Jeremiah 34:15

15 And ye be converted today, and ye did that, that is rightful before mine eyes, that ye preached each man freedom to his friend, and ye made (a) covenant in my sight, in the house wherein my name is called to help on that freedom. (And today ye turned, and ye did what was right before my eyes, in that ye preached freedom for each person to their friend, and ye made a covenant in my sight, in the House where my name is called on for help/and ye made a covenant before me, in the House which is called by my name.)

Jeremiah 34:15 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 34:15

And ye were now turned
Or, "today indeed ye were turned" ^F18 some little time ago, indeed, it must be owned, that ye turned from the evil ways of your fathers, for which you were to be commended, as having acted a better part than they: and had done right in my sight;
what was acceptable to the Lord, approved of by him, being agreeably to his law; and it would have been well if they had continued so doing: in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour;
for a manservant, or maidservant, was his neighbour, and to be treated as such, and loved as himself, especially a Hebrew one, of the same nation and religion; and not to be used as a slave, or retained for ever in bondage: and ye made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my
name;
this circumstance is mentioned as an aggravation of the breach of the covenant they had made, to dismiss their servants according to law; it was made in a very solemn manner, in the presence of God, appealing to him as a witness; it was done in the temple, a sacred place, devoted to him and his worship; which was called by his name, the temple of the Lord, and where his name was called upon, and where were the symbols of his presence.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (Mwyh Mta wbvtw) "jam, [vel] et quidem conversi fuistis hodie", Schmidt; "reversi quidem vos hodie", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Jeremiah 34:15 In-Context

13 The Lord God of Israel saith these things, I smote a bond of peace with your fathers, in the day in which I led them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of servage; and I said, (The Lord God of Israel saith these things, I struck a covenant with your forefathers, on the day when I led them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of servitude, or of slavery; and I said,)

14 When seven years be [ful]filled, each man deliver his brother, an Hebrew man, which is sold to him, and he shall serve thee six years, and (then) thou shalt deliver him from thee; and your fathers heard not me, neither bowed [in] their ear. (Every seven years, each person shall let their brother, a Hebrew man, who was sold to him, go free, yea, after that he hath served thee for six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee; but your forefathers did not listen to me, nor bowed in their ears.)

15 And ye be converted today, and ye did that, that is rightful before mine eyes, that ye preached each man freedom to his friend, and ye made (a) covenant in my sight, in the house wherein my name is called to help on that freedom. (And today ye turned, and ye did what was right before my eyes, in that ye preached freedom for each person to their friend, and ye made a covenant in my sight, in the House where my name is called on for help/and ye made a covenant before me, in the House which is called by my name.)

16 And ye turned again, and defouled my name, and ye brought again each man his servant, and each man his handmaid, which ye delivered, that they should be free, and of their own power; and ye made them subject, that they be servants and handmaids to you. (But then ye turned again, and defiled my name, and each person took back his servant, and his servantess, whom they had let go, so that they could be free, and under their own power; and ye made them subject again, so that they be your servants and your servantesses.)

17 Therefore the Lord saith these things, Ye heard not me, that ye preached freedom, each man to his brother, and each man to his friend; lo! (so now) I preach to you freedom, saith the Lord, and to sword, and to hunger, and to pestilence; and I shall give you into stirring to all realms of (the) earth. (And so the Lord saith these things, Ye did not listen to me, ye who proclaimed freedom, each person to their brother, and each person to their friend; so now lo! I proclaim freedom to you, saith the Lord, yea, freedom to the sword, and to hunger, and to pestilence; and I shall give you into stirring, or into loathing, by all the kingdoms of the earth.)