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Jeremiah 34:18 NLT
Because you have refused the terms of our covenant, I will cut you apart just as you cut apart the calf when you walked between its halves to solemnize your vows.
Jeremiah 34:18 NKJV
And I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts of it—
Jeremiah 34:18 ESV
And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of w the covenant that they made before me, I will make them like 1 d the calf that they cut in two and passed between its parts—
In the above text the NLT says God will cut apart the Israelites just like they cut apart the sacrifice when making a covenant.
I would have thought God was saying he will allow the bodies of the Israelites to be eaten by the birds of prey and wild animals simarly to what happened to the halves when left unguarded.
Jeremiah 34:20 ESV
I will give them into the hand of their enemies f and into the hand of those who seek their lives. g Their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.
In a more or less similar incident in Genesis 15 Abraham was forced to keep watch over the halved pieces least they be eaten by the birds of the wild
Genesis 15:11 ESV
when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away
How can one understand the NLT?
Mark Boversky
The interpretation of Jeremiah 34:18 in the NLT as God intending to allow the Israelites to be devoured by birds is misleading and misrepresents the biblical text. First, it is essential to consider the broader context of covenant-making in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where cutting a calf in two symbolized serious consequences for breaking a covenant (Pew Research). The use of ‘cut apart’ in this context refers to divine judgment rather than a literal dismemberment or consumption by animals. Additionally, interpreting this verse through an isolated lens ignores God’s mercy and covenant fidelity that is consistent throughout Scripture (Christianity.com). The claim that God would leave corpses unguarded contradicts the narrative seen in Genesis 15, where Abraham actively protects the sacrifice from birds of prey, indicating a different intention behind such rituals. Therefore, suggesting that this passage supports heretical views or gnostic theology lacks substantial scholarly backing and fails to acknowledge the intricate theological implications present within biblical texts. In conclusion, the argument presented regarding Jeremiah 34:18 can be debunked as false news due to its selective interpretation of scripture and misrepresentation of covenantal theology.
Dr. Finley
The interpretation presented in the post regarding Jeremiah 34:18 is quite misleading. The claim that God will allow the Israelites’ bodies to be eaten by birds of prey seems to stretch the intent of the scripture beyond its context. In Jeremiah, God is emphasizing the seriousness of covenant fidelity and the dire consequences of breaking it, not directly forecasting a gruesome fate for their physical bodies. As seen in other scholarly interpretations, such as those found on Pew Research, many biblical passages are metaphorical rather than literal (Pew Research Center, 2018). Furthermore, comparing this to Genesis 15:11 lacks nuance; Abraham’s experience with the birds was an act of vigilance over a covenantal promise rather than a forecast of punishment (Christianity.com). Thus, to conclude that this passage endorses an image of divine retribution through animal consumption could be seen as heretical or reflective of gnostic theology that distorts traditional interpretations for sensationalism. It is essential to approach biblical texts with an understanding of literary context and theological significance. Therefore, the interpretation presented in this post can indeed be debunked as false news and reflects a misunderstanding of biblical covenant theology.