Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

JEREMIAH 17:21KJV
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Jeremiah 17:21 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 17:21 mean?

Jeremiah 17:21 is a warning from God telling the people not to carry any loads or burdens into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, emphasizing the importance of keeping the Sabbath as a day of rest. This command is meant to remind the people to honor the Sabbath by refraining from ordinary work and respecting the city’s sacredness.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah on behalf of the LORD, urging them to pay close attention to their actions regarding the Sabbath. The setting is Jerusalem, where the people had been disregarding Sabbath laws, and Jeremiah is calling them back to faithful observance. The verse highlights how seriously God viewed Sabbath-keeping as a sign of the covenant relationship between Him and His people.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 17:21

  • "heed" (שָׁמַר, shamar): This word means to guard, watch, or keep carefully. Here, it stresses the need for personal responsibility and attentiveness in following God’s instructions about the Sabbath.
  • "burden" (מַשָּׂא, massa): This refers to any physical load or item carried, often associated with work or commerce. The command not to bear a burden on the Sabbath underlines the prohibition against regular labor on this day.
  • "sabbath" (שַׁבָּת, shabbat): This word means "rest" or "cessation." Its use here reminds the reader that the Sabbath is set apart from other days specifically for rest and worship, not for business as usual.

Why Jeremiah 17:21 matters

  • Jeremiah 17:21 clarifies that Sabbath observance was not just about ritual but involved concrete actions, like not carrying goods into the city, which would have been tied to trade or work.
  • The verse shows that God’s instructions covered both public and private life, connecting personal behavior with the spiritual health of the whole community.
  • This command stands as part of a larger warning in Jeremiah 17, where the people’s disregard for the Sabbath is linked to the coming judgment on Jerusalem, highlighting the seriousness of obedience in maintaining their relationship with God.