The Yoke of Babylon
Jeremiah 34
The Lord instructs Jeremiah to make yokes and send them, through visiting messengers, to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon, along with a message that the Lord has given all these lands to Nebuchadnezzar and that any nation refusing his yoke will be struck with sword and famine. Jeremiah delivers the same message to Zedekiah, warning against prophets who falsely promise a quick return of the temple vessels from Babylon.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
2
ThomsonThus said the Lord, Make thee chains and yokes and put them about thy neck;
BrentonThus said the Lord; Make to thyself bonds and yokes, and put them about thy neck,
GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, ποίησον σεαυτῷ δεσμοὺς καὶ κλοιοὺς, καὶ περίθου περὶ τὸν τράχηλόν σου.
KJVThus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,
JPS’Thus saith the LORD to me: Make thee bands and bars, and put them upon thy neck;
3
Thomsonand thou shalt send them to the king of Idumea and to the king of Moab and to the king of the Ammonites and to the king of Tyre and to the king of Sidon by the hands of their ambassadors, who are coming to meet those sent to Jerusalem to Sedekias king of Juda.
Brentonand thou shalt send them to the king of Idumea, 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 Sidon, by the hands of their messengers that come to meet them at Jerusalem to Sedekias king of Juda.
GreekΚαὶ ἀποστελεῖς αὐτοὺς πρὸς βασιλέα Ἰδουμαίας, καὶ πρὸς βασιλέα Μωὰβ, καὶ πρὸς βασιλέα υἱῶν Ἀμμὼν, καὶ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Τύρου, καὶ πρὸς βασιλέα Σιδῶνος, ἐν χερσὶν ἀγγέλων αὐτῶν τῶν ἐρχομένων εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτῶν εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ πρὸς Σεδεκίαν βασιλέα Ἰούδα.
KJVAnd 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;
JPSand 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 unto Zedekiah king of Judah;
4
ThomsonAnd thou shalt charge them to say to their masters,
BrentonAnd thou shalt commission them to say to their lords, Thus said the Lord God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to your lords;
GreekΚαὶ συντάξεις αὐτοῖς πρὸς τοὺς κυρίους αὐτῶν εἰπεῖν, οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ, οὕτως ἐρεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς κυρίους ὑμῶν,
KJVAnd command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;
JPSand give them a charge unto their masters, saying: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Thus shall ye say unto your masters:
5
ThomsonThus said the Lord, the God of Israel: Thus shall you say to your masters, As I have made the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, I can give it to whom it seemeth good in Mine eyes.
BrentonI have made the earth by my great power, and with my high arm, and I will give it to whomsoever it shall seem good in mine eyes.
Greekὅτι ἐγὼ ἐποίησα τὴν γῆν ἐν τῇ ἰσχύϊ μου τῇ μεγάλῃ, καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐπιχείρῳ μου τῷ ὑψηλῷ, καὶ δώσω αὐτὴν ᾧ ἐὰν δόξῃ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου·
KJVI 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.
JPSI 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 unto whom it seemeth right unto Me.
6
ThomsonI have given this land to Nabuchodonosar king of Babylon to serve him, and the beasts of the field to work for him.
BrentonI gave the earth to Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon to serve him, and the wild beasts of the field to labour for him.
GreekἜδωκα τὴν γῆν τῷ Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλεῖ Βαβυλῶνος δουλεύειν αὐτῷ, καὶ τὰ θηρία τοῦ ἀγροῦ ἐργάζεσθαι αὐτῷ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.
8
ThomsonAnd the nation and the kingdom—all who will not submit their neck to the yoke of the king of Babylon, them I will visit with sword and famine, said the Lord, until they are consumed by his hand.
BrentonAnd the nation and kingdom, all that shall not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, with sword and famine will I visit them, saith the Lord, until they are consumed by his hand.
GreekΚαὶ τὸ ἔθνος καὶ ἡ βασιλεία, ὅσοι ἐὰν μὴ ἐμβάλωσι τὸν τράχηλον αὐτῶν ὑπὸ τὸν ζυγὸν βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος, ἐν μαχαίρᾳ καὶ ἐν λιμῷ ἐπισκέψομαι αὐτοὺς, εἶπε Κύριος, ἕως ἐκλίπωσιν ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.
9
ThomsonTherefore hearken not to your false prophets, nor to them who divine or dream for you, nor to your augurers, nor your sorcerers who say, You shall not serve the king of Babylon;
BrentonAnd hearken ye not to your false prophets, nor to them that divine to you, nor to them that foretel events by dreams to you, nor to your auguries, nor your sorcerers, that say, Ye shall by no means work for the king of Babylon:
GreekΚαὶ ὑμεῖς μὴ ἀκούετε τῶν ψευδοπροφητῶν ὑμῶν, καὶ τῶν μαντευομένων ὑμῖν, καὶ τῶν ἐνυπνιαζομένων ὑμῖν, καὶ τῶν οἰωνισμάτων ὑμῶν, καὶ τῶν φαρμακῶν ὑμῶν, τῶν λεγόντων, οὐ μὴ ἐργάσησθε τῷ βασιλεῖ Βαβυλῶνος·
KJVTherefore 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:
JPSBut as for you, hearken ye not to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreams, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, that speak unto you, saying: Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon;
10
Thomsonfor they prophesy lies to you to remove you far from your land.
