Jeremiah 34:14 Meaning and Explanation
“At 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God commands release of Hebrew servants every seven years, though the ancestors also disobeyed.
The Context of Jeremiah 34:14
The specific Torah law regarding servant release every seven years.
What Does Jeremiah 34:14 Mean?
The specific command is clear: serve six years, then freedom in the seventh. This law was given in the Torah but apparently ignored by previous generations. God's complaint—'your fathers hearkened not'—shows that covenant violation is not new to Judah. Disobedience has become habitual.
Yet God did not abandon his people despite their ancestors' failure to obey. The fact that Zedekiah could proclaim this covenant at all shows that God's word and its possibility remain. The covenant is perennial, requiring each generation to choose obedience anew.
Jeremiah 34:14 in the Original Language
The 'seventh year' release requirement appears in Exodus 21:2 and Deuteronomy 15:12, establishing a cyclical pattern of liberty.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 34:14
What does Jeremiah 34:14 mean?
God commands release of Hebrew servants every seven years, though the ancestors also disobeyed.
What is the context of Jeremiah 34:14?
The specific Torah law regarding servant release every seven years.