Zedekiah proclaims liberty to the Hebrew servants and the princes turn and bring them back into subjection; the covenant of the calf cut in two is invoked: 'I proclaim for you a liberty — to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
The word which came to Jeremiah from Hashem, 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:
verse value 5824
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 103 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 5824 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "from" (מֵאֵ֣ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Nebuchadrezzar" (וּנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר, 10 letters). Words sharing gematria 441: from, and·against·all·her·cities. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·Nebuchadrezzar" (וּנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר), "and·all·kingdoms·of" (וְכׇל־מַמְלְכ֣וֹת), "rule" (מֶמְשֶׁ֨לֶת). The root כל appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that·came" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 12 words.
Metzudat David
“His hand rules.” That is, He rules over them.
“And all the peoples.” For also from other nations they came to his aid. “Her cities.” He means those adjacent to it [Jerusalem].
“Leimor [to say].” It refers back to “the word,” etc., “from the Lord, leimor.”
Metzudat Zion
His host. The armies of his people:
Malbim
"And all kingdoms and all peoples"—this refers to the kingdoms that were under his rule, as well as other nations that were not under his dominion but joined in the siege of Jerusalem out of hatred for Israel.
Thus says Hashem, the God of Israel: Go, and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him: Thus says Hashem: Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire;
verse value 5681
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 94 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 5681 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֚ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Zedekiah" (אֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 647: and·you·shall·say, and·you·shall·say. The root אמר appears 4 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "thus·says" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·Zedekiah" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 13 words.
Metzudat David
"And you shall say to him." This implies that you should speak to him alone, and there should be no one else present when you address him.
Malbim
(2-3) "And you shall say to Zedekiah, and you shall say to him": He commanded him [Jeremiah] to say this in prophecy to the people, and also to say so to Zedekiah himself. And the meaning is: You shall say it repeatedly, to make it known to all. And this was the reason that Zedekiah imprisoned him for this prophecy, as stated above in chapter 32, because the prophecy above was prophesied to the people, for such is the style of the prophecy there, and it concludes there: "When you fight, you shall not succeed," all of which is a warning to the people. Therefore, he imprisoned him, for regarding what he said in prophecy to him personally, it was not fitting for him to be angry with him, since he himself had asked him repeatedly about the matter of the Lord. Therefore, it is recounted here that what Jeremiah prophesied many times, even regarding this, he was commanded by the Lord.
and you shall not escape out of his hand, but shall surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and your eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with you mouth to mouth, and you shall go to Babylon.
verse value 6680
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 78 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֤א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·your·eyes" (וְֽ֠עֵינֶ֠יךָ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "surely" (תָּפֹ֣שׂ), "and·in·his·hand" (וּבְיָד֖וֹ), "and·his·mouth" (וּפִ֛יהוּ). The root יד appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "he·will·speak" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·will·be·given', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 9 words.
Metzudat David
"And it shall be given into his hand." This teaches that those who seize you shall not put you to death.
And his mouth. Of the king of Babylon:
Metzudat Zion
"You shall surely be seized." The matter is being held by force:
Yet hear the word of Hashem, O Zedekiah king of Judah: Thus says Hashem concerning you: You shall not die by the sword;
verse value 2509
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 49 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 2509 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "indeed" (אַ֚ךְ, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·word·of·Hashem" (דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה, 7 letters). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "thus·says" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: אַ֚ךְ [indeed] (21) + שְׁמַ֣ע [hear] (410) + דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה [the·word·of·Hashem] (232) + צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ [Zedekiah] (215) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר [thus·says] (266) + יְהֹוָה֙ [Hashem] (26) + עָלֶ֔יךָ [upon·you] (130) + לֹ֥א [not] (31) + תָמ֖וּת [die] (846) + בֶּחָֽרֶב [in·the·sword] (212) = 2509.
Radak
“Only.” Herein you shall find comfort: even though you will go into exile, you will not die by the sword.
Metzudat David
"You shall not die by the sword." For even Nebuchadnezzar will not kill you.