Brentonfor they prophesy lies to you, to remove you far from your land.
GreekὍτι ψευδῆ αὐτοὶ προφητεύουσιν ὑμῖν, πρὸς τὸ μακρῦναι ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ὑμῶν.
KJVFor they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.
JPSfor they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out and ye should perish.
11
ThomsonBut the nation which shall submit its neck to the yoke of the king of Babylon and work for him, that nation I will leave in its own hand. It laboureth for him and it shall dwell therein.
BrentonBut the nation which shall put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, I will even leave it upon its land, and it shall serve him, and dwell in it.
GreekΚαὶ τὸ ἔθνος ὃ ἐὰν εἰσαγάγῃ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ ὑπὸ τὸν ζυγὸν βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος, καὶ ἐργάσηται αὐτῷ, καὶ καταλείψω αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐργᾶται αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐνοικήσει ἐν αὐτῇ.
KJVBut 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.
JPSBut 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, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.’
12
ThomsonSo I spoke to Sedekias king of Juda according to all these words, saying, Submit your neck to work for the king of Babylon. For these men prophesy falsehoods to you;
BrentonI spoke also to Sedekias king of Juda according to all these words, saying, Put your neck into the yoke,
GreekΚαὶ πρὸς Σεδεκίαν βασιλέα Ἰούδα ἐλάλησα κατὰ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους, λέγων, εἰσαγάγετε τὸν τράχηλον ὑμῶν,
KJVI 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.
JPSAnd 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.
14
Thomson—
Brentonand serve the king of Babylon. For they prophesy unrighteous words to you,
Greekκαὶ ἐργάσασθε τῷ βασιλεῖ Βαβυλῶνος, ὅτι ἄδικα αὐτοὶ προφητεύουσιν ὑμῖν,
KJVTherefore 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.
JPSAnd 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.
15
Thomsonfor I have not sent them, saith the Lord. They indeed prophesy in My name for falsehood to destroy you; therefore you shall be destroyed, both you and your prophets who prophesy to you for unjust falsehood.
Brentonfor I sent them not, saith the Lord; and they prophesy in my name unjustly, that I might destroy you, and ye should perish, and your prophets, who unrighteously prophesy lies to you.
Greekὅτι οὐκ ἀπέστειλα αὐτοὺς, φησὶ Κύριος, καὶ προφητεύουσι τῷ ὀνόματί μου ἐπ ἀδίκῳ, πρὸς τὸ ἀπολέσαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἀπολεῖσθε ὑμεῖς, καὶ οἱ προφῆται ὑμῶν, οἱ προφητεύοντες ὑμῖν ἐπʼ ἀδίκῳ ψευδῆ.
KJVFor 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.
JPSFor I have not sent them, saith the LORD, and they prophesy falsely in My name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.’
16
ThomsonTo you and to all this people and to the priests I have spoken, saying, Thus said the Lord:
BrentonI spoke to you, and to all this people, and to the priests, saying, Thus said the Lord; Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the Lord's house shall return from Babylon: for they prophesy to you unrighteous words. I sent them not.
GreekὙμῖν, καὶ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ, καὶ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν ἐλάλησα, λέγων, οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, μὴ ἀκούετε τῶν λόγων τῶν προφητῶν, τῶν προφητευόντων ὑμῖν, λεγόντων, ἰδοὺ σκεύη οἴκου Κυρίου ἐπιστρέψει ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος· ὅτι ἄδικα αὐτοὶ προφητεύουσιν ὑμῖν. Οὐκ ἀπέστειλα αὐτούς.
KJVAlso 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.
JPSAlso I spoke 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 back from Babylon; for they prophesy a lie unto you.
18
Thomson—
BrentonIf they are prophets, and if the word of the Lord is in them, let them meet me, for thus has the Lord said.
GreekΕἰ προφῆταί εἰσι, καὶ εἰ ἔστι λόγος Κυρίου ἐν αὐτοῖς, ἀπαντησάτωσάν μοι, ὅτι οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος.
KJVBut 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.
JPSBut 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.
19
ThomsonIf they are prophets, if the word of the Lord is in them, let them meet Me. For thus saith the Lord: Even the residue of the vessels which the
BrentonAnd as for the remaining vessels,
GreekΚαὶ τῶν ἐπιλοίπων σκευῶν,
KJVFor 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,
JPSFor 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,
20
Thomson—
Brentonwhich the king of Babylon took not, when he carried Jechonias prisoner out of Jerusalem,
Greekὧν οὐκ ἔλαβε βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος, ὅτε ἀπῴκισε τὸν Ἰεχονίαν ἐξ Ἱερουσαλὴμ,
KJVWhich 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;
JPSwhich 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;
22
Thomsonking of Babylon did not take when he carried away Jechonias from Jerusalem, shall go to Babylon, saith the Lord.
Brentonthey shall go into Babylon, saith the Lord.
Greekεἰς Βαβυλῶνα εἰσελεύσεται, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVThey 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.
JPSThey shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be, until the day that I remember them, saith the LORD, and bring them up, and restore them to this place.’