Jeremiah 34:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And 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,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God targets those who broke the covenant they made through a sacred ritual.
The Context of Jeremiah 34:18
References the covenant-cutting ritual and those who violated it.
What Does Jeremiah 34:18 Mean?
The covenant-makers performed a solemn ritual: they cut a calf in half and passed between the parts. This ancient practice (berith) signified binding themselves to the covenant terms with their lives. Passing between the parts meant: if I break this covenant, may my fate be like this divided calf. The ritual made the covenant binding and sacred.
The covenant-breakers thus stand condemned by their own ritual. They invoked a terrible curse upon themselves if they failed to keep their word, and they have failed. God will now 'give' these transggressors to their enemies. Their own oath-ritual becomes the instrument of judgment.
Jeremiah 34:18 in the Original Language
The practice of cutting a covenant victim (בְרִית, berith, literally 'covenant' but involving animal division) appears in Genesis 15:10, emphasizing the binding nature of the oath.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 34:18
What does Jeremiah 34:18 mean?
God targets those who broke the covenant they made through a sacred ritual.
What is the context of Jeremiah 34:18?
References the covenant-cutting ritual and those who violated it.