Malbim
Thus says the Lord concerning you: This means that this calamity is due to the sin of the generation, and because of their sin you too will be captured (for Zedekiah was righteous). Nevertheless, concerning you, by virtue of your righteousness, the Lord declared that you shall not die by the sword, for those who die by the king’s sword are not mourned. Rather, you shall die in peace; therefore, they shall burn incense for you, etc., and they shall mourn for you. For even though the nature of the matter would require that you be put to death according to the law, on account of having violated the oath, you will be saved from death because I have spoken. Furthermore, this implies that when the word of the Lord is for good, it will not return empty but will be fulfilled in every way.
you shall die in peace; and with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings that were before you, so shall they make a burning for you; and they shall lament you: ‘Ah lord! ’ for I have spoken the word, says Hashem.
verse value 6222
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 91 letters. The shortest word is "so" (כֵּ֚ן, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·as·burnings·of" (וּֽכְמִשְׂרְפ֣וֹת, 8 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·as·burnings·of" (וּֽכְמִשְׂרְפ֣וֹת), "your·fathers" (אֲ֠בוֹתֶ֠יךָ), "they·will·burn·for·you" (יִשְׂרְפוּ־לָ֔ךְ). 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "who·were" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "for·word" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they·will·wail·for·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 3 words.
Rashi
"In peace you shall die." Our Sages taught that Nebuchadnezzar died during his days, meaning that throughout all the days of Nebuchadnezzar, his prisoners did not go forth from their imprisonment. And when Nebuchadnezzar died, Zedekiah went forth from the house of imprisonment, and on the following day he died, and they buried him with honor.
"And in the burnings of your fathers." Such was their practice: to burn, for the kings, their beds and vessels of use.
Radak
"In peace you shall die." Although his eyes were gouged out, since he would not die by the sword but would die on his bed, and they would accord him the honor that is accorded to kings — this is what is meant by "in peace." And our Sages, of blessed memory, said: What is [the meaning of] "in peace"? That Nebuchadnezzar died in his [Zedekiah's] days.
"And with the burnings." Just as they used to burn on their beds spices and perfumed kinds, as it is stated regarding Asa, and our Sages of blessed memory explained: What did they burn for them? Their beds and their vessels of use.
For I have spoken the word. For this is the word that I have spoken; therefore you shall know that it will be fulfilled:
Metzudat David
"In peace shall you die." Our Sages of blessed memory said: After Nebuchadnezzar died, they brought Zedekiah out from prison, and he died on his bed.
And regarding the funeral pyres: Just as they burned for your fathers, the kings, their beds and their utensils, so shall they burn for you. For such was the custom to burn for kings, as it is stated, “And they burned for him,” etc. (2 Chronicles 16).
"And, 'Ah, lord!'" When they mourn for you, they will say, "Alas, alas, for the death of the lord."
"I have spoken." And surely it shall be fulfilled:
Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,
verse value 2268
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 53 letters. Verse gematria: 2268 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "king" (מֶ֣לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Zedekiah" (אֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ, 8 letters). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Zedekiah" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "and·spoke" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah); "king" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words.
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 alone remained of the cities of Judah as fortified cities.
verse value 4756
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 83 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "upon·Jerusalem" (עַל־יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: Judah, for, Judah. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "the·remaining" (הַנּוֹתָר֑וֹת), "to·Lachish" (אֶל־לָכִישׁ֙), "and·to·Azekah" (וְאֶל־עֲזֵקָ֔ה). The root על appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "upon·Jerusalem" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah); "king·of·Babylon" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·remaining', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 9 words.
Radak
“Lachish and Azekah.” This is to be understood as “upon Lachish and upon Azekah,” and there are many similar cases, as we have written.
Metzudat David
The remaining ones. That which has not yet been conquered:
"Against Lachish." [This refers] to Lachish and to Azekah, for he [the king of Babylon] had [already] conquered all the other [cities of Judah] and destroyed their fortifications, [so these two alone remained standing].
