The seven names in Jeremiah 32:6–15 function like the names of Isaiah’s children (Is 8:18). They point to the broader message of the book.

In chapter 32, Jeremiah is locked up in the court of king Zedekiah. Jerusalem is being besieged by Babylon, and in these dark circumstances Yahweh speaks a strange message to Jeremiah: Jeremiah’s cousin will come to him and ask Jeremiah to buy his field. Jeremiah has the family right to buy the land, and he should do it.

This is where the name-signs start.

The First Four Names

The cousin’s name was Hanamel, and his field was in Anathoth, noteworthy priestly lands (Joshua 21:18).

1. The name of Jeremiah’s cousin is “God is gracious” (חֲנַמְאֵל = אל + חנן)
2. Jeremiah’s cousin is the “son of Peace” (“son of Shallum,” בֶּן־שַׁלֻּם) — that is, Hanamel’s father is named Shallum.
3. Repeatedly in this chapter Yahweh speaks of his cousin as “son of your uncle.” The word “uncle” is דּוֹד, the same root from which we get the name David.
4. The cousin’s land is in Anathoth, and this is another link to David. David’s priest, Abiathar, lived in Anathoth. Abiathar was the lone survivor when Saul murdered all the priests in Nob (1 Sam 22:20).
   

The names point to the hope of a coming “Branch” of David, which Jeremiah mentioned in 23:5 and will mention again in the 33:15. The exile will happen, but God will be gracious to his people again. The “Son of Peace” will come. For the time being, Jeremiah and the faithful remnant need to follow Yahweh into and through the darkness of exile.

Yahweh’s message to Jeremiah in this chapter is much like David’s initial words to Abiathar: “Stay with me; do not be afraid … With me you shall be in safekeeping” (1 Samuel 22:23).

Three More Names

Jeremiah’s purchase of his cousin’s land is a sign-act (Jer 32:10). The point is not readily apparent to Jeremiah, but he knew God was in his cousin’s visit because God told Jeremiah it would happen right before it did (Jer 32:8). In his lack of understanding, Jeremiah models what to do with frustration and a lack of clarity (32:16–25): Jeremiah takes refuge in Yahweh and talks to him about all of his frustration.

Verse 12 introduces three more name signs:

1. Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch, is named “Blessed one,” (בָּרוּךְ).
2. Baruch’s father is “lamp of Yahweh” (נֵרִיָּה).
3. Baruch’s grandfather is named “Yahweh is my refuge” (מַחְסֵיָה).
   

The light of Yahweh will shine through the darkness of exile, and the promises to Abraham and David will be fulfilled. The Branch will sprout forth, and he will be a blessing to all nations by pouring out God’s Spirit. The whole force of Jeremiah’s message is signaled in the name Mahseiah: “Take refuge in Yahweh” through the coming darkness of exile.

Jeremiah tells Baruch to enclose the paperwork of the sale in clay jars because the words will “stand for many days” (Jer 32:14, יַעַמְדוּ יָמִים רַבִּים). The whole episode stands as a sign-act that speaks hope far into the future. As Jeremiah has already said, “You’ll understand more in ‘the last days’” (Jer 30:24, באחרית הימים).

Waiting like Jeremiah

We do understand much more now. We know the Branch, the true Son of Peace. Jesus is the truly “blessed one,” “the lamp of Yahweh,” the one who shows us what it looks like to truly take refuge in Yahweh. We follow Jeremiah’s words up to and through the Son’s first coming, and like Jeremiah we wait. We wait for the Son’s second coming. We take refuge in him, and through the Spirit we follow Jesus up to and through our own very real exile.

“Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:12).