Jeremiah 34:14
At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.
Original Language Analysis
מִקֵּ֣ץ
At the end
H7093
מִקֵּ֣ץ
At the end
Strong's:
H7093
Word #:
1 of 25
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
שֶׁ֣בַע
of seven
H7651
שֶׁ֣בַע
of seven
Strong's:
H7651
Word #:
2 of 25
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
וְשִׁלַּחְתּ֥וֹ
let ye go
H7971
וְשִׁלַּחְתּ֥וֹ
let ye go
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
4 of 25
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
אִישׁ֩
every man
H376
אִישׁ֩
every man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
5 of 25
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 25
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אָחִ֨יו
his brother
H251
אָחִ֨יו
his brother
Strong's:
H251
Word #:
7 of 25
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
הָעִבְרִ֜י
an Hebrew
H5680
הָעִבְרִ֜י
an Hebrew
Strong's:
H5680
Word #:
8 of 25
an eberite (i.e., hebrew) or descendant of eber
אֲשֶֽׁר
H834
אֲשֶֽׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִמָּכֵ֣ר
which hath been sold
H4376
יִמָּכֵ֣ר
which hath been sold
Strong's:
H4376
Word #:
10 of 25
to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender)
וַעֲבָֽדְךָ֙
unto thee and when he hath served
H5647
וַעֲבָֽדְךָ֙
unto thee and when he hath served
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
12 of 25
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
שֵׁ֣שׁ
thee six
H8337
שֵׁ֣שׁ
thee six
Strong's:
H8337
Word #:
13 of 25
six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
וְשִׁלַּחְתּ֥וֹ
let ye go
H7971
וְשִׁלַּחְתּ֥וֹ
let ye go
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
15 of 25
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ
H5973
מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
17 of 25
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
18 of 25
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁמְע֤וּ
hearkened
H8085
שָׁמְע֤וּ
hearkened
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
19 of 25
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙
from thee but your fathers
H1
אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙
from thee but your fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
20 of 25
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
22 of 25
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הִטּ֖וּ
not unto me neither inclined
H5186
הִטּ֖וּ
not unto me neither inclined
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
23 of 25
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 15:12And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.1 Kings 9:22But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
Historical Context
Archaeological evidence from ancient Israel reveals economic stratification intensifying during the divided monarchy period. The eighth-century prophets (Amos, Isaiah, Micah) condemned wealthy landowners exploiting the poor. By Jeremiah's time, debt slavery was endemic—poor Judeans sold themselves or children to wealthy compatriots during agricultural failures or wartime disruption. The sabbatical release law, designed to prevent permanent underclass formation, was ignored for profit.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern 'sabbath' principles of rest, release, and restoration does contemporary culture systematically ignore?
- How does treating covenant family members (fellow believers) worse than outsiders contradict the gospel?
- In what ways might deliberate spiritual deafness be disguised as simple ignorance in your own life?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew—this cites the sabbatical release law from Deuteronomy 15:12. The seventh year (שָׁבֻעַ, shavu'a) pattern echoes creation's sabbath rest, embedding social justice in worship rhythm. Hebrew slaves must serve only six years, then go chofshi ("free")—the same word used for the Exodus liberation itself (Exodus 21:2). Economic relationships must mirror God's redemptive character, not the oppression they themselves escaped.
But your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear (לֹא שָׁמְעוּ... וְלֹא הִטּוּ אֶת־אָזְנָם, lo shame'u... velo hitu et-oznam). The double negative emphasizes willful deafness—they didn't accidentally miss God's command, they deliberately refused to listen. "Incline the ear" suggests active effort; its negation implies they actively resisted. This generational pattern of disobedience ("your fathers") indicts not just individuals but systemic covenant violation across centuries.
The tragedy: Israel treated fellow Hebrews worse than God's law even allowed treating foreign slaves. Leviticus 25:39-43 explicitly forbids harsh rule over Israelite servants, commanding: "thou shalt not rule over him with rigour." By ignoring sabbatical release, they reduced covenant brothers to chattel slavery, fundamentally denying the Exodus itself. This prefigures Jesus's parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35)—failure to extend received mercy proves one never truly received it.