Bands and bars upon the prophet's neck, sent to the kings round about: 'Serve the king of Babylon, and live'; hearken not to your prophets — the vessels that remain shall go to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I remember them.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word to Jeremiah from Hashem, saying:
verse value 3406
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 62 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 3406 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "king" (מֶ֣לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Josiah" (בֶּן־יֹאושִׁיָּ֖הוּ, 9 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "son·of·Josiah" (בֶּן־יֹאושִׁיָּ֖הוּ). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·Jeremiah" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: בְּרֵאשִׁ֗ית [in·beginning] (913) + מַמְלֶ֛כֶת [kingdom] (530) + יְהוֹיָקִ֥ם [Jehoiakim] (171) + בֶּן־יֹאושִׁיָּ֖הוּ [son·of·Josiah] (390) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + הָיָ֞ה [was] (20) + הַדָּבָ֤ר [the·word] (211) + הַזֶּה֙ [this] (17) + אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔ה [to·Jeremiah] (296) + מֵאֵ֥ת [from] (441) + יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (26) + לֵאמֹֽר [saying] (271) = 3406.
Rashi
At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim. Three years before Nebuchadnezzar reigned, Jeremiah prophesied about him that he would reign.
Radak
"In the beginning of the kingdom." This prophecy was spoken to Jeremiah in the first year of the reign of Jehoiakim, and God told him that when Zedekiah would reign after the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, he would make fetters and yokes, send them to the kings mentioned in the passage by means of the messengers coming to Jerusalem to Zedekiah, and command them to say to the kings, their masters, that they should send them to Zedekiah and say to them all the things mentioned in the passage. And Jeremiah also said to them, "And to Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke all these words," because it appeared that the aforementioned kings had sent to Zedekiah to agree with them and all of them rebel against the king of Babylon. Therefore, God commanded Jeremiah to say to these messengers, after they finished the words of their masters, to say to them, "And to Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke all these words," and all of you should bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon. And our Sages of blessed memory said that when the king of Babylon made him king, he ruled over these kings. And what was said to him, "This prophecy was spoken in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim," and the prophecy does not yet come to pass for eleven years, is so that Jehoiakim would know that Nebuchadnezzar is destined to reign, so that Jehoiakim would not trust in the king of Egypt who made him king.
’Thus says Hashem to me: Make you bands and bars, and put them upon your neck;
verse value 3244
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 40 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֔, 2 letters) and the longest is "upon·neck" (עַל־צַוָּארֶֽךָ, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·bars" (וּמֹט֑וֹת), "upon·neck" (עַל־צַוָּארֶֽךָ). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "thus·says" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·me" (root אל, 204x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root מוטה ("and·bars") in Jeremiah. First appearance of the root צואר ("upon·neck") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·bars', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 2 words. Full calculation: כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר [thus·says] (266) + יְהֹוָה֙ [Hashem] (26) + אֵלַ֔י [to·me] (41) + עֲשֵׂ֣ה [do] (375) + לְךָ֔ [to·you] (50) + מוֹסֵר֖וֹת [bands] (712) + וּמֹט֑וֹת [and·bars] (461) + וּנְתַתָּ֖ם [and·You·shall·give·them] (896) + עַל־צַוָּארֶֽךָ [upon·neck] (417) = 3244.
Rashi
"Musarot." These are the straps of the yoke, which they call "corrigles."
Radak
"Thongs and bars." Straps and sinews with which they bind the yoke around the neck of the beast; and Targum [Yonatan renders them] as "chanakin and nirin" [chains and yokes].
Metzudat Zion
"Mosarot" [thongs/bonds]. Straps with which the yoke is bound; and likewise, "and the bonds of the wild donkey" (Job 39:5).
