The Broken Covenant of Release
Jeremiah 41
Jeremiah tells Zedekiah plainly that Jerusalem will fall to the king of Babylon though Zedekiah himself will die in peace, while the Chaldean army besieges the city along with Lachish and Azekah. The chapter then describes how the people had covenanted to free their Hebrew slaves as the law required but afterward took them back into bondage, prompting the Lord to declare that he will hand the covenant-breakers over to sword, famine, and pestilence.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHE word which came to Jeremias from the Lord, when Nabuchodonosar king of Babylon, with all his army and every country under his dominion were warring against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Juda, saying:
BrentonThe word that came to Jeremias from the Lord (now Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the country of his dominion, were warring against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Juda,) saying,
GreekὉ ΛΟΓΟΣ ὁ γενόμενος πρὸς Ἱερεμίαν παρὰ Κυρίου, (καὶ Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος, καὶ πᾶν τὸ στρατόπεδον αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ ἀρχῆς αὐτοῦ ἐπολέμουν ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐπὶ πάσας τὰς πόλεις Ἰούδα,) λέγων,
KJVThe word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying,
JPSThe word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the land of his dominion, and all the peoples, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying:
2
ThomsonThus said the Lord, Go to Sedekias king of Juda and say to him, Thus said the Lord, This city shall assuredly be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon; and he shall take it, and burn it with fire.
BrentonThus has the Lord said; Go to Sedekias king of Juda, and thou shalt say to him, Thus has the Lord said, This city shall certainly be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it, and shall burn it with fire:
GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, βάδισον πρὸς Σεδεκίαν βασιλέα Ἰούδα, καὶ ἐρεῖς αὐτῷ, οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, παραδόσει παραδοθήσεται ἡ πόλις αὕτη εἰς χεῖρας βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος, καὶ συλλήψεται αὐτὴν, καὶ καύσει αὐτὴν ἐν πυρὶ,
KJVThus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:
JPSThus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Go, and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him: Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire;
3
ThomsonAnd thou shalt not escape out of his hand. Thou shalt indeed be taken and delivered into his hands; and thine eyes shall see his eyes; and to Babylon thou shalt go.
Brentonand thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt certainly be taken, and shalt be given into his hands; and thine eyes shall see his eyes, and thou shalt enter into Babylon.
Greekκαὶ σὺ οὐ μὴ σωθῇς ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ συλλήψει συλληφθήσῃ, καὶ εἰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ δοθήσῃ, καὶ ὀφθαλμοί σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ ὄψονται, καὶ εἰς Βαβυλῶνα εἰσελεύσῃ.
KJVAnd thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon.
JPSand thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon.
4
ThomsonNevertheless hear the word of the Lord, O Sedekias king of Juda, Thus said the Lord:
BrentonBut hear the word of the Lord, O Sedekias king of Juda; Thus saith the Lord,
GreekἈλλʼ ἄκουσον τὸν λόγον Κυρίου, Σεδεκία βασιλεῦ Ἰούδα· οὕτως λέγει Κύριος,
KJVYet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword:
JPSYet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah: Thus saith the LORD concerning thee: Thou shalt not die by the sword;
5
ThomsonThou shalt die in peace; and as they bewailed thy fathers who reigned before thee so will they bewail thee with, Alas Lord, and utter a lamentation for thee at thy burial; for I have spoken the word, said the Lord.
BrentonThou shalt die in peace: and as they wept for thy fathers that reigned before thee, they shall weep also for thee, saying, Ah lord! and they shall lament for thee down to the grave: for I have spoken the word, said the Lord.
Greekἐν εἰρήνῃ ἀποθανῇ· καὶ ὡς ἔκλαυσαν τοὺς πατέρας σου τοὺς βασιλεύσαντας πρότερόν σου, κλαύσονται καὶ σὲ, οὐαὶ Κύριε, καὶ ἕως ᾅδου κόψονταί σε, ὅτι λόγον ἐγὼ ἐλάλησα, εἶπε Κύριος.
KJVBut thou shalt die in peace: and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odours for thee; and they will lament thee, saying, Ah lord! for I have pronounced the word, saith the LORD.
JPSthou shalt die in peace; and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings that were before thee, so shall they make a burning for thee; and they shall lament thee: ‘Ah lord! ’ for I have spoken the word, saith the LORD.
6
ThomsonSo Jeremias delivered to king Sedekias all these words at Jerusalem when the army of the king of Babylon was warring against Jerusalem
BrentonAnd Jeremias spoke to king Sedekias all these words in Jerusalem.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησεν Ἱερεμίας πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Σεδεκίαν πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVThen Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,
JPSThen Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,
7
Thomsonand against the cities of Juda; namely, against Lachis and against Azeka; for they were the only fortified cities which were left of the cities of Juda.
BrentonAnd the host of the king of Babylon warred against Jerusalem, and against the cities of Juda, and against Lachis, and against Azeca: for these strong cities were left among the cities of Juda.