The word that came to Jeremiah from Hashem, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty to them;
verse value 5733
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 74 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 5733 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "from" (מֵאֵ֣ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Jeremiah" (אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "cutting" (כְּרֹת֩), "all·the·people" (אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָם֙). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "that·came" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "to·Jeremiah" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root דרור ("a flowing") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 11 words.
Rashi
"After the king had made a covenant." In the seventh year of his reign, as we learned in Seder Olam: "And it came to pass in the seventh year, that men came from the elders of Judah to seek the Lord." They said to Ezekiel: "[Regarding] a slave of a priest whom his master sold — what is the law as to whether he may eat terumah?" That is to say, because they wanted to assert that he [Zedekiah] was not punished for [transgressing] the commandments on account of their having taken back the slaves.
Radak
The matter [occurred] after King Zedekiah had made a covenant. They returned from this sin and made a covenant to observe the proclamation of liberty. And in Seder Olam it is explained that what is stated in the Book of Ezekiel, "And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain men of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before Me" — this refers to the seventh year of the reign of Zedekiah, and in that very year King Zedekiah made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty to them. The interpretation is: to them, meaning to slaves and maidservants, as it is stated, "to release, each his servant, etc." And here the pronoun precedes its referent, similar to "and she saw him — the child," and other verses like it.
Metzudat David
"To proclaim a release for them." This means: to proclaim a release for the male and female slaves, as will be explained in the following verse.
Metzudat Zion
Dror. The matter of freedom and liberty, as it is said: "And you shall proclaim liberty" (Leviticus 25:10).
Malbim
"To call them 'freedom' (deror), meaning that the matter was brought to the ears of the people that through this covenant they would call themselves 'freedom,' for until now none of them was secure in himself, lest he become poor and be sold into slavery, and through this enactment they would be free all the days of their lives. And the king called to the people, not to the nobles, for he thought that the nobles would not agree to this, since they would not fear the concern of poverty; only the people would agree."
that 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;
verse value 4665
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 65 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֣ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "maid" (אֶת־שִׁפְחָת֛וֹ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 311: man, man. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·Hebrew" (וְהָעִבְרִיָּ֖ה), "with·a·Jew" (בִּיהוּדִ֥י), "his·brother" (אָחִ֖יהוּ). The root איש appears 3 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "man" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah); "to·let·go" (root שלח, 84x in Jeremiah); "his·slave" (root עבד, 73x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root שפחה ("maid") in Jeremiah. First appearance of the root עברי ("Hebrew") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'free', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: לְ֠שַׁלַּ֠ח [to·let·go] (368) + אִ֣ישׁ [man] (311) + אֶת־עַבְדּ֞וֹ [his·slave] (483) + וְאִ֧ישׁ [and·man] (317) + אֶת־שִׁפְחָת֛וֹ [maid] (1195) + הָעִבְרִ֥י [Hebrew] (287) + וְהָעִבְרִיָּ֖ה [and·Hebrew] (298) + חׇפְשִׁ֑ים [free] (438) + לְבִלְתִּ֧י [and·not·to] (472) + עֲבׇד־בָּ֛ם [made·bondmen·of·them] (118) + בִּיהוּדִ֥י [with·a·Jew] (37) + אָחִ֖יהוּ [his·brother] (30) + אִֽישׁ [man] (311) = 4665.
Radak
"That none should enslave them." [This refers] to the Hebrew man and the Hebrew woman [mentioned above], and afterward he added a clarification, saying, "to the Jew, his brother, a man" — and this is like a reversal of "that no man should enslave the Jew, his brother." Likewise, "a place there [is] a grave" [means] "a place of a grave [is] there," and similar cases to these, where the earlier [word] is [really] the later one.
Metzudat David
"To send away." Now it explains to whom the release applies and what it is, and it says, "to send away, each man his servant," etc., "free." And for further clarification it says, "not to enslave among them, a Jew, his brother, any man" — and this is a verse with inverted word order, meaning: no man shall enslave his Jewish brother anymore, after he had served him six years, in accordance with the law of the Torah.
