The Bible Says
Jeremiah 32:6-8 Meaning

In Jeremiah 32:6, we see the prophet Jeremiah describe how he receives direct communication from the LORD: And Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying," (v. 6). Jeremiah, who prophesied in the late 7th century BC to the early 6th century BC, was active during the reigns of several kings of Judah, culminating in the period leading to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. This moment underscores Jeremiah’s role as God’s messenger at a time when Jerusalem was under immense pressure by powerful foreign forces.

By stating that the word of the LORD came to him (v. 6), Jeremiah illustrates the way God breaks into human history, giving instructions or revelations meant to guide His people. In difficult circumstances, hearing from God offered a firm anchor for a prophet’s faith. Amid Judah’s looming defeat, Jeremiah’s confidence in receiving the divine message sets him apart as an unwavering spokesperson for the LORD’s will.

This introduction prepares us for a symbolic action the prophet is about to perform. The unfolding narrative shows that even when outward events suggest despair, God continues to communicate hope and a future to His faithful servants. This also foreshadows the redemptive plans that find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who is presented in the New Testament as the living Word among us (John 1:14).

Continuing, Jeremiah 32:7 reveals the specific instructions God gives Jeremiah: "'Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you, saying, "Buy for yourself my field which is at Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it"'" (v. 7). Anathoth was a town located a few miles northeast of Jerusalem, situated in the territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. This location had significance for Jeremiah since he was from a priestly family that originated in Anathoth (Jeremiah 1:1). The request to buy land during an impending national crisis might have seemed illogical, but it was steeped in God’s purpose.

The right of redemption was a God-given privilege spelled out in the Law, where close relatives had the opportunity to preserve family land by purchasing it (Leviticus 25:25). This pointed to God’s intention that ancestral property remain within the same family lineage, emphasizing covenant faithfulness and continuity of inheritance. For Jeremiah, obeying this instruction demonstrated trust in what the LORD declared, even if present circumstances appeared bleak.

Like many acts of trust in the Scriptures, Jeremiah’s step of faith displayed that God’s promises outweighed the chaos of the moment. The LORD thus used this event to illustrate that Judah, though facing systemic failure, would one day be restored. Jeremiah’s willingness to redeem the land foreshadows the way Jesus offers redemption to humanity, fulfilling an even greater spiritual promise (Ephesians 1:7).

Next, Jeremiah 32:8 says, "Then Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of the LORD and said to me, 'Buy my field, please, that is at Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for you have the right of possession and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD" (v. 8). This verse confirms the fulfillment of the LORD’s message. At that time, Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard (v. 8), a location within Jerusalem’s fortifications where he was held because of his prophecies against the city’s leadership. Even then, God’s instructions came true in exact detail, showing Jeremiah that his calling and mission were affirmed by divine intervention.

The presence of Hanamel, a relative performing his duty according to Hebrew custom, validated the earlier revelation. The land’s description, in the land of Benjamin (v. 8), emphasizes how this transaction symbolized hope not just for Jeremiah but for all the people of Judah. Buying property during such a dire moment would only make sense if there was assurance of a future inheritance.

This scene builds faith in God’s promises. Jeremiah’s realization that he knew this was the word of the LORD (v. 8) provides an example of firm conviction. It is a reminder that believers of every generation can trust God’s guidance even in the darkest times and look forward to a redemptive outcome, fully realized when Jesus redeems and reclaims what has seemed lost (1 Peter 1:3-4).