GreekΚαὶ ἡ δύναμις βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος ἐπολέμει ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς πόλεις Ἰούδα, καὶ ἐπὶ Λαχὶς, καὶ ἐπὶ Ἄζηκα, ὅτι αὗται κατελείφθησαν ἐν πόλεσιν Ἰούδα πόλεις ὀχυραί.
KJVWhen the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah.
JPSwhen the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and against Azekah; for these alone remained of the cities of Judah as fortified cities.
8
ThomsonThe word which came to Jeremias from the Lord: After king Sedekias had made a covenant with the people to proclaim a release,
BrentonThe word that came from the Lord to Jeremias, after king Sedekias had concluded a covenant with the people, to proclaim a release;
GreekὉ λόγος ὁ γενόμενος πρὸς Ἱερεμίαν παρὰ Κυρίου, μετὰ τὸ συντελέσαι τὸν βασιλέα Σεδεκίαν διαθήκην πρὸς τὸν λαὸν, τοῦ καλέσαι ἄφεσιν,
KJVThis is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;
JPSThe word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;
9
Thomsonthat every man should set free his man servant and his maid servant of Hebrew extraction so that no person of Juda should continue in slavery;
Brentonthat every one should set at liberty his servant, and every one his handmaid, the Hebrew man and Hebrew woman, that no man of Juda should be a bondman.
Greekτοῦ ἐξαποστεῖλαι ἕκαστον τὸν παῖδα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἕκαστον τὴν παιδίσκην αὐτοῦ, τὸν Ἑβραῖον καὶ τὴν Ἑβραίαν ἐλευθέρους, πρὸς τὸ μὴ δουλεύειν ἄνδρα ἐξ Ἰούδα.
KJVThat every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.
JPSthat every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, go free; that none should make bondmen of them, even of a Jew his brother;
10
Thomsonwhen all the nobles and all the people who had entered into covenant, to set free every one his man servant, and his maid servant,
BrentonThen all the nobles, and all the people who had entered into the covenant, engaging to set free every one his man-servant, and every one his maid, turned,
GreekΚαὶ ἐπεστράφησαν πάντες οἱ μεγιστᾶνες, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οἱ εἰσελθόντες ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ, τοῦ ἀποστεῖλαι ἕκαστον τὸν παῖδα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἕκαστον τὴν παιδίσκην αὐτοῦ,
KJVNow when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go.
JPSand all the princes and all the people hearkened, that had entered into the covenant to let every one his man-servant, and every one his maid-servant, go free, and not to make bondmen of them any more; they hearkened, and let them go;
11
Thomson—
Brentonand gave them over to be men-servants and maid-servants.
Greekκαὶ ἐῶσαν αὐτοὺς εἰς παῖδας καὶ παιδίσκας.
KJV—
JPS—
12
ThomsonThereupon a word of the Lord came to Jeremias saying,
BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς Ἱερεμίαν, λέγων,
KJVTherefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
JPStherefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:
13
ThomsonThus said the Lord: I made a covenant with your fathers at the time I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying,
BrentonThus saith the Lord; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day wherein I took them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying,
GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, ἐγὼ διεθέμην διαθήκην πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ ἐξειλάμην αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἐκ οἴκου δουλείας, λέγων,
KJVThus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying,
JPSThus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying:
14
ThomsonWhen six years are accomplished thou shalt set at liberty thy brother, a Hebrew, who shall be sold to thee. When he hath worked for thee six years, thou shalt let him go free.
BrentonWhen six years are accomplished, thou shalt set free thy brother the Hebrew, who shall be sold to thee: for he shall serve thee six years, and then thou shalt let him go free: but they hearkened not to me, and inclined not their ear.
Greekὅταν πληρωθῇ ἓξ ἔτη, ἀποστελεῖς τὸν ἀδελφόν σου τὸν Ἑβραῖον, ὃς πραθήσεταί σοι, καὶ ἐργᾶταί σοι ἓξ ἔτη, καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖς αὐτὸν ἐλεύθερον· καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσάν μου, καὶ οὐκ ἔκλιναν τὸ οὖς αὐτῶν.
KJVAt the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.
JPS’At the end of seven years ye shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, that hath been sold unto thee, and hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee’; but your fathers hearkened not unto Me, neither inclined their ear.
15
ThomsonBut they have not hearkened to Me, nor inclined their ear. And now, when they turned to do what is right in My sight, by proclaiming a general release, everyone to his neighbour, and had made a covenant in My presence in the house which is called by My name;
BrentonAnd this day they turned to do that which was right in my sight, to proclaim every one the release of his neighbour; and they had concluded a covenant before me, in the house whereon my name is called.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστρεψαν σήμερον ποιῆσαι τὸ εὐθὲς πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν μου, τοῦ καλέσαι ἄφεσιν ἕκαστον τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ· καὶ συνετέλεσαν διαθήκην κατὰ πρόσωπόν μου, ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ οὗ ἐπεκλήθη τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
KJVAnd ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name:
JPSAnd ye were now turned, and had done that which is right in Mine eyes, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before Me in the house whereon My name is called;
16
Thomsonyou have turned back and profaned My name by causing everyone his man servant, and everyone his maid servant whom you had sent away free at their own disposal, to return and become your servants.
BrentonBut ye turned and profaned my name, to bring back every one his servant, and every one his handmaid, whom ye had sent forth free and at their own disposal, to be to you men-servants and maid-servants.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπεστρέψατε, καὶ ἐβεβηλώσατε τὸ ὄνομά μου, τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι ἕκαστον τὸν παῖδα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἕκαστον τὴν παιδίσκην αὐτοῦ, οὓς ἐξαπεστείλατε ἐλευθέρους τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτῶν, τοῦ εἶναι ὑμῖν εἰς παῖδας καὶ παιδίσκας.
KJVBut ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.
JPSbut ye turned and profaned My name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had let go free at their pleasure, to return; and ye brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.
17
ThomsonTherefore thus said the Lord: You have not hearkened to Me to proclaim a general release, everyone to his neighbour; behold, I proclaim a dismission of you to the sword, and to pestilence and to famine; and I will deliver you up to dispersion in all the kingdoms of the earth.
BrentonTherefore thus said the Lord; Ye have not hearkened to me, to proclaim a release every one to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a release to you, to the sword, and to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will give you up to dispersion among all the kingdoms of the earth.
GreekΔιατοῦτο οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, ὑμεῖς οὐκ ἠκούσατέ μου, τοῦ καλέσαι ἄφεσιν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ· ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ καλῶ ἄφεσιν ὑμῖν εἰς μάχαιραν, καὶ εἰς τὸν θάνατον, καὶ εἰς τὸν λιμὸν, καὶ δώσω ὑμᾶς εἰς διασπορὰν πάσαις ταῖς βασιλείαις τῆς γῆς·
KJVTherefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
JPSTherefore thus saith the LORD: Ye have not hearkened unto Me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbour; behold, I proclaim for you a liberty, saith the LORD, unto the sword, unto the pestilence, and unto the famine; and I will make you a horror unto all the kingdoms of the earth.
18
ThomsonI will indeed give up the men who have transgressed My covenant—them who have not stood to this covenant of Mine which they entered into in My presence. As the labouring bullock which they sacrificed,
BrentonAnd I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, who have not kept my covenant, which they made before me, the calf which they prepared to sacrifice with it,
GreekΚαὶ δώσω τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς παρεληλυθότας τὴν διαθήκην μου, τοὺς μὴ στήσαντας τὴν διαθήκην μου, ἣν ἐποίησαν κατὰ πρόσωπόν μου, τὸν μόσχον ὃν ἐποίησαν ἐργάζεσθαι αὐτῷ,
KJVAnd I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof,
JPSAnd I will give the men that have transgressed My covenant, that have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof;
19
ThomsonI will deliver up the chiefs of Juda and the rulers, and the priests,
Brentonthe princes of Juda, and the men in power, and the priests, and the people;
Greekτοὺς ἄρχοντας Ἰούδα, καὶ τοὺς δυνάστας, καὶ τοὺς ἱερεῖς, καὶ τὸν λαόν·
KJVThe princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;
JPSthe princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the officers, and the priests, and all the people of the land, that passed between the parts of the calf; .
20
Thomsonand the people themselves to their enemies: and their carcasses shall be meat for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth:
BrentonI will even give them to their enemies, and their carcases shall be food for the birds of the sky and for the wild beasts of the earth.
GreekΚαὶ δώσω αὐτοὺς τοῖς ἐχθροῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔσται τὰ θνησιμαῖα αὐτῶν βρῶσις τοῖς πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τοῖς θηρίοις τῆς γῆς.
KJVI will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.
JPSI will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be for food unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.
21
Thomsonand I will deliver Sedekias king of Judea, and their chiefs, into the hands of their enemies. And as for the army of the king of Babylon, even to them who are retreating,
BrentonAnd I will give Sedekias king of Judea, and their princes, into the hands of their enemies, and the host of the king of Babylon shall come upon them that run away from them.
GreekΚαὶ τὸν Σεδεκίαν βασιλέα τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας αὐτῶν δώσω εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ δύναμις βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος τοῖς ἀποτρέχουσιν ἀπʼ αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which are gone up from you.
JPSAnd Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, that are gone up from you.
22
Thomsonbehold I am about to issue orders, saith the Lord; and I will cause them to return to this city. And they shall fight against it, and take it and burn it with fire. And I will make the cities of Juda a desolation, without inhabitants.
BrentonBehold, I will give command, saith the Lord, and will bring them back to this land; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire, and the cities of Juda; and I will make them desolate without inhabitants.
GreekἸδοὺ ἐγὼ συντάσσω, φησὶ Κύριος, καὶ ἐπιστρέψω αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην, καὶ πολεμήσουσιν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν, καὶ λήψονται αὐτὴν, καὶ κατακαύσουσιν αὐτὴν ἐν πυρὶ, καὶ τὰς πόλεις Ἰούδα, καὶ δώσω αὐτὰς ἐρήμους ἀπὸ τῶν κατοικούντων.
KJVBehold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.
JPSBehold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.