And the bars. From the word *mateh* (staff/pole), and they are the beams of the yoke.
and send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the children of Ammon, and to the king of Tyre, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers that come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah;
verse value 3358
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 93 letters. The shortest word is "Tyre" (צֹ֖ר, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Zedekiah" (אֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 127: and·to·the·king·of, and·to·the·king·of, and·to·the·king·of, and·to·the·king·of. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·send·them" (וְשִׁלַּחְתָּם֩), "Tyre" (צֹ֖ר), "messengers" (מַלְאָכִים֙). The root מלך appears 5 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·king" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "and·to·the·king·of" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "who·came" (root בוא, 211x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root אדום ("Edom") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Sidon', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 7 words.
Rashi
“And you shall send to the king of Edom.” In the days of Zedekiah, in the fourth year of his reign, when Nebuchadnezzar made him ruler over five kings.
"The king of Edom, and the king of Moab, and the king of the children of Ammon, etc." These are the five kings whom Nebuchadnezzar placed under the authority of Zedekiah. For fifteen years they were subject to him, from the first year of Jehoiakim until the fourth year of Zedekiah, when Hananiah son of Azzur broke them from his control.
Metzudat David
"And you shall send, etc." In the days of Jehoiakim, it was said to him that when Zedekiah would reign, he would send the bonds and the bars to these kings by means of the messengers who would come to Zedekiah.
Metzudat Zion
Messengers. Emissaries:
Malbim
"By the hand of envoys who came to Zedekiah": From the necessity of the verse according to its plain meaning, it is clear that after Nebuchadnezzar reigned in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, he also appointed Zedekiah as king, making him second to King Jehoiakim. And thus it can be understood that at that time envoys of a nation came to Zedekiah, who was also engaged in matters of kingship, and they called him "King of Judah." They desired to ally with him to rebel against the kingdom of Babylon, and this was the "coming of the envoys." And he commanded Jeremiah to warn them not to rebel.
and give them a charge to their masters, saying: Thus says Hashem of hosts, the God of Israel: Thus shall you say to your masters:
verse value 3571
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 58 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֤ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֥ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·their·masters" (אֶל־אֲדֹנֵיהֶ֖ם, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·charge" (וְצִוִּיתָ֣), "to·their·masters" (אֶל־אֲדֹנֵיהֶ֖ם), "to·your·masters" (אֶל־אֲדֹנֵיכֶֽם). The root אמר appears 3 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·their·masters" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 8 words. Full calculation: וְצִוִּיתָ֣ [and·charge] (512) + אֹתָ֔ם [them] (441) + אֶל־אֲדֹנֵיהֶ֖ם [to·their·masters] (141) + לֵאמֹ֑ר [saying] (271) + כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר [thus·says] (266) + יְהֹוָ֤ה [Hashem] (26) + צְבָאוֹת֙ [hosts] (499) + אֱלֹהֵ֣י [the·God·of] (46) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [Israel] (541) + כֹּ֥ה [thus] (25) + תֹאמְר֖וּ [you·shall·say] (647) + אֶל־אֲדֹנֵיכֶֽם [to·your·masters] (156) = 3571.
Metzudat David
"And you shall command them." You shall command the messengers to tell it to their masters:
I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the face of the earth, by My great power and by My outstretched arm; and I give it to whom it seems right to Me.
verse value 6048
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 81 letters. Verse gematria: 6048 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁר֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·cattle" (וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָה֙, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "the·man" (אֶת־הָאָדָ֤ם), "in·my·strength" (בְּכֹחִי֙), "and·in·my·arm" (וּבִזְרוֹעִ֖י). The root ארץ appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "the·land" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah); "I·did" (root עשה, 147x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·outstretched', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Radak
"To that which is right in My eyes." The word "yashar" (right) is a past-tense verb, with a qamats in its first half and a patach in its second half.
Metzudat David
"I have made, etc." And if so, all of them are Mine.
"And I will give it." Therefore, it is in My hand to give it to whomever I deem proper.
Malbim
"I have made the earth": I have created the earth, and I possess ownership, both in the land itself and in the human beings and animals that dwell upon it. By My great power and by My outstretched arm, the creation came into being through My power, and the sustenance of creation—which is also like a continuous creation—is accomplished by My arm that is perpetually outstretched to act and to do. And I have given it to those who are upright in My eyes: I appointed kings who exalt themselves above all as leaders, and they are the masters of the land.
