Jeremiah 34:8 · KJV
“{This 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;”
— Jeremiah 34:8
When 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.
That 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.
Jeremiah 34 — Context
Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,
7When 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.
8{This 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;
9That 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.
10Now 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.
Cross References
Leviticus 25:10
And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout {all} the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
2 Kings 11:17
And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD'S people; between the king also and the people.
2 Kings 23:2-3
And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. {both...: Heb. from small even unto great}
Jeremiah 34:17
Therefore 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. {to be...: Heb. for a removing}
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD {is} upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to {them that are} bound;
Leviticus 25:39-46
And if thy brother {that dwelleth} by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: {compel...: Heb. serve thyself with him with the service, etc}
Nehemiah 5:1-13
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
Jeremiah 34:14-15
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. {hath been...: or, hath sold himself}