Malbim
Regarding the verse "to send," he enacted two enactments: 1. To send a man his slave free; [this applies to] slaves who are under their authority and have not served six years. 2. Concerning the future, so that no man shall enslave his Jewish brother in the future.
and 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;
verse value 6906
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 84 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֣ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·princes" (כׇל־הַשָּׂרִ֨ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 432: and·they·heard, and·they·heard. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "that·entered" (אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ), "in·the·covenant" (בַבְּרִ֗ית). The root שמע appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·entered" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "and·they·heard" (root שמע, 184x in Jeremiah); "all·the·princes" (root כל, 167x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'anymore', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 2 words.
Metzudat David
"And they heard, etc." – This means that they accepted upon themselves to send each man his slave, etc.
“And they heard, and they sent.” They accepted upon themselves to send, and indeed they sent. And since the matter was lengthened by what was said regarding “to send,” etc., therefore the text repeats and says, “And they heard.” And this is the manner of Scripture.
Metzudat Zion
"And they heard." The matter of receiving words:
Malbim
"And they heard": And despite all this, the officials also heard the king's word. They heard to make the covenant, both to send the slaves away free, and for the future, not to enslave them anymore from now on and onward. And also, "and they heard and sent": after they had made the covenant, they heard and acted in practice, and they sent them away.
but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids;
verse value 5728
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 74 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·maids" (וְאֶת־הַשְּׁפָח֔וֹת, 9 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·they·returned" (וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙), "after·so" (אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן), "the·slaves" (אֶת־הָֽעֲבָדִים֙). The root שוב appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "and·they·returned" (root שוב, 106x in Jeremiah); "they·sent" (root שלח, 84x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'free', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words.
Radak
"Vayyakhbishum." [This is] the ketiv (written form, with a yod); "vayyikhbeshum" is the qere (read form, without the yod). The meaning is the same, except that this [ketiv form] is from the augmented conjugation, and that [qere form] is from the simple (Qal) conjugation.
Metzudat David
“And they returned.” After this, they repented and returned the slaves, etc., and took possession of them by force, to make them their slaves and maidservants.
Metzudat Zion
"And they subdued them." The term denotes taking possession by force, as in "and some of our daughters are being subdued" (Nehemiah 5:5).
Malbim
"And they returned" — it appears that at that time many of the common people had become subjugated as slaves to the creditors to whom they were indebted. During the siege, the king feared that they would rebel by defecting to Nebuchadnezzar in order to be freed from slavery, and therefore they made a covenant to release them — just as happened with the Romans in ancient times, when during a war they were compelled to proclaim release for those enslaved to them for their debts, in order to quiet the rebellion, as is known from the histories of ancient times. But after the siege was lifted, they turned back and held them again as slaves and maidservants. In this they sinned in two ways: first, in that they transgressed the covenant and the oath; second, in that they subjugated them as slaves after they had been free, which is outright robbery — the robbery of human souls.
therefore the word of Hashem came to Jeremiah from Hashem, saying:
verse value 1303
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 30 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "from" (מֵאֵ֥ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Jeremiah" (אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ, 8 letters). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·Jeremiah" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). Full calculation: וַיְהִ֤י [and·it·was] (31) + דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ [the·word·of·Hashem] (232) + אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ [to·Jeremiah] (302) + מֵאֵ֥ת [from] (441) + יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (26) + לֵאמֹֽר [saying] (271) = 1303.
Metzudat David
"And there was the word of the Lord." This is that which is stated at the beginning of the matter: "The word that was," etc. And since the words were lengthy, the text repeats and says, "And there was the word of the Lord."
Thus says Hashem, 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:
verse value 5259
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 74 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה, 4 letters) and the longest is "with·your·fathers" (אֶת־אֲב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם, 9 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "I·brought·out" (הוֹצִאִ֤י), "slave" (עֲבָדִ֖ים). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "thus·says" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "from·land·of" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 12 words.
Metzudat David
"On the day I brought them out." "At the time I brought them out," etc. And it refers to the standing at Mount Sinai, for then He made a covenant concerning all the commandments in their entirety.
Malbim
"On the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt" — that just as I brought them out from the house of bondage, so they should not enslave their brothers, since they [their brothers] had gone out to freedom just as they themselves had.