And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant; and the beasts of the field also have I given him to serve him.
verse value 5455
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 71 letters. Notable word values: "my·servant" (עַבְדִּ֑י) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֖וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·lands" (אֶת־כׇּל־הָאֲרָצ֣וֹת, 10 letters). Words sharing gematria 860: I·gave, I·gave. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "all·the·lands" (אֶת־כׇּל־הָאֲרָצ֣וֹת), "to·serve·him" (לְעׇבְדֽוֹ). The root נתן appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of·Babylon" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "all·the·lands" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah); "I·gave" (root נתן, 141x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root נבוכדנאצר ("Nebuchadnezzar") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'my·servant', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
Rashi
"My servant." That he should do My will, to take vengeance on My enemies.
Radak
"My servant." That he should do My will among the nations.
"And also the beasts of the field I have given him to serve him." In the manner of [the verse] "and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you" (Job 5:23). And some explain that during the time he was among the beasts, they served him with the food they would bring him. This is a homiletical interpretation (derash), and at that time he would eat grass, as it was said to him, "and they shall make you eat grass like oxen" (Daniel 4:22). And there is a derash that he rode upon a lion and tied a serpent on his head.
Metzudat David
"These lands. Of the kings, your lords:"
“my servant”: This means that he acts as my agent in this matter.
"The beast of [the field]." Our Sages of blessed memory said: He rode upon a lion and bound a serpent to its head.
Malbim
"And now I have given — I have appointed — one king over all the lands, and also 'the beast [of the field]' — for he [Nebuchadnezzar] was accustomed to use fierce animals in war, such as elephants and lions, which were used in battles in ancient times."
And all the nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the time of his own land come; and then many nations and great kings shall make him their bondman.
verse value 3130
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 70 letters. The shortest word is "until" (עַ֣ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·son·of·son" (וְאֶֽת־בֶּן־בְּנ֑וֹ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 88: and·they·shall·serve, and·they·shall·serve. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·son" (וְאֶת־בְּנ֖וֹ), "and·son·of·son" (וְאֶֽת־בֶּן־בְּנ֑וֹ), "coming·of·time" (בֹּא־עֵ֤ת). The root עבד appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·kings" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "his·land" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah); "coming·of·time" (root בוא, 211x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·son·of·son', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 10 words.
Rashi
“And his son.” Ovil-Merodach:
"And the son of his son" – Belshazzar.
“Until the time of his land comes.” This means that Darius the Mede and Cyrus will come and slay Belshazzar.
Radak
"And his son." Evil-Merodach:
"And the son of his son." Belshazzar:
Metzudat David
"His son." This is Evil-merodach.
His son’s son. This is Belshazzar:
"His land's time." The time of the destruction of his land, in the days of Darius the Mede.
"Also he." Just as the time of the destruction of the kingdoms' lands came, which Nebuchadnezzar destroyed:
And it shall come to pass, that the nation and the kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I visit, says Hashem, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.
verse value 6640
Insights
Verse structure: 25 words, 119 letters. Notable word values: "and·it·shall·be" (וְהָיָ֨ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֨ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "Nebuchadnezzar" (אֶת־נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר, 11 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·the·kingdom" (וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֗ה), "will·not·serve" (לֹֽא־יַעַבְד֤וּ), "Nebuchadnezzar" (אֶת־נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר). The root גוי appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "in·a·yoke" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Babylon', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 10 words.
Radak
"Him, Nebuchadnezzar." The definite [noun] comes after the pronoun-suffix, which is not the usual custom in most cases; however, sometimes it does occur in this manner, as in "and she saw him, the child" (Exodus 2:6), "he shall bring it, the offering of the Lord" (Exodus 35:5), and similar instances that we have written in the book Mikhlol.
