Jeremiah 30:8
For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָה֩
H1961
וְהָיָה֩
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בַיּ֨וֹם
For it shall come to pass in that day
H3117
בַיּ֨וֹם
For it shall come to pass in that day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
2 of 17
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֜וּא
H1931
הַה֜וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
3 of 17
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֗וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֗וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
6 of 17
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
עֻלּוֹ֙
his yoke
H5923
עֻלּוֹ֙
his yoke
Strong's:
H5923
Word #:
8 of 17
a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively
מֵעַ֣ל
H5921
מֵעַ֣ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
צַוָּארֶ֔ךָ
from off thy neck
H6677
צַוָּארֶ֔ךָ
from off thy neck
Strong's:
H6677
Word #:
10 of 17
the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)
וּמוֹסְרוֹתֶ֖יךָ
thy bonds
H4147
וּמוֹסְרוֹתֶ֖יךָ
thy bonds
Strong's:
H4147
Word #:
11 of 17
properly, chastisement, i.e., (by implication) a halter; figuratively, restraint
וְלֹא
H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
13 of 17
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַעַבְדוּ
shall no more serve
H5647
יַעַבְדוּ
shall no more serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
14 of 17
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
Cross References
Ezekiel 34:27And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.Nahum 1:13For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.Isaiah 9:4For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.Jeremiah 27:2Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,Jeremiah 28:10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.Isaiah 14:25That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.Isaiah 10:27And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.Jeremiah 25:14For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.Jeremiah 27:7And 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.Jeremiah 28:13Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
Historical Context
Spoken during Babylonian captivity's beginning, this promise sustained hope through 70 years exile and subsequent domination by Persia, Greece, and Rome. The 'yoke' became metaphor for all foreign rule until Messiah's liberating reign.
Questions for Reflection
- What yokes of foreign oppression or ungodly bondage does God promise to break in your life?
- How does Christ's yoke (Matthew 11:29-30) liberate you from slavery to sin, self, and Satan?
- What practical steps mark your transition from serving 'strangers' to serving only the LORD?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I will break his yoke from off thy neck (אֶשְׁבֹּר עֻלּוֹ מֵעַל צַוָּארֶךָ)—After describing terror (vv. 5-7), God promises liberation. The ol (yoke) represents foreign domination—Babylon primarily, but ultimately all Gentile oppression. Breaking the yoke reverses Judah's subjugation, which Jeremiah earlier symbolized by wearing a yoke (ch. 27-28).
Strangers shall no more serve themselves of him (וְלֹא־יַעַבְדוּ־בוֹ עוֹד זָרִים)—The verb abad (serve, enslave) reverses: Israel, who served (abad) Babylon (27:17), will be freed from servitude. The phrase zarim (strangers, foreigners) encompasses all non-covenant oppressors. Partial fulfillment came through Persian liberation (538 BC), but full fulfillment awaits Messiah's kingdom when Israel serves only the LORD (v. 9), never again subjugated.