’At the end of seven years you shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, that has been sold to you, and has served you six years, you shall let him go free from you’; but your fathers hearkened not to Me, neither inclined their ear.
verse value 7540
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 92 letters. Verse gematria: 7540 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֗, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·is·sold" (אֲשֶֽׁר־יִמָּכֵ֣ר, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 400: years, years. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "you·shall·send·away" (תְּֽשַׁלְּח֡וּ), "that·is·sold" (אֲשֶֽׁר־יִמָּכֵ֣ר), "and·shall·serve·you" (וַעֲבָֽדְךָ֙). The root שנה appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·is·sold" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "and·not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "to·me" (root אל, 204x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root שש ("six") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 6 words.
Metzudat David
"After the end of." This means "from the beginning," for the beginning is called an "extremity," just as the end is.
"Seven years." [This refers] to the years of his servitude, as it explains afterward, "and he shall serve you six years," and after that "you shall send him away free."
And they did not heed that commandment, and they profaned it.
Malbim
"At the end of seven years": This means that they were warned by the commandment of the Torah to release him after six years, but they did not heed the commandment of the Torah, nor did they incline their ears to the prophets who rebuked them for this matter.
And you were now turned, and had done that which is right in Mine eyes, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and you had made a covenant before Me in the house whereon My name is called;
verse value 7965
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 76 letters. The shortest word is "you" (אַתֶּ֜ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·is·called" (אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֥א, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 311: man, to·his·neighbor. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "the·straight" (אֶת־הַיָּשָׁר֙), "and·you·cut" (וַתִּכְרְת֤וּ), "that·is·called" (אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֥א). 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·is·called" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "upon·him" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah); "man" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·his·neighbor', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 7 words.
Metzudat David
"And you returned." And you returned in repentance today, etc.
To his fellow: To his Hebrew slave.
“On whom My name is called.” For it is called the House of the Lord:
Malbim
"And you turned back" — you, in wishing to rectify the sin of your fathers, turned in repentance to the opposite extreme: you added a fence, [proclaiming] release even before six years — though this is not an obligation as a matter of strict law, but rather, "you did what was right in My eyes," beyond the letter of the law; and also, "and you made a covenant."
but you turned and profaned My name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom you had let go free at their pleasure, to return; and you brought them into subjection, to be to you for servants and for handmaids.
verse value 9884
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 89 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֤ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·you·had·sent·away" (אֲשֶׁר־שִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 714: and·you·returned, and·you·brought·back. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·you·profaned" (וַתְּחַלְּל֣וּ), "that·you·had·sent·away" (אֲשֶׁר־שִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥ם), "for·their·soul" (לְנַפְשָׁ֑ם). The root שוב appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·you·had·sent·away" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "to·be" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "man" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·their·soul', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 6 words.
Metzudat David
"And ye profaned My name."—By transgressing the oath of the covenant.
"And you returned." And you took back, each man his servant, etc.
For their soul. To go according to their will:
"And you subdued them." And you seized them by force.
Metzudat Zion
"And you profaned [it]." From the root of profanation (chalal):
For their souls. The meaning of "desire" is similar to "if it is your desire" (Genesis 23:8).
Malbim
"And you turned back and did evil in two ways": A. "And you profaned My name" — in that you transgressed the terms of the covenant; B. "And you brought back, etc." — those whom you had sent away free, and you subjugated them, which is outright robbery, as above.
Therefore thus says Hashem: You have not hearkened to Me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbour; behold, I proclaim for you a liberty, says Hashem, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
verse value 7800
Insights
Verse structure: 27 words, 122 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֒) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 7800 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "therefore" (לָכֵן֮, 3 letters) and the longest is "not·you·hearkened" (לֹא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 410: a flowing, a flowing. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "to·his·brother" (לְאָחִ֖יו), "to·the·sword" (אֶל־הַחֶ֙רֶב֙), "to·the·pestilence" (אֶל־הַדֶּ֣בֶר). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "thus·says" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·the·sword" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·his·neighbor', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 15 words.