"Until I complete them by his hand." It comes as transitive (yotzei), even though its verb-pattern (binyan) is intransitive (omed), for the infinitive [construct] is like a noun.
Metzudat David
"Which they shall not serve him." [This means] that it will not desire to serve him of its own will.
"And that which, etc." – "who do not accept upon themselves of their own accord the yoke of servitude"; and the matter is repeated in different words:
"I will visit." I will oversee them by bringing the sword, etc.
"Until their completion." Until I have finished them off by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
Metzudat Zion
"I will visit." The matter of divine providence:
Tomi. The matter of destruction; and similarly, “until the generation was completely gone” (Deuteronomy 2:14).
Malbim
“Which shall not serve Him, etc., and which shall not submit,” in truth, there were at that time great kingdoms that were not under the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, as is known from ancient history. However, the small kingdoms were then compelled to seek shelter under the shadow of a great kingdom. And the nation that did not serve Nebuchadnezzar was compelled to serve another great kingdom, which would protect it from Nebuchadnezzar. Thus, they were compelled either to serve the king of Babylon or to serve the king who would not place his neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and who protected them. But the nation and kingdom that would serve neither him—that is, the king of Babylon himself—nor the king who would not place his neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, upon that nation I will bring the sword, famine, and pestilence.
But as for you, hearken you not to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreams, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, that speak to you, saying: You shall not serve the king of Babylon;
verse value 5381
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 91 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·your·prophets" (אֶל־נְבִיאֵיכֶ֜ם, 9 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "to·your·prophets" (אֶל־נְבִיאֵיכֶ֜ם), "and·to·your·diviners" (וְאֶל־קֹסְמֵיכֶ֗ם), "your·dreams" (חֲלֹמֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם). The root אל appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that·they" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·to·your·sorcerers', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 8 words.
Radak
"And to your dreams." Explanation: and to the dreamers of your dreams. And per Targum Yonatan: "and from the dreamers of your dreams."
"And not to wizards." A descriptive term for sorcerers:
"Kashaf" (a sorcerer). On the pattern of "ganav" (a thief).
Metzudat David
"Your prophets"—the prophets of yours who prophesy to you falsely:
"And to your diviners" – those who inquire through divination, which is a type of sorcery.
"And to your dreams." [This refers to] those who foretell the future by means of dream interpretation:
"And to your enchanters." This, too, is a matter of sorcery, similar to "a soothsayer" and "a diviner" (Deuteronomy 18:10).
"And to your sorcerers." Those who engage in other types of sorcery.
"You shall not serve." This means that he [the king of Babylon] shall not prevail over you, so that you would be slaves to him.
for they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out and you should perish.
verse value 3834
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 53 letters. Verse gematria: 3834 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "your·ground" (אַדְמַתְכֶ֔ם, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 461: you, you. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "to·remove·far" (הַרְחִ֤יק), "your·ground" (אַדְמַתְכֶ֔ם), "and·I·will·drive·out" (וְהִדַּחְתִּ֥י). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "from·upon" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah); "abundance" (root הם, 132x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 8 words. Full calculation: כִּ֣י [for] (30) + שֶׁ֔קֶר [lie] (600) + הֵ֖ם [abundance] (45) + נִבְּאִ֣ים [spokesman] (103) + לָכֶ֑ם [to·you] (90) + לְמַ֨עַן [so·that] (190) + הַרְחִ֤יק [to·remove·far] (323) + אֶתְכֶם֙ [you] (461) + מֵעַ֣ל [from·upon] (140) + אַדְמַתְכֶ֔ם [your·ground] (505) + וְהִדַּחְתִּ֥י [and·I·will·drive·out] (433) + אֶתְכֶ֖ם [you] (461) + וַאֲבַדְתֶּֽם [and·you·shall·perish] (453) = 3834.
Metzudat David
"For the purpose of distancing you." This means that they will benefit in order to distance, etc., for when you accept upon yourselves the subjugation, you will dwell in your land and pay the tribute; but when you fight against him and he prevails over you, he will take you into exile to a distant land.
