Jeremiah Chapter 34 – Commentary and Explanation Blog
Title: “When Promises Are Broken – A Look Into Jeremiah Chapter 34”
So... let’s talk about Jeremiah chapter 34. I don't know if you’ve ever made a promise and then broken it (who hasn’t, honestly?), but this chapter kinda hits hard on that exact theme. It’s not just about lying or forgetting what you said — it's more like, when people try to do right, but then go backwards. That’s where this chapter sits. It’s not long in verses (just 22), but wow, it’s pretty heavy.
Now before diving in, we gotta remember where we are in Jeremiah’s story. This prophet been going at it for YEARS now, telling folks over and over — "Turn back to God, stop the evil, judgment is coming!" But people not listen. Sometimes they pretend to care for a second, and then just flip the switch and go back to doing wrong. Sound familiar? That’s how human hearts work sometimes, sad but true.
Setting the Scene – Zedekiah in Trouble
Okay, so verse 1 starts us off with this word from the Lord that came to Jeremiah when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and all his army, plus all these other kings of allied nations, were coming to fight against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that still holding on. Basically, Jerusalem is surrounded. It’s like the final hour. Pressure’s on. The walls are closing in.
And God tells Jeremiah, “Go to King Zedekiah and tell him straight — Babylon’s king gonna burn this city down.”
Whoa. That’s intense. But not only that — He tells Zedekiah, “You ain’t gonna escape. You’ll be captured and taken right to Nebuchadnezzar. You gonna see him face to face, eye to eye. You’ll go to Babylon.”
Now, imagine hearing that when your city is already crumbling and your people are panicking. That’s not exactly the pep talk you wanna hear. But here’s the interesting twist: God also says that Zedekiah won’t die by the sword. He gonna die in peace. There’ll be mourning and burning spices for him (which is how they honored kings back in the day).
It’s like... judgment and mercy, both in one breath.
Zedekiah’s fate is sealed. He messed up big time, ignored God's words, and led his people into rebellion and false hope. But even still, God’s showing a tiny sliver of compassion — “you won’t die violently.” I guess that says a lot about God’s justice... it’s fair, but not cruel.
Promises Made… and Quickly Broken
Now here's where the plot thickens (verse 8 onwards). There’s a sudden change in the tone.
So apparently, during the siege, King Zedekiah and the people made a covenant to free their Hebrew slaves. You read that right. They made a decision to set free all the Hebrew men and women who were in bondage.
That’s not only a good thing — it’s something the Law actually commanded. Back in Exodus and Deuteronomy, God told Israel to free Hebrew servants in the seventh year. But guess what? They hadn’t been doing that. For who knows how long, they just kept enslaving their own people, probably for profit and convenience. (Sound like some modern problems too, right?)
But now, in this desperate time when Babylon’s knocking on the door, suddenly they got spiritual. They made a covenant in the temple, releasing all the slaves, and obeying God's old commandment. Sounds noble. Sounds right. Sounds... too good to last.
And it didn’t.
Going Back On Their Word
Right after they let the slaves go, they changed their minds. They took them back. Yup. Just like that. They reversed the decision and forced the men and women into slavery again.
What a betrayal.
It’s like those people who cry and repent during a disaster — making promises, "I’ll change, Lord! I’ll do better if you just save me from this!" — and then the second things calm down, they go right back to their old ways. That’s exactly what happened here.
God was NOT having it.
Verses 12-16, God comes in hard. Through Jeremiah, He reminds them that this law about freeing slaves wasn’t new. It was already part of the covenant He made with their ancestors when He brought them out of Egypt (the place they were slaves!). He basically says, “I freed you — now you won't even free each other? After you swore an oath in My house?”
The kicker is verse 17: “You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and every one to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim a liberty for you,” says the Lord — “to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine!”
Yikes. That’s chilling.
God says, “You want to play games with freedom? Okay — here’s your freedom. Free to suffer the consequences.” It’s like poetic justice, but it stings.
And then, in the rest of that verse, He says He’ll make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. The image is brutal. In verse 18-20, He even compares them to the animals used in covenant-making rituals. Back then, people would cut animals in half and walk between the pieces — a way of saying, “If I break this promise, may this happen to me.”
God’s saying, “You broke it. So now that curse you called on yourself — it’s happening.”
Application – Then and Now
So what does all this mean for us now?
Honestly, it’s a warning. A big, bright, flashing red light.
Because it’s not just about slavery, though that part is huge. It’s about honoring God with our actions, not just words. It's about integrity — keeping promises, especially those we make to God.
Ever told God something during a low point?
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“If you heal me, I’ll serve you.”
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“If you save my marriage, I’ll go to church every week.”
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“If you help me get that job, I’ll tithe faithfully.”
And then... once things get better... all forgotten. That’s what happened here in Jeremiah 34. And God wasn’t silent about it.
But here's the other thing: this chapter isn’t just judgment. It also shows God’s heart.
See, He gave Zedekiah a warning. He told him what was coming, and yet He said he’d still die in peace. Why? Because God is not out to destroy us just for fun. He’s a God of covenants, of promises, of grace — but He takes those things seriously. He wants us to take them seriously too.
Personal Reflection – Broken Promises
If I’m being real here, I’ve been Zedekiah before. I’ve made decisions in fear, in panic, trying to fix things — and then once the pressure lifts a little, I go back to what was comfortable. Maybe you’ve been there too. We start with good intentions, but we don’t follow through.
This chapter reminds me: God sees it all. The public actions and the secret ones. The decisions made in crisis and the changes we make after it passes.
And maybe the biggest takeaway? God ain’t fooled by fake obedience.
You can make a covenant in the temple (like they did), but if your heart ain't in it, and your actions betray it, then it’s just performance. Just empty noise.
I think what God desires from us — more than flashy spiritual gestures — is consistency. Faithfulness. Mercy toward others. Living out what we say we believe.
A Word on Justice
Can’t end this blog without talking about the slavery part too. This chapter is also a message about justice. These people were keeping Hebrew slaves. Their own brothers and sisters! God's law said to set them free, to treat them right — and they ignored it for generations.
That ain’t just about spiritual disobedience. That’s about injustice. Oppression. Greed. And God was furious.
Sometimes, we spiritualize everything and forget that God deeply cares about how we treat people. The widow. The orphan. The poor. The stranger. The slave.
They thought freeing the slaves would make God happy — and yeah, it did, for a moment. But taking them back showed that it was not about righteousness, it was about survival, appearances, maybe even politics.
God doesn’t want fake justice. He wants the real thing. Long-term. No take-backs.
Final Thoughts – What’s in Your Covenant?
So, to wrap it all up — Jeremiah 34 is short but loaded.
It’s about a king who hears judgment but still gets a peaceful end. It’s about people who make a good decision, then ruin it by going back. It’s about God, who remembers every word we speak, especially the promises we make in His name.
It’s about justice, obedience, and keeping our word. About not playing games with holy things. About how God sees broken covenants as betrayal — because He never breaks His side.
And maybe it’s a call. A call to check ourselves.
What have we promised God in the past... and never followed through?
Who have we wronged — or re-enslaved, in some emotional or relational way — after we promised freedom?
Have we treated our commitments casually?
Jeremiah 34 tells us, don’t. Don’t break the covenant. Don’t reverse obedience. Don’t test God’s patience.
But also — when you fail — don’t run. Face Him honestly. Come back. Repent fully.
He is just. But He is also merciful.
Have you ever been in a situation like the people in Jeremiah 34? Made a promise in desperation, only to forget it once comfort returned? Share below — no judgment. Let’s talk about it together.
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