Jeremiah 17:21

Easy-to-Read Version

This is what the Lord says: ‘Be careful that you don't carry a load on the Sabbath day. And don't bring a load through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
This is what the Lord says: Watch yourselves; do not pick up a load and bring it in through Jerusalem’s gates on the Sabbath day.

Hebrew Names Version
Thus says the LORD, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the day of Shabbat, nor bring it in by the gates of Yerushalayim;

King James Version
Thus saith the Lord ; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

English Standard Version
Thus says the Lord : Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.

New American Standard Bible
'This is what the LORD says: "Take care for yourselves, and do not carry any load on the Sabbath day or bring anything in through the gates of Jerusalem.

New Century Version
This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.

Amplified Bible
'Thus says the LORD, "Pay attention for your own good, [and for the sake of your future] do not carry any load on the Sabbath day or bring anything in through the gates of Jerusalem.

World English Bible
Thus says Yahweh, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

Geneva Bible (1587)
Thus sayth the Lorde, Take heede to your soules, and beare no burden in the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Ierusalem.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh, "Take care of yourselves, and do not carry any load on the sabbath day or bring anything in through the gates of Jerusalem.

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.

Contemporary English Version
If you value your lives, don't do any work on the Sabbath. Don't carry anything through the city gates or through the door of your house, or anywhere else. Keep the Sabbath day sacred! I gave this command to your ancestors, but they were stubborn and refused to obey or to be corrected. But if you obey,

Complete Jewish Bible
Here is what Adonai says: "If you value your lives, don't carry anything on Shabbat or bring it in through the gates of Yerushalayim;

Darby Translation
thus saith Jehovah: Take heed to your souls, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, and bring nothing in through the gates of Jerusalem;

George Lamsa Translation
Thus says the LORD: Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day nor bring it in through the gates of Jerusalem;

Good News Translation
Tell them that if they love their lives, they must not carry any load on the Sabbath; they must not carry anything in through the gates of Jerusalem

Lexham English Bible
Thus says Yahweh, "Be on your guard for the sake of yourselves, that you must not carry a burden on the day of the Sabbath, and you must not bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.

Literal Translation
So says Jehovah, Take heed for the sake of your lives, and do not carry a burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thus the LORDE commaundeth: Take hede for youre lyues, that ye carie no burthen vpon you in the Sabbath, to bringe it thorow the gates of Ierusalem:

American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

Bible in Basic English
This is what the Lord has said: See to yourselves, that you take up no weight on the Sabbath day, or take it in through the doors of Jerusalem;

JPS Old Testament (1917)
thus saith the LORD: Take heed for the sake of your souls, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

King James Version (1611)
Thus saith the Lord, Take heed to your selues, and beare no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Ierusalem.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thus the Lorde comaundeth, Take heede for your lyues that ye cary no burthen vpon you in the Sabbath, to bryng it through the gates of Hierusalem.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
thus saith the Lord; Take heed to your souls, and take up no burdens on the sabbath-day, and go not forth through the gates of Jerusalem;

English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD: Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord God seith these thingis, Kepe ye youre soulis, and nyle ye bere birthuns in the dai of sabat, nether bringe in bi the yatis of Jerusalem.

Update Bible Version
Thus says Yahweh, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring [it] in by the gates of Jerusalem;

New English Translation
The Lord says, ‘Be very careful if you value your lives! Do not carry any loads in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.

New King James Version
Thus says the LORD: "Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

New Living Translation
This is what the Lord says: Listen to my warning! Stop carrying on your trade at Jerusalem's gates on the Sabbath day.

New Life Bible
The Lord says, "Be careful for your lives. Do not carry any load on the Day of Rest or bring anything in through the gates of Jerusalem.

New Revised Standard
Thus says the Lord : For the sake of your lives, take care that you do not bear a burden on the sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus, saith Yahweh, lake heed unto your souls, - And do not bear any burden on the sabbath day, Nor bring it in through the gates of Jerusalem, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord: Take heed to your souls, and carry no burdens on the sabbath day: and bring them not in by the gates of Jerusalem.

Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD: Take heed for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah, Take ye heed to yourselves, And ye bear not a burden on the day of rest, Nor have ye brought [it] in by the gates of Jerusalem.

THE MESSAGE
"‘This is God 's Message. Be careful, if you care about your lives, not to desecrate the Sabbath by turning it into just another workday, lugging stuff here and there. Don't use the Sabbath to do business as usual. Keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors. They never did it, as you know. They paid no attention to what I said and went about their own business, refusing to be guided or instructed by me.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
'Thus says the LORD, "Take heed for yourselves, and do not carry any load on the sabbath day or bring anything in through the gates of Jerusalem.

Contextual Overview

¹⁹ This is what the Lord said to me: "Jeremiah, go and stand at the People's Gate, where the kings of Judah go in and out. Tell the people my message, and then go to all the other gates of Jerusalem and do the same." ²⁰ Say to the people, "Listen to this message from the Lord . Listen, kings of Judah. Listen, all you people of Judah. All you who come through these gates into Jerusalem, listen to me! ²¹ This is what the Lord says: ‘Be careful that you don't carry a load on the Sabbath day. And don't bring a load through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. ²² Don't bring a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Don't do any work on that day. You must make the Sabbath day a holy day. I gave this same command to your ancestors, ²³ but they did not obey me. They did not pay attention to me. Your ancestors were very stubborn. I punished them, but it did not do any good. They did not listen to me. ²⁴ But you must be careful to obey me, says the Lord . You must not bring a load through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath. You must make the Sabbath day a holy day. You will do this by not doing any work on that day. ²⁵ "‘If you obey this command, the kings and leaders will be from David's family. It will be the kings who sit on David's throne and the leaders from Judah and Jerusalem who come through the gates of Jerusalem riding on chariots and on horses. And Jerusalem will have people living in it forever. ²⁶ People will come to Jerusalem from the towns and villages of Judah, from the land where the tribe of Benjamin lives, from the western foothills, from the hill country, and from the Negev. All these people will bring burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, incense, and thank offerings to the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. ²⁷ "‘But if you don't listen to me and obey me, bad things will happen. If you carry loads into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, you are not keeping it as a holy day. So I will start a fire that cannot be put out. That fire will start at the gates of Jerusalem, and it will burn until it burns even the palaces.'"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Take: Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 4:15, Deuteronomy 4:23, Deuteronomy 11:16, Joshua 23:11, Proverbs 4:23, Mark 4:24, Luke 8:18, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 2:1-3, Hebrews 12:15, Hebrews 12:16

bear: Jeremiah 17:22-27, Numbers 15:32-36, Nehemiah 13:15-21, John 5:9-12

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:3 - blessed Exodus 12:16 - no manner Nehemiah 10:31 - the people Nehemiah 13:18 - Did not your Isaiah 56:2 - keepeth the Isaiah 58:13 - turn Jeremiah 17:24 - to bring Jeremiah 17:27 - to hallow John 5:10 - it is not

Cross-References

Genesis 17:2
If you do this, I will prepare an agreement between us. I will promise to make your people a great nation."

Genesis 17:3
Then Abram bowed down before God. God said to him,

Genesis 17:5
I will change your name from Abram to Abraham, because I am making you the father of many nations.

Genesis 17:6
I will give you many descendants. New nations and kings will come from you.

Genesis 17:10
This is my agreement that all of you must obey. This is the agreement between me and you and all your descendants. Every male must be circumcised.

Genesis 17:12
When the baby boy is eight days old, you will circumcise him. Every boy born among your people and every boy who is a slave of your people must be circumcised.

Genesis 18:10
Then one of them said, "I will come again in the spring. At that time your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening in the tent and heard these things.

Genesis 46:1
So Israel began his trip to Egypt. First he went to Beersheba. There he worshiped God, the God of his father Isaac. He offered sacrifices.

