Jeremiah 34:19
Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)
يَنْطَبِقُ هَذَا عَلَى رُؤَسَاءِ يَهُوذَا وَرُؤَسَاءِ القُدْسِ وَالخُدَّامِ وَالكَهَنَةِ وَعَلَى كُلِّ شَعْبِ الأرْضِ الَّذِينَ اجتَازُوا بَيْنَ نِصفَيِّ البَقَرَةِ.
What Does This Mean?
This verse lists the people from Judah and Jerusalem who made a promise between parts of a calf. These people included important leaders, priests, and regular citizens. The key message is that these people made a serious promise, but the context suggests they did not keep it.
Explained for Children
Imagine you and your friends promised to share your toys, and you drew a line in the sand to show it was a big promise. But later, you didn't share. In this verse, the people did something like that, but they used a calf to show how important their promise was.
Historical Background
This verse is from the book of Jeremiah, written around 600 BC. Jeremiah was a prophet who warned the people of Judah about the consequences of breaking their promises to God. The cultural setting was one of political instability and religious corruption in Judah.
Living It Out Today
Today, think about the promises we make, especially to God or others. When we make a big promise, we should keep it. For example, if you promise to help a friend move next week, make sure you follow through.
Topics
promisecovenantleadershipreligionconsequencesfaithfulness
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'passing between the parts of the calf' mean?
This was an ancient ritual where people would cut an animal, like a calf, in half and walk between the parts to make a serious promise. It symbolized that if they broke the promise, they would suffer the same fate as the animal.
Why is it important that all these different groups of people are listed?
The verse emphasizes that the promise included everyone from the highest leaders to the common people. This shows that the responsibility to keep the promise was on everyone, not just a select few.
What were the consequences of not keeping this promise?
The context of Jeremiah suggests that breaking such a serious promise had severe consequences. God often warned that breaking covenants would lead to punishment or judgment, indicating that the people of Judah faced significant repercussions.
How can we apply this verse to our personal lives?
We can apply this verse by being mindful of our promises and ensuring we keep them, especially those made to God. It also reminds us to consider the impact of our actions on the community and to take responsibility for our commitments.