But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.

JEREMIAH 34:16KJV
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Jeremiah 34:16 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 34:16 mean?

Jeremiah 34:16 says that the people broke their promise to free their servants and handmaids, forcing them back into slavery after having let them go, and in doing so, they dishonored God’s name. The verse accuses them of turning back on their word and making those they had released return to serve them again.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the leaders and people of Jerusalem. Earlier, they had agreed to release their Hebrew slaves as an act of obedience to God, but then they reversed their decision and forced the freed people back into servitude. The verse highlights both the broken promise and the disrespect shown to God by not keeping their covenant.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 34:16

  • "polluted" (חָלַל, ḥālal): This word means to profane or defile. Here, it shows that breaking their promise was not just a social wrong but also a spiritual offense that dishonored God’s reputation.
  • "set...at liberty" (שָׁלַח, shālaḥ and דְּרוֹר, deror): "shālaḥ" means to send away, and "deror" means liberty or freedom. The combination stresses that the people had truly released their servants, not just temporarily, but with the intention of full freedom.
  • "subjection" (כָּבַשׁ, kābash): This word means to bring into bondage or control. The verse uses it to show that the people actively forced the freed servants back into a state of servitude, reversing the freedom they had granted.

Why Jeremiah 34:16 matters

  • Jeremiah 34:16 clarifies that breaking a covenant with God is seen as polluting or dishonoring His name, not just a private matter but a public offense against God’s character.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of social justice in God’s eyes, showing that freeing slaves was not optional but a direct command tied to faithfulness.
  • This verse connects to the larger message in Jeremiah 34, where God condemns empty religious actions that are not matched by real obedience and justice toward others.

Where else these words appear

“subjection” Hebrew H3533 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
  • 2 Samuel 8:11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
  • Esther 7:8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

“liberty” Hebrew H2670 · used in 17 verses

  • Exodus 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
  • Deuteronomy 15:13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
  • Psalms 88:5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

“handmaid” Hebrew H8198 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
  • Genesis 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
  • 2 Samuel 14:12 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

“polluted” Hebrew H2490 · used in 131 verses

  • Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
  • Judges 20:31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
  • Isaiah 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;