Rashi
"I am calling to you, 'Freedom.' From Me, who is not your Master to save you, and you shall become ownerless, to the sword and to the famine."
Radak
Behold, I proclaim a release for you, says the Lord, to the sword, to the plague, and to the famine. For all of them will rule over you, and there will be no master for you to restrain you from them, for you will be free to them.
"לזעוה" – It is written as "לזועה" and read as "לזעוה," and the meaning is one: the sense of movement and shaking. The only difference is that the letters are reversed, as in "כבש" and "כשב" and similar cases.
Metzudat David
"Proclaim liberty." This means that the proclamation of liberty shall be fulfilled.
"Behold, I proclaim release to you." This means that I am setting you free from My authority, so that you are abandoned to the sword, etc., and I will no longer be your Master to restrain you from their hands.
"To be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth." This means that they will all strike you with dread.
Metzudat Zion
To the fear. The matter of dread:
Malbim
"Behold, I proclaim release for you" — for whoever is a servant of God is free from chance occurrences, and nothing else has dominion over him; and when he goes forth free from the dominion of God, he is under the dominion of chance occurrences, as stated above (chapter 15), "Where shall we go forth?" etc., "those destined for the sword," etc. And this is what is meant by "Behold, I proclaim release for you." And this is the punishment for having subjugated them as slaves. And concerning their having transgressed the covenant, it says, "and I will give the men who transgressed the covenant" — the covenant being two-fold: one, the covenant of the Torah from of old, and this is what is meant by "those who transgress My covenant"; two, the covenant they made now, and therefore it says, "who did not uphold the terms of the covenant that they made before Me."
And 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;
verse value 8876
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 87 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֤ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·men" (אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 626: they·cut, they·cut. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "covenant" (אֶת־בְּרִתִ֔י), "not·they·performed" (לֹא־הֵקִ֙ימוּ֙), "two" (לִשְׁנַ֔יִם). The root אשר appears 3 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "words·of" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah); "the·men" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·my·face', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 7 words.
Rashi
"The calf which they cut in two." When they went back and enslaved them [the freed slaves] again, they all made a covenant to rebel against the Omnipresent. They cut the calf in two and passed between its halves in order to rebel against Him. This was a strong and complete covenant, saying: "Thus shall be torn and divided anyone who transgresses it."
Radak
"The calf which they cut in two." This is the manner of cutting a covenant, as in the covenant of our father Abraham between the pieces.
Metzudat David
“Which they did not establish.” The duplication of the matter is stated in what is written:
"Which they made before Me." And he returns to explain that they cut the calf into two parts and passed between the parts, for such was the manner of those who make a covenant, as it is stated regarding the Covenant Between the Parts: "And he cut them in the midst, etc. And behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces" (Genesis 15:17–18). And it was the agent of the Omnipresent.
Metzudat Zion
Those who pass by. Those who nullify:
"They fulfilled." The word is in the sense of "fulfillment."
"Its halves." Its parts, as in "but the bird he did not divide" (ibid. 15):
the 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; .
verse value 3724
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 57 letters. The shortest word is "people·of" (עַ֣ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·the·priests" (וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·princes·of" (וְשָׂרֵ֣י), "the·chamberlains" (הַסָּֽרִסִים֙), "parts·of" (בִּתְרֵ֥י). The root שר appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "earth" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah); "and·them·of" (root כל, 167x in Jeremiah); "between" (root בין, 146x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'earth', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words. Full calculation: שָׂרֵ֨י [princes·of] (510) + יְהוּדָ֜ה [Judah] (30) + וְשָׂרֵ֣י [and·princes·of] (516) + יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם [Jerusalem] (586) + הַסָּֽרִסִים֙ [the·chamberlains] (375) + וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים [and·the·priests] (136) + וְכֹ֖ל [and·them·of] (56) + עַ֣ם [people·of] (110) + הָאָ֑רֶץ [earth] (296) + הָעֹ֣בְרִ֔ים [who·passed] (327) + בֵּ֖ין [between] (62) + בִּתְרֵ֥י [parts·of] (612) + הָעֵֽגֶל [calf] (108) = 3724.
