The big picture
Jeremiah 27 opens in verse 1 with “In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve…”, and closes in verse 22 with “They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit…” Repeated or prominent terms include king, LORD, Babylon, serve, Judah. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 22Jeremiah 27:1-8
1–8: In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of…
Jeremiah 27:1–8 opens with “In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto…” and reaches “And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 27 develops its own movement around king, LORD, Babylon, serve, Judah, with particular weight carried by king, LORD, serve.
Context that brings the passage to life
“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD…” Naming Jehoiakim and Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of…” Naming Ammonites and Edom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beast, earth, ground. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Jeremiah 27:1-8
King James Version1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD , saying,
2Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,
3And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;
4And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;
5I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.
6And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.
7And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.
8And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD , with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.
Jeremiah 27:9-16
9–16: Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to…
Jeremiah 27:9–16 opens with “Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to…” and reaches “Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD ; Hearken not to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 27 develops its own movement around king, LORD, Babylon, serve, Judah, with particular weight carried by Babylon, king, prophesy.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Jeremiah 27:9-16
King James Version9Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:
10For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.
11But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD ; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.
12I spake also 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.
13Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
14Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
15For I have not sent them, saith the LORD , yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.
16Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD ; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD’s house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
Jeremiah 27:17-22
17–22: Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore…
Jeremiah 27:17–22 opens with “Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid…” and reaches “They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 27 develops its own movement around king, LORD, Babylon, serve, Judah, with particular weight carried by LORD, Babylon, concerning.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of…” Naming Babylon and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 27:17-22
King James Version17Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?
18But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD , and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.
19For thus saith the LORD 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,
20Which 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;
21Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD , and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;
22They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD ; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 27:1 begins with “In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD , saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 27:11 forms a natural hinge: “But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD…”
The final note
Jeremiah 27:22 leaves the reader with “They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD ; then will I bring them up, and restore them to…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words king, LORD, Babylon, serve, Judah, prophesy help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What makes the deception more than a harmless family trick?
Jacob exploits his father's blindness, impersonates his brother and invokes God while lying.
What does the family lose?
Trust, safety and proximity: Jacob must flee, and Esau carries murderous resentment.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.