Jeremiah 32:13 — Word Study
WLCוָֽאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת בָּר֔וּךְ לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃
BSAIn their sightʻayin [before their eyes, in their presence] I instructedtsâvâh▸ [commanded, gave orders to, charged] BaruchBârûwk [the blessed one, Jeremiah's friend and scribe]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וָֽאֲצַוֶּה֙ | and I commanded | Verb, Piel, sequential imperfect first person common singular |
| אֶת | the object marker | Particle |
| בָּר֔וּךְ | Baruch | Noun proper masculine |
| לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם | to eyes their | Preposition, noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| לֵאמֹֽר׃ | saying | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | In their sight I instructed Baruch, |
| KJV | ¶ And I charged Baruch before them, saying, |
| ASV | And I charged Baruch before them, saying, |
| YLT | And I charge Baruch before their eyes, saying, |
| WEB | “I commanded Baruch before them, saying, |
| BBE | And I gave orders to Baruch in front of them, saying, |
Where they part company is in the translation of the command — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a noun phrase and a prepositional phrase, highlighting the public context of the instruction.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbצָוָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Jeremiah 32:13
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Jeremiah's Instructions to Baruchgenerated
Jeremiah 32:13 occurs within a dramatic moment where Jeremiah is instructing his scribe Baruch in front of witnesses. This instruction is part of a larger context where Jeremiah is dealing with the purchase of land, symbolizing hope for Israel’s future restoration. The scene underscores the seriousness of the command given to Baruch, as it is done publicly.
Cross References
The Key Word — צָוָה, va.'a.tza.Vehgenerated
The verb צָוָה (tsavah) means to command or give orders, and it appears here in the Piel form, indicating a strong action of appointing or charging someone with a task. The parsing as a sequential imperfect first person common singular shows that Jeremiah is actively commanding Baruch at this moment.
This word is used frequently throughout the Old Testament, often in contexts where God gives directives to His people. The emphasis on the act of commanding highlights the authority behind Jeremiah's words.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the phrasing of the command to Baruch.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the sentence is אֲצַוֶּה֙, and I commanded, which governs the entire clause. It is followed by a noun phrase indicating the object of the command, בָּר֔וּךְ, Baruch, and a prepositional phrase that describes the context of the command, לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם, in their sight.
This structure emphasizes the public nature of the command, as it is given directly in the presence of witnesses.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb צָוָה is rendered as συνέταχα (synetacha), which also means to command. This choice maintains the authoritative tone of the original Hebrew.
The Greek term reflects a similar emphasis on the act of commanding, suggesting a direct and forceful instruction.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Jeremiah 32:13 describes how Jeremiah commanded Baruch in front of witnesses. This public instruction emphasizes the importance of the command and Baruch's role as Jeremiah's scribe.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Jeremiah commands Baruch to take specific actions regarding the deeds of land, which symbolize hope for the future of Israel.
The public nature of the command underscores its importance and the accountability of Baruch in carrying out Jeremiah's instructions.
Baruch is Jeremiah's friend and scribe, who plays a crucial role in recording and communicating Jeremiah's prophecies.
The act of commanding indicates Jeremiah's prophetic authority and the seriousness of the message he is conveying.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I better understand the importance of following commands given to me in my own life?
- What does it mean to me that Baruch was instructed publicly?
- In what ways can I support others in their tasks, similar to Baruch's role with Jeremiah?
- How does the act of commanding reflect authority in my own experiences?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, noting the significance of Jeremiah's command to Baruch in the presence of witnesses, emphasizing the authority of the message.
And I commanded Baruch before them, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these books, this sealed book, and this open book, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last for many days.Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 32 →
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 32:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd I charged Baruch before them,.... Before his kinsman, the witnesses of the deed, and the Jews that were in the court: saying, as follows:
Read John Gill on Jeremiah 32 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd I charged Baruch before them, saying, No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 32 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJeremiah 32:13 And I charged Baruch before them, saying,Ver. 13. And I charged Baruch.] See on Jeremiah 32:12.
Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 32 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6–15. See introd. summary to the section.
Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 32 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
In their sight I instructed Baruch,
“I commanded Baruch before them, saying,
In their sight I instructed Baruch,
In the presence of all these people I instructed Baruch,
Tyndale line
¶ And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
Strictly literal
And I charged Baruch in their presence, saying,
And I charge Baruch before their eyes, saying,
And I charge Baruch before their eyes, saying,
And I charged Baruch before their eyes, saying,
So I gave a command to Baruch before them. I said,
From the Latin
And I charged Baruch before them, saying:
Simplified
I gave Baruch these instructions in front of them,
And I gave orders to Baruch in front of them, saying,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads וָֽאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת בָּר֔וּךְ לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃, which aligns with the Septuagint's rendering of the command. Both texts convey the same essential message, though the Septuagint's word order differs.
וָֽאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת בָּר֔וּךְ לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃
3 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Jeremiah 32:13
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
צָוָה (tsavah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to command or give orders. It is built from a primitive root and primarily used in the Piel form, indicating actions like appointing or charging someone with a task. The entries highlight its various applications, including laying charges and sending messengers. There are no noted disagreements among the lexicons.
[צָוָה] 485 vb. Pi. lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
base
H6680 צָוָה Pi. lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
6680 tsavah tsaw-vaw'
a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute,
enjoin:--appoint, (for-)bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give
in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put,
(set) in order.