Genesis 48:15
And Israel blessed Joseph and said, "My ancestors, Abraham and Isaac, worshiped our God, and that God has led me all my life.

Exodus 2:24
God heard their painful cries and remembered the agreement he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thus saith the Lord, take heed to yourselves,.... That ye sin not against the Lord, by breaking the sabbath, and so bring wrath and ruin upon yourselves: or "to your souls" a; to the inward frame of them, that they be in disposition for the work of that day; and that they be wholly engaged therein, even all the powers and faculties of them; and that they be not taken up in thoughts and cares about other things:

and bear no burden on the sabbath day; as no worldly thoughts and cares should, cumber the mind, and lie heavy thereon, to the interruption of spiritual exercises of religion; so neither should any weight or burden be borne by the body, or carried from place to place; as not by themselves, so neither by their servants, nor by their cattle, nor in carts and wagons, nor by any instrument whatever; in short, all servile work was forbidden:

nor bring [it] in by the gates of Jerusalem; to be unloaded and sold there, as wine, grapes, figs, and fish, were, in the times of Nehemiah,

Nehemiah 13:15.

a בנפשותיכם "in animabus vestris", Calvin, Montanus, Schmidt.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This prophecy on the observance of the Sabbath, is the first of a series of short predictions. arranged probably in chronological order among themselves, but in other respects independent of one another. Its tone is mild, and dissuasive rather of future neglect than condemnatory of past misconduct; and it may be assigned to the commencement of Jehoiakim’s reign. Its similarity to the prophecy contained in Jeremiah 22:1-5 makes it probable that they were contemporaneous.

Jeremiah 17:19

The gate of the children of the people - Perhaps the principal entrance of the outer court of the temple. Very probably there was traffic there, as in our Lord’s time, in doves and other requisites for sacrifice, and so the warning to keep the Sabbath was as necessary there as at the city gates.

Jeremiah 17:21

To yourselves - literally, “in your souls, i. e., in yourselves.” They were to be on their guard from the depths of their own conscience, thoroughly and on conviction.

Bear no burden on the sabbath day - Apparently the Sabbath day was kept negligently. The country people were in the habit of coming to Jerusalem on the Sabbath to attend the temple service, but mingled traffic with their devotions, bringing the produce of their fields and gardens with them for disposal. The people of Jerusalem for their part took Jeremiah 17:22 their wares to the gates, and carried on a brisk traffic there with the villagers. Both parties seem to have abstained from manual labor, but did not consider that buying and selling were prohibited by the fourth commandment.

Jeremiah 17:25

A picture of national grandeur. The prophet associates with the king the princes of the Davidic lineage, who in magnificent procession accompany the king as he goes in and out of Jerusalem.

Shall remain forever - Or, “shall be inhabited forever:” populousness is promised.

Jeremiah 17:26

The reward for keeping the Sabbath day holy consists in three things;

(1) in great national prosperity,

(2) in the lasting welfare of Jerusalem, and

(3) in the wealth and piety of the people generally, indicated by their numerous sacrifices.

Bringing sacrifices of praise - Rather, “bringing praise.” This clause covers all that precedes.

The verse is interesting as specifying the exact limits of the dominions of the Davidic kings, now confined to Judah and Benjamin. These two tribes are divided according to their physical conformation into

(1) the Shefelah, or low country lying between the mountains and the Mediterranean;

(2) the mountain which formed the central region, extending to the wilderness of Judah, on the Dead Sea; and

(3) the Negeb, or arid region, which lay to the south of Judah.

Jeremiah 17:27

Upon disobedience follows the anger of God, which will consume like a fire all the, splendor of the offending city.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 17:21. Take heed to yourselves and bear no burden — From this and the following verses we find the ruin of the Jews attributed to the breach of the Sabbath; as this led to a neglect of sacrifice, the ordinances of religion, and all public worship, so it necessarily brought with it all immorality. This breach of the Sabbath was that which let in upon them all the waters of God's wrath.