"And I will drive you out." This means: I will be his aid, and I will drive you out from your place, and you will be lost.
But the nation that shall bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, that nation will I let remain in their own land, says Hashem; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.’
verse value 3137
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 65 letters. The shortest word is "in·it" (בָּֽהּ, 2 letters) and the longest is "neck" (אֶת־צַוָּאר֛וֹ, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·the·nation" (וְהַגּ֗וֹי), "he·shall·bring" (יָבִ֧יא), "and·I·will·let·him·remain" (וְהִנַּחְתִּ֤יו). The root עבד appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "in·a·yoke" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·he·shall·serve·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְהַגּ֗וֹי [and·the·nation] (30) + אֲשֶׁ֨ר [that] (501) + יָבִ֧יא [he·shall·bring] (23) + אֶת־צַוָּאר֛וֹ [neck] (704) + בְּעֹ֥ל [in·a·yoke] (102) + מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל [king·of·Babylon] (124) + וַעֲבָד֑וֹ [and·he·shall·serve·him] (88) + וְהִנַּחְתִּ֤יו [and·I·will·let·him·remain] (485) + עַל־אַדְמָתוֹ֙ [upon·ground] (551) + נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה [says·Hashem] (117) + וַעֲבָדָ֖הּ [and·he·shall·till·it] (87) + וְיָ֥שַׁב [and·he·shall·remain] (318) + בָּֽהּ [in·it] (7) = 3137.
Metzudat David
And I will set them at rest. They shall dwell in tranquility upon their land:
"And he shall serve it." He shall perform the labor of the land through plowing and sowing, dwell in it, and eat from its produce.
Metzudat Zion
And I will set it at rest. The word is derived from the term for "rest."
And I spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying: ‘Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
verse value 3290
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 77 letters. The shortest word is "in·a·yoke" (בְּעֹ֣ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "as·all·the·words" (כְּכׇל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים, 9 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·to·Zedekiah" (וְאֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֤ה), "bring" (הָבִ֨יאוּ), "your·necks" (אֶת־צַוְּארֵיכֶ֜ם). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "in·a·yoke" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah); "I·spoke" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 8 words. Full calculation: וְאֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֤ה [and·to·Zedekiah] (246) + מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ [king·Judah] (120) + דִּבַּ֔רְתִּי [I·spoke] (616) + כְּכׇל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים [as·all·the·words] (331) + הָאֵ֖לֶּה [these] (41) + לֵאמֹ֑ר [saying] (271) + הָבִ֨יאוּ [bring] (24) + אֶת־צַוְּארֵיכֶ֜ם [your·necks] (768) + בְּעֹ֣ל [in·a·yoke] (102) + מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֗ל [king·of·Babylon] (124) + וְעִבְד֥וּ [and·worship] (88) + אֹת֛וֹ [him] (407) + וְעַמּ֖וֹ [and·his·people] (122) + וִֽחְיֽוּ [and·live] (30) = 3290.
Rashi
"And to Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke, etc." All this Jeremiah said to the envoys of the kings.
Metzudat David
"And live!" You shall remain alive.
Malbim
The questions: Why does he recount to the envoys what he said to Zedekiah?
“And to Zedekiah” – meaning, if so, what benefit will it be to you to ally yourselves with Zedekiah, for he will not be able to protect you, since even he is obligated to submit his neck to the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as Hashem has spoken concerning the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
verse value 4120
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 62 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "why" (לָ֤מָּה, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·the·nation" (אֶל־הַגּ֕וֹי, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "to·the·nation" (אֶל־הַגּ֕וֹי), "not·will·serve" (לֹא־יַעֲבֹ֖ד). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "as" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "to·the·nation" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·in·the·pestilence', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
Metzudat David
"To the nation." Concerning the nation.
