The Broken Yoke

The words

1. Azur

   Hananiah is introduced as Azur’s son, a prophet from Gibeon, speaking in the LORD’s house before priests and people.

   Jeremiah 28:1 (opens a new tab)

2. Babylon

   Jeremiah urges Judah’s king to submit to Babylon and warns of sword, famine and pestilence for refusal; Hananiah promises release instead.

   Jeremiah 27:12–14 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 28:2–4 (opens a new tab)

3. Bonds

   Leather straps, in the NET Bible.

   Jeremiah is told to make bonds and yokes and put them on his neck, then send the message through royal envoys.

   Did you know?

   The instruction names five kings beyond Judah: those of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyrus and Zidon, whose envoys are in Jerusalem.

   Jeremiah 27:2–4 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 27:2 (opens a new tab)

4. Broken

   Hananiah takes the yoke from Jeremiah’s neck and breaks it before the people, declaring that Babylon’s yoke will likewise be broken.

   Jeremiah 28:10–11 (opens a new tab)

5. Hananiah

   Hananiah promises release within two full years; Jeremiah predicts his death, and the narrative says he dies that year in the seventh month.

   Jeremiah 28:3–4 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 28:15–17 (opens a new tab)

6. Hear

   Jeremiah tells Hananiah, “Hear now,” accusing him of speaking without being sent by the LORD and making the people trust a lie.

   Jeremiah 28:15 (opens a new tab)

7. Iron

   Jeremiah’s message announces an iron yoke for the nations; the NET renders this as an “irresistible yoke of servitude” under Babylon.

   Jeremiah 28:13–14 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 28:13-14 (opens a new tab)

8. Jeconiah

   Jehoiachin, as the NET note identifies him.

   Hananiah promises that Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, and Judah’s captives will return from Babylon; Jeremiah challenges the promise.

   Jeremiah 27:20 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 28:4 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 28:7–9 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Jeremiah 27:1 (opens a new tab)

9. Jeremiah

   Jeremiah answers “Amen: the LORD do so,” then says fulfillment would show whether a prophet of peace had truly been sent.

   Jeremiah 28:5–9 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 28:7–11 (opens a new tab)

10. People

    The people hear Hananiah announce release and Jeremiah’s reply; the yoke is broken before them as Hananiah repeats his two-year promise.

    Jeremiah 28:1–6 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 28:10–11 (opens a new tab)

11. Priests

    Priests hear Hananiah and Jeremiah in the temple; the preceding chapter addresses priests with a warning against promises of returned temple vessels.

    Did you know?

    The preceding chapter lists temple pillars and bases among the furnishings still in Jerusalem, distinguishing them from objects already taken to Babylon.

    Jeremiah 28:1–5 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 27:16–22 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 27:19–22 (opens a new tab)

12. Seventh Month

    The chapter dates Hananiah’s death to the seventh month of the same year; its opening places the confrontation in the fifth month.

    Jeremiah 28:1 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 28:17 (opens a new tab)

13. Two Full Years

    Hananiah promises that temple vessels and Judah’s captives will return from Babylon within two full years, claiming the LORD has broken Babylon’s yoke.

    Jeremiah 28:2–4 (opens a new tab)

14. Wood

    The broken yokes are called wood in the LORD’s message; Hananiah’s act is answered by the announcement of yokes of iron.

    Jeremiah 28:12–14 (opens a new tab)

15. Yoke

    A wooden crosspiece joining oxen for pulling, in Webster’s definition.

    Jeremiah wears a yoke as a sign of serving Babylon; Hananiah breaks it to symbolize the release he predicts.

    Jeremiah 27:2 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 27:12 (opens a new tab) · Jeremiah 28:10–11 (opens a new tab) · Webster’s 1828: yoke (opens a new tab)