Jeremiah 32:44
Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
בַּכֶּ֣סֶף
for money
H3701
בַּכֶּ֣סֶף
for money
Strong's:
H3701
Word #:
2 of 26
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
יִקְנ֗וּ
Men shall buy
H7069
יִקְנ֗וּ
Men shall buy
Strong's:
H7069
Word #:
3 of 26
to erect, i.e., create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own
וְכָת֨וֹב
and subscribe
H3789
וְכָת֨וֹב
and subscribe
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
4 of 26
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
בַּסֵּ֥פֶר׀
evidences
H5612
בַּסֵּ֥פֶר׀
evidences
Strong's:
H5612
Word #:
5 of 26
properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
וְהָעֵ֣ד
them and take
H5749
וְהָעֵ֣ד
them and take
Strong's:
H5749
Word #:
7 of 26
to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication)
עֵדִים֒
witnesses
H5707
עֵדִים֒
witnesses
Strong's:
H5707
Word #:
8 of 26
concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e., prince
בִּנְיָמִ֜ן
of Benjamin
H1144
בִּנְיָמִ֜ן
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
10 of 26
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
וּבִסְבִיבֵ֣י
and in the places about
H5439
וּבִסְבִיבֵ֣י
and in the places about
Strong's:
H5439
Word #:
11 of 26
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם
Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם
Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
12 of 26
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
וּבְעָרֵ֣י
and in the cities
H5892
וּבְעָרֵ֣י
and in the cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
13 of 26
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
יְהוּדָה֙
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָה֙
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
14 of 26
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וּבְעָרֵ֣י
and in the cities
H5892
וּבְעָרֵ֣י
and in the cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
15 of 26
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הָהָ֔ר
of the mountains
H2022
הָהָ֔ר
of the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
16 of 26
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
וּבְעָרֵ֣י
and in the cities
H5892
וּבְעָרֵ֣י
and in the cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
17 of 26
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הַשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה
of the valley
H8219
הַשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה
of the valley
Strong's:
H8219
Word #:
18 of 26
lowland, i.e., (with the article) the maritime slope of palestine
וּבְעָרֵ֣י
and in the cities
H5892
וּבְעָרֵ֣י
and in the cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
19 of 26
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הַנֶּ֑גֶב
of the south
H5045
הַנֶּ֑גֶב
of the south
Strong's:
H5045
Word #:
20 of 26
the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
21 of 26
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אָשִׁ֥יב
to return
H7725
אָשִׁ֥יב
to return
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
22 of 26
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
23 of 26
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Jeremiah 17:26And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.Jeremiah 33:26Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.Jeremiah 33:11The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.Jeremiah 33:7And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.Jeremiah 32:10And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
Historical Context
The five geographical zones (Benjamin, Jerusalem, hill country, shephelah, Negev) represent Judah's entire territory, systematically devastated by Nebuchadnezzar's three campaigns (605, 597, 586 BC). Nehemiah's reforms (445 BC) and economic revival demonstrate partial fulfillment; Ezra 2:1 and Nehemiah 7:6-73 list returnees by these same regions, showing God's promise precision.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God include mundane legal procedures (contracts, witnesses, seals) in prophecy about restoration?
- How does comprehensive geographical coverage ('hill country, valley, south') demonstrate God's attention to all His people, not just prominent locations?
- What does it mean that God promises to 'restore their restoration'—can restoration itself be restored?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them (יִקְנוּ שָׂדוֹת בַּכֶּסֶף וְכָתוֹב בַּסֵּפֶר וְחָתוֹם)—meticulous legal detail mirrors Jeremiah's purchase transaction (vv. 9-12, 44). Hebrew kathov basefer (write in the deed) and chatom (seal) reflect ancient Near Eastern property law requiring written contracts, witness attestation, and sealed copies for legal validity. Normal jurisprudence requires stable society—impossible under occupation.
And take witnesses in the land of Benjamin (וְהָעֵד עֵדִים)—geographical specificity follows: Benjamin's tribal territory (north of Jerusalem), Jerusalem's vicinity, Judah's cities (mountain, lowland/shephelah, Negev/south). This comprehensive enumeration covers all Judah's regions—no area remains excluded from restoration. For I will cause their captivity to return (כִּי־אָשִׁיב אֶת־שְׁבוּתָם)—literally 'restore their restoration,' emphasizing complete reversal of exile.