"Which shall not serve." Which shall not take upon himself of his own accord the yoke of servitude:
And hearken not to the words of the prophets that speak to you, saying: You shall not serve the king of Babylon, for they prophesy a lie to you.
verse value 3782
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 65 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·do·not·hear" (וְאַֽל־תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ, 8 letters). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "who·say" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Babylon', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 5 words.
Metzudat David
"You shall not serve." This means: You shall not be subjugated to him as slaves.
Malbim
"And do not listen"—this is a warning to Zedekiah and his officials.
For I have not sent them, says Hashem, and they prophesy falsely in My name; that I might drive you out, and that you might perish, you, and the prophets that prophesy to you.’
verse value 3996
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 71 letters. Verse gematria: 3996 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "says·Hashem" (נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "I·drive·out" (הַדִּיחִ֤י). The root נבא appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·lie', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 8 words.
Metzudat David
"So that I drive you out." They will bring it about that I drive you out into captivity, and there you shall perish, [both] you and the prophets; but when you accept upon yourselves the yoke of subjugation, you shall dwell in your land and pay the tax.
Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying: ‘Thus says Hashem: Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy to you, saying: Behold, the vessels of Hashem’S house shall now shortly be brought back from Babylon; for they prophesy a lie to you.
verse value 5894
Insights
Verse structure: 26 words, 118 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֒) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּה֮, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·to·the·priests" (וְאֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים֩, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 271: saying, saying. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "returned" (מוּשָׁבִ֥ים), "from·Babylon" (מִבָּבֶ֖לָה). The root אמר appears 3 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'haste', dividing the verse into phrases of 21 and 5 words.
Rashi
Behold, the vessels of the House of the Lord. They were exiled with Jehoiachin:
Metzudat David
"Behold, the vessels of the House of the Lord"—these are the vessels that were brought to Babylonia with the exile of Yechanyah.
"Brought back." They shall be brought back quickly from Babylon to Jerusalem:
Malbim
"And to the priests" – this is a warning to the priests and to the people, that because the false prophets prophesied to them that the vessels would be returned, they concluded that they would be freed from the yoke of the king of Babylon.
But if they be prophets, and if the word of Hashem be with them, let them now make intercession to Hashem of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of Hashem, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.
verse value 4880
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 94 letters. The shortest word is "abundance" (הֵ֔ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·if·prophets" (וְאִם־נְבִאִ֣ים, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·if·prophets" (וְאִם־נְבִאִ֣ים), "and·if·there·is" (וְאִם־יֵ֥שׁ), "let·them·entreat·now" (יִפְגְּעוּ־נָא֙). The root יהוה appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "king" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "Judah" (root יהודה, 134x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root יתר ("the·remaining") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 12 words.
Radak
"That the vessels not come." [The word בָּאוּ] is of the [same] pattern, as in "How goodly are your tents, O Jacob" (Numbers 24:5) and "my eyes brightened" (1 Samuel 14:29). And it is a past-tense form used in place of future, as if it said "the vessels will come." And even though they are not from the sense of bringing, like "an ephod came down in his hand" (1 Samuel 23:6), "their vessels returned empty" (Jeremiah 14:3).
"And the house of the king of Judah." As if [it said] "and in the house of." And the letter bet in "the house of the Name" that was mentioned stands in place of two.
Metzudat David
"Let them entreat the Lord." This means: Let them now pray to the Lord, not for the return of the vessels, but rather that the remaining vessels—which were not taken when he exiled Jehoiachin—should not be brought to Babylon.
Metzudat Zion
"Let them intercede." The meaning is prayer and supplication, like "and do not entreat me" (above, 2):
"Na." Now:
Malbim
And if they are prophets, meaning, since it was said to Jeremiah in prophecy that even the remaining vessels would be brought to Babylon, it is therefore impossible that the first group would return; and if there is the word of the Lord with them, surely it was said to them to the contrary, that the remaining vessels would be brought to Babylon. And therefore, let them intercede with the Lord so that the remaining vessels not be brought, meaning that a prophecy said to a prophet not in the manner of a mission but merely as information to him alone, surely He informed him of this so that he would pray and annul the decree (for what is said to him in the manner of a mission to the people is so that they might return in repentance, and his prayer does not avail). And this is what it says: "If there is the word of the Lord with them," by way of revealing the matter, then let them intercede with the Lord, for in this case prayer is effective.