Radak
"The princes of Judah and the princes of Jerusalem." The princes of Judah are the officials who come from the cities outside of Jerusalem, and it subsequently states, "and the eunuchs," who are the princes of the king's house.
Metzudat David
Princes of Judah. And they are the princes of Judah, etc., who passed between the halves of the calf.
Metzudat Zion
The eunuchs. A type of authority:
Those who pass. The word is from the root *avar* (to pass):
I 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 to the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.
verse value 4770
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 65 letters. Verse gematria: 4770 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "in·hand·of" (בְּיַ֣ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "enemy" (אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם, 6 letters). The root יד appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·shall·be" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "earth" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah); "and·I·will·give" (root נתן, 141x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'their·soul', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְנָתַתִּ֤י [and·I·will·give] (866) + אוֹתָם֙ [them] (447) + בְּיַ֣ד [in·hand·of] (16) + אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם [enemy] (68) + וּבְיַ֖ד [and·in·hand·of] (22) + מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י [who·seek] (452) + נַפְשָׁ֑ם [their·soul] (470) + וְהָיְתָ֤ה [and·it·shall·be] (426) + נִבְלָתָם֙ [their·carcass] (522) + לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל [to·food] (121) + לְע֥וֹף [to·fowl·of] (186) + הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם [heaven] (395) + וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת [beast] (483) + הָאָֽרֶץ [earth] (296) = 4770.
Metzudat David
And I will give. Because the discourse was lengthy, He returned to say, "And I will give them."
"For food, etc." – For they shall not bury them, because they are too numerous.
"And the beast of the earth." [This refers to] the wild animal of the earth, for "chayah" (living creature) is included in the general category of "behemah" (beast).
Malbim
And I will give them into the hand of their enemies, for their transgression of the covenant of the Torah; and their carcass shall be food, corresponding to the covenant they made between the pieces of the calf.
And 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.
verse value 3703
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 73 letters. The shortest word is "I·will·give" (אֶתֵּן֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Zedekiah" (וְאֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 22: and·in·hand·of, and·in·hand·of. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·Zedekiah" (וְאֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ), "the·ones·who·went·up" (הָעֹלִ֖ים), "from·upon·you" (מֵעֲלֵיכֶֽם). The root יד appears 3 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "from·upon·you" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah); "king·Judah" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "I·will·give" (root נתן, 141x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'their·soul', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
Rashi
“The ones going up from among you.” This was on account of the army of Pharaoh that went out from Egypt, as is explained in this book (37:).
Radak
“The ones who go up from you.” Just as it is written in this book below: “And the host of Pharaoh went out from Egypt…” and “the Chaldeans heard and went up from Jerusalem.”
Metzudat David
"And into the hand of the army, etc." These are the enemies and those who seek their life, and it is a repetition of the matter stated in:
“The ones who have gone up from you” — those who departed from you upon hearing that the Egyptians had come to aid you, as it is stated: “And the army of Pharaoh went out from Egypt, and the Chaldeans heard…” and “they went up from Jerusalem” (below, 37).
Metzudat Zion
The ones who withdrew. The meaning is departure/removal, as in "and they withdrew from Jerusalem" (below, 37):
Malbim
"And Zedekiah": Even though he did not pass between the pieces of the calf [i.e., was not himself party to that covenant], it was in his power to protest, and he did not protest.
Behold, I will command, says Hashem, 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.
verse value 5051
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 81 letters. The shortest word is "in·the·fire" (בָאֵ֑שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "says·Hashem" (נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 115: they, on. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "commanding" (מְצַוֶּ֜ה), "and·they·will·capture·it" (וּלְכָד֖וּהָ). 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "to·the·city" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "on" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·fire', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 6 words.
Rashi
"Behold, I command. And the army of Pharaoh shall return to its land, and the Chaldeans shall return upon you:"
Metzudat David
"I am about to command." This means: I will awaken their hearts.
"And I will bring them back." I will bring back to this place the army of the king of Babylon.
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim