princes sitting on the seat of David shall enter [in] by the gates of this city, and ascending in chariots and horses; they, and the princes of them, the men of Judah, and the dwellers of Jerusalem; and this city shall be inhabited without end. (then kings and princes sitting on the throne of David shall enter in by the gates of this city, and shall come in chariots and on horses; they, and their princes, and the people of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall be inhabited forever.)
26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the compass of Jerusalem (and from all around Jerusalem), and from the land of Benjamin, and from [the] field places, and from [the] hilly places, and from the south, bearing burnt sacrifice, and slain sacrifice, and incense; and they shall bring offering(s) into the house of the Lord.
27 Forsooth if ye hear not me, that ye hallow the day of sabbath, and that ye bear not a burden, and that ye bring not in by the gates of Jerusalem in the day of sabbath, I shall kindle fire in the gates thereof; and it shall devour the houses of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. (But if ye do not listen to me, so that ye hallow the day of sabbath, and so that ye do not carry a burden, and so that ye do not bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem on the day of sabbath, then I shall kindle a fire in its gates; and it shall devour the houses of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.