For thus says Hashem of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city,
verse value 4036
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 65 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֣ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·concerning·the·bases" (וְעַל־הַמְּכֹנ֑וֹת, 9 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "to·the·pillars" (אֶל־הָֽעַמֻּדִ֔ים), "and·concerning·the·sea" (וְעַל־הַיָּ֖ם), "and·concerning·the·bases" (וְעַל־הַמְּכֹנ֑וֹת). The root עול appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·concerning·the·bases', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 6 words. Full calculation: כִּ֣י [for] (30) + כֹ֤ה [thus] (25) + אָמַר֙ [said] (241) + יְהֹוָ֣ה [Hashem] (26) + צְבָא֔וֹת [hosts] (499) + אֶל־הָֽעַמֻּדִ֔ים [to·the·pillars] (200) + וְעַל־הַיָּ֖ם [and·concerning·the·sea] (161) + וְעַל־הַמְּכֹנ֑וֹת [and·concerning·the·bases] (627) + וְעַל֙ [and·concerning] (106) + יֶ֣תֶר [remainder] (610) + הַכֵּלִ֔ים [the·vessels] (105) + הַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים [the·remaining] (711) + בָּעִ֥יר [in·the·city] (282) + הַזֹּֽאת [this] (413) = 4036.
Rashi
The bases. The Targum: "bases," just as it says, "and the basin and its base" (Exodus 35:16).
Radak
"To the pillars." Like "al" (upon), or, explained as "regarding," as in "and Abraham said concerning Sarah his wife" (Genesis 20:2).
Metzudat David
“to the pillars.” On the bronze pillars and on the bronze sea, etc.:
Metzudat Zion
The sea. It was made in the form of a basin, as it is stated in Kings:
The "machinot" (stands). From the language of "stand" and "base," and they were beneath the basins, as it is stated in Kings.
Malbim
(19–22) “For thus says the Lord, concerning the pillars...” and “For thus says the Lord concerning the vessels...”: This is because there were two declarations: A. That all the vessels would be taken to Babylon; B. That on the day of reckoning they would be restored from Babylon to the Land of Israel. The first declaration was fulfilled with regard to all the vessels, for they were all taken to Babylon, as stated at the end of the book. However, the second declaration—that subsequently they would be restored to the Land of Israel—was fulfilled only with regard to the golden and silver service vessels that were taken there. These were returned in the days of Cyrus the First, and five thousand and four hundred vessels were placed in the hands of Sheshbazzar the governor, as written in Ezra 1. But the pillars, the sea, and the bases were not returned, nor were the copper vessels that were taken from there. Therefore, He repeated His words: “Thus says the Lord” (the first utterance) “concerning the pillars and concerning the sea...,” regarding which He said they would be taken to Babylon; and furthermore, “Thus says the Lord concerning the remaining vessels,” which are the golden and silver vessels, regarding which He said they would be taken to Babylon, and He would bring them up and restore them to this place. Therefore, in the first utterance He said, “Thus says the Lord of Hosts,” and in the second He said, “The Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel.” For the fact that they would be taken to Babylon, He declared from the aspect of His being the God of Hosts, who rules according to His will; and the fact that they would subsequently be restored, He declared from the aspect of His being the God of Israel, who watches over them with His love.
which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;
verse value 4616
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 91 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "Nebuchadnezzar" (נְבֽוּכַדְנֶאצַּר֙, 9 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "not·he·took·them" (לֹֽא־לְקָחָ֗ם), "in·his·exiling" (בַּ֠גְלוֹת֠וֹ), "Jeconiah" (אֶת־יְכׇנְיָ֨ה). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "king" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "son·of·Jehoiakim" (root בין, 146x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Babylon', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Rashi
"When he exiled him" (baglotho). [Though written defectively,] this is like "behagloto" — i.e., the causative form, meaning "when he deported him."
"Nobles" (chorei). Like "sarei" [i.e., officials/princes].
Radak
"In his exile." Like "be-hagloto" [when he caused him to be exiled]. And when the letter heh fell away to ease the reading, its vowel remained on the functional letter bet.
"Nobles of Judah." The great ones of Judah, like "her nobles" [in] "there is no one there to proclaim kingship" (Isaiah 34:12); and "I contended with the nobles" (Nehemiah 5:7).
Metzudat David
"When he exiled him." At the time that he [Nebuchadnezzar] exiled [them] to Babylon, [together] with Jeconiah and all the officers of Judah and Jerusalem:
Metzudat Zion
"In his exiling [him]." [To be understood] as if it were written "in his causing [him] to be exiled" (be-hagloto):
"Chori." Thus are the great princes called, and likewise, "And I will contend with the chori" (Nehemiah 5:7), which is from the language of "chior" and "lavan," meaning pallor and whiteness. And when the lowly are called "chasukhim," as it is stated, "Let him not stand before chasukhim" (Proverbs 22:29):
indeed, thus says Hashem of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of Hashem, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem:
verse value 3892
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 65 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֥ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·Judah" (מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 26: Hashem, Hashem. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "upon·the·vessels" (עַל־הַכֵּלִ֗ים). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: כִּ֣י [for] (30) + כֹ֥ה [thus] (25) + אָמַ֛ר [said] (241) + יְהֹוָ֥ה [Hashem] (26) + צְבָא֖וֹת [hosts] (499) + אֱלֹהֵ֣י [the·God·of] (46) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + עַל־הַכֵּלִ֗ים [upon·the·vessels] (205) + הַנּֽוֹתָרִים֙ [the·remaining] (711) + בֵּ֣ית [house·of] (412) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + וּבֵ֥ית [and·the·house·of] (418) + מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה [king·Judah] (120) + וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם [and·Jerusalem] (592) = 3892.
Metzudat David
"For thus says the Lord, etc." Because the matter was lengthy when He said, "which He did not take, etc.," He stated again, "For thus says the Lord, etc." And this is the manner of the Scripture.
They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be, until the day that I remember them, says Hashem, and bring them up, and restore them to this place.’
verse value 2911
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "until" (עַ֠ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·I·will·bring·them·up" (וְהַֽעֲלִיתִים֙, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "they·will·be·gone·in" (יוּבָ֖אוּ), "I·remember" (פׇּקְדִ֤י), "and·I·will·bring·them·up" (וְהַֽעֲלִיתִים֙). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "they·will·be" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "they·will·be·gone·in" (root בוא, 211x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they·will·be', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 9 words. Full calculation: בָּבֶ֥לָה [to·Babylon] (39) + יוּבָ֖אוּ [they·will·be·gone·in] (25) + וְשָׁ֣מָּה [and·name] (351) + יִֽהְי֑וּ [they·will·be] (31) + עַ֠ד [until] (74) + י֣וֹם [day] (56) + פׇּקְדִ֤י [I·remember] (194) + אֹתָם֙ [them] (441) + נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה [says·Hashem] (117) + וְהַֽעֲלִיתִים֙ [and·I·will·bring·them·up] (571) + וַהֲשִׁ֣יבֹתִ֔ים [and·I·will·restore·them] (773) + אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם [to·the·place] (222) + הַזֶּֽה [this] (17) = 2911.
Rashi
"Until the day of My visiting them." In the days of Cyrus, as is explicitly stated in the Book of Ezra:
Radak
“Until the day of My visitation.” Through Cyrus, King of Persia, who granted permission to Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah, and he brought them up with the exiles.
Metzudat David
“Until the day that I remember them.” Until the time when I will remember them, and this was in the days of Cyrus. Then I will bring them up from there and restore them to this place.
Rashi
Radak