Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Jeremiah 27
Jeremiah 27:5“It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.
This verse establishes the foundation for the entire chapter: God's authority as Creator gives Him the right to delegate power over the earth to anyone He sees fit.Jeremiah 27:6Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him.
In a shocking statement, God calls the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar 'my servant,' revealing that He is using the Babylonian empire to accomplish His divine purposes.Jeremiah 27:17Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city become a desolation?
Jeremiah presents a clear and painful choice to the people: submit to Babylon and live, or listen to false hope and watch your city be destroyed.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Summit of Rebellion
The scene is set in Jerusalem during the reign of King Zedekiah, who was installed as a puppet king by Babylon. Ambassadors from the neighboring kingdoms of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon have gathered in the city. The political air is thick with tension and conspiracy, as these nations are likely meeting to form an alliance and plot a rebellion against the mighty Babylonian empire.
A Prophet's Shocking Symbol
Into this high-stakes political meeting walks the prophet Jeremiah, bearing a strange and offensive burden. God has instructed him to craft and wear a wooden yoke, the kind used on oxen for plowing. This was a piece of street theater designed to deliver an unforgettable, gut-punch of a message to the king and his international guests. It was not merely a spoken sermon.
Jeremiah's Prophecy of the Yoke
In Jeremiah 27, the prophet delivers a difficult message from God to his own people and to a coalition of nations contemplating war. Using the powerful symbol of a yoke, he lays out God's sovereign plan and the stark choice facing the kings: submission or annihilation. The chapter unfolds as Jeremiah confronts different groups - foreign envoys, his own king, and the priests - with the same unwavering truth.
The Yoke and the Divine Decree (Jeremiah 27:1-7)
1 In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord.
2 Thus says the Lord to me: Make yourself straps and yoke-bars, and put them on your neck.
3 Send word to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the sons of Ammon, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon by the hand of the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.
4 And give them this charge for their masters: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: This is what you shall say to your masters:
5 “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.
6 Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him.
7 All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave.
Commentary:
God commands Jeremiah to wear a yoke as a sign that He has given authority over the nations to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
A Choice of Two Fates (Jeremiah 27:8-11)
8 “But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, declares the Lord, until I have consumed it by his hand.
9 So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’
10 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.
11 But any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land, to work it and dwell there, declares the Lord.”
Commentary:
God warns the nations to submit to Babylon and live, and not to listen to false prophets who promise a different outcome.
A Direct Appeal to King Zedekiah (Jeremiah 27:12-15)
12 To Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
13 Why will you and your people die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, as the Lord has spoken concerning any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
14 Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,’ for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you.
15 "I have not sent them, declares the Lord, but they are prophesying falsely in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you."
Commentary:
Jeremiah personally urges King Zedekiah to ignore the false prophets and submit to Babylon to save himself and his people.
The Truth About the Temple Treasures (Jeremiah 27:16-22)
16 Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, "Thus says the Lord: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who are prophesying to you, saying, 'Behold, the vessels of the Lord's house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon,' for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you.
17 Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city become a desolation?
18 But if they are prophets, and if the word of the Lord is with them, then let them intercede with the Lord of hosts, that the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon.
19 For thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, the sea, the stands, and the rest of the vessels that are left in this city,
20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away, when he took into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem.
21 yes, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem:
22 They shall be carried to Babylon and remain there until the day when I visit them, declares the Lord. Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.”
Commentary:
Jeremiah debunks the false hope that the temple treasures will be returned soon, prophesying that the remaining items will also be taken to Babylon.
Truth, Power, and Submission
God's Absolute Sovereignty
This chapter is a powerful declaration that God is in charge of world affairs. He is the Lord of all nations, who raises up and brings down empires according to His purpose. He is not merely the God of Israel. He even uses a pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar, as His 'servant' to achieve His will, showing that no person or power is outside His control.
The Danger of False Hope
The people were desperate for good news, and the false prophets were happy to provide it with messages of rebellion and quick victory. Jeremiah shows that hope not grounded in God's truth is a dangerous deception. Listening to what we want to hear instead of what God is actually saying leads directly to ruin.
Submission as an Act of Faith
The message to wear the yoke of Babylon was deeply humiliating and went against every nationalistic instinct. Yet, it was God's prescribed path to life. This teaches that true faith sometimes requires us to submit to difficult, humbling circumstances, trusting that God has a purpose even in situations that look like defeat.
Living Under the Yoke
Jeremiah 27 teaches that not every hardship is meant to be fought against. Sometimes, a difficult situation, like the 'yoke' of Babylon, is an instrument in God's hand for a greater purpose. It challenges you to ask whether God is calling you to endure and submit in a particular area, rather than attempting to escape it.
The false prophets told people what they wanted to hear, promising ease and victory (Jeremiah 27:14). God's true message through Jeremiah was difficult and unpopular. This encourages you to be cautious of advice that confirms your own desires and to prayerfully seek the truth, even if it's uncomfortable or requires sacrifice.
The chapter shows God using Nebuchadnezzar, a ruthless emperor, as 'my servant' (Jeremiah 27:6). This means that nothing and no one is outside of God's control. It gives you confidence that even in a world with corrupt or difficult leaders and systems, God is still working His ultimate plan for His people.
God's Unshakeable Sovereign Will
Jeremiah 27 proclaims that God's authority over history is absolute and His plans will not be thwarted. He communicates His will through His chosen prophets, even when the message is a hard and humbling call to submit to an enemy. The ultimate message is a choice between two realities: the painful reality of God's plan which leads to life, or the pleasant fantasy of the false prophets which leads to death.
What This Means for Us Today
Jeremiah 27 is an invitation to trust God's sovereignty over the comforting narratives we build for ourselves. It calls us to have the courage to accept His will, even when it feels like surrender. True peace is found not in fighting the yoke, but in trusting the one who holds it.
- What comforting lies am I tempted to believe instead of seeking God's harder truth?
- Is there a difficult situation in my life where God might be calling me to submit rather than to fight?
- How can I better discern God's voice from the many other voices competing for my attention?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details Jeremiah's arrest and trial for prophesying the temple's destruction, setting the stage for the opposition he faces in chapter 27.
The conflict with false prophets comes to a head as Jeremiah directly confronts Hananiah, who breaks the wooden yoke and offers a contrary prophecy.
Connections Across Scripture
This historical passage records King Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon and the resulting siege and destruction of Jerusalem, showing the tragic fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy.
Daniel affirms Jeremiah's message directly to Nebuchadnezzar, stating, 'The God of heaven has given you the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory.'
Paul's teaching that governing authorities are established by God echoes the principle in Jeremiah 27 that God uses earthly rulers to accomplish His will.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think people are often more willing to listen to a comforting lie than a difficult truth, both in ancient Judah and today?
- Jeremiah called the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar God's 'servant.' How does this idea challenge or change the way we view world leaders and political events?
- What might a 'yoke of submission' look like in a Christian's life today? When is it right to submit to a difficult circumstance, and when is it right to resist?
Glossary
places
figures
Jeremiah
The prophet of God tasked with delivering the unpopular message of submission to Babylon.
Zedekiah
The last king of Judah, who was placed on the throne by Babylon but ultimately rebelled.
Nebuchadnezzar
The powerful king of the Babylonian Empire, whom God refers to as 'my servant.'
Jeconiah
A former king of Judah (also called Jehoiachin) who was taken into exile in Babylon before Zedekiah's reign.