צָוָה (tsa.vah) — to command.
1) to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order
1a)(Piel)
1a1) to lay charge upon
1a2) to give charge to, give command to
1a3) to give charge unto
1a4) to give charge over, appoint
1a5) to give charge, command
1a6) to charge, command
1a7) to charge, commission
1a8) to command, appoint, ordain (of divine act)
1b) (Pual) to be commanded
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect first person common singularHc/Vpw1cs
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
בָּרוּךְ (Baruwk) means 'blessed' and refers to a name associated with several individuals in the Old Testament. These include Baruch, the friend and scribe of Jeremiah, and priests involved in rebuilding Jerusalem after the Exile. The word is derived from a passive participle form, indicating a state of being blessed.
בָּרוּךְ n.pr.m. (blessed)
friend and amanuensis of Jeremiah
a priest, son of Zabbai (Zaccai)
son of Colhozeh, of the tribe of Judah
base
H1263 בָּרוּךְ
1263 Baruwk baw-rook'
passive participle from 1288; blessed; Baruk, the name of
three Israelites:--Baruch.
see HEBREW for 01288
בָּרוּךְ (ba.rukh) — Baruch.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.3.20;
son of: Zabbai (H2079H)
§ Baruch = "blessed"
1) friend, amanuensis, and faithful attendant of Jeremiah
2) a priest, the son of Zabbai who assisted Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem
3) a priest, or family of priests, who signed the covenant with Nehemiah
4) son of Col-hozeh, a descendant of Perez or Pharez, the son of Judah
בָּרוּךְ (ba.rukh) — Baruch.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.10.6
§ Baruch = "blessed"
1) friend, amanuensis, and faithful attendant of Jeremiah
2) a priest, the son of Zabbai who assisted Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem
3) a priest, or family of priests, who signed the covenant with Nehemiah
4) son of Col-hozeh, a descendant of Perez or Pharez, the son of Judah
בָּרוּךְ (ba.rukh) — Baruch.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
ba'-ruk, bar'-uk (baruk; Barouch, "blessed"):
(1) Son of Neriah and brother of Seraiah, King Zedekiah's chamberlain (Jer 51:59). He was the devoted friend (Jer 32:12), the amanuensis (36:4 ff,32) and faithful attendant (36:10 ff; Josephus, Ant, X, vi, 2) of the prophet Jeremiah. He seems to have been of noble family (see Ant, X, ix, 1; compare Jer 51:59; Baruch 1:1). He was also according to Josephus a man of unusual acquirements (Ant., X, ix, 1). He might have risen to a high position and seemed conscious of this, but under Jeremiah's influence (see Jer 45:5) he repressed his ambition, being content to throw in his lot with the great prophet whose secretary and companion…
Baruch
Blessed. (1.) The secretary of the prophet Jeremiah (32:12; 36:4). He was of the tribe of Judah (51:59). To him Jeremiah dictated his prophecies regarding the invasion of the Babylonians and the Captivity. These he read to the people from a window in the temple in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (Jer. 36). He afterwards read them before the counsellors of the king at a private interview; and then to the king himself, who, after hearing a part of the roll, cut it with a penknife, and threw it into the fire of his winter parlour, where he was sitting.
During the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, he was the keeper of the deed of purchase Jeremiah had made of the territory of Hanameel (Jer. 32:12). Being accused by his enemies of favouring the Chaldeans, he was cast, with Jeremiah, into prison, where he…
(blessed). Son of Neriah, the friend, (Jeremiah 32:12) amanuensis, (Jeremiah 26:4-32) and faithful attendant of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 36:10) ff. (B.C. 603.) He was of a noble family, comp. (Jeremiah 51:59) Bar. 1:1, and of distinguished acquirements. His enemies accused him of influencing Jeremiah in favor of the Chaldaeans, (Jeremiah 43:3) cf. Jere 27:13 And he was imprisoned until the capture of Jerusalem, B.C. 586. By the permission of Nebuchadnezzar he remained with Jeremiah at Mizpeh, Jos. Ant. x.9, 1, but was afterwards forced to go down to Egypt. (Jeremiah…
1. The son of Neriah, of a distinguished family in the tribe of Judah. He was the faithful friend of Jeremiah. About 605 B. C. he wrote down, from the lips of Jeremiah, all the divine messages to that prophet, and subsequently read them to the people, and again to certain princes. These last took the book, and soon made known its contents to king Jehoiakim, who impiously destroyed it. Baruch wrote it down a second time as before, with some additions, Jer 36:1- 32.
He is supposed by some to have accompanied his brother Seraiah to Babylon, with the predictions of Jeremiah respecting that city, Jer 51:59-64. He afterwards shared the persecution of the prophet, was imprisoned with him, and forced to go to Egypt with the rebellious Jews,
The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye
lit. as physical organ
eyes as showing mental qualities
desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
Transferred mngs.:
visible surface of earth
appearance
gleam, sparkle
Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
base
עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:
ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1
ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19
ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.
ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)
base
H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ
. . eyes as showing mental qualities
. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth
. appearance
. gleam, sparkle
. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)
5869 `ayin ah'-yin
probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or
figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the
landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +
think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +
displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,
fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,
knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,
presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +
think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.
: eye
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.
: seeing
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.
: appearance
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).
: before(the_eyes)
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.
: sin
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHR/Ncfdc/Sp3mp
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc