Jeremiah 29

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 29

1¶ Now these [are] the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;

2(After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)

3By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,

4Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

5Build ye houses, and dwell [in them]; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

6Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

7And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

8¶ For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that [be] in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

9For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

10For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

14And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

15¶ Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;

16[Know] that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, [and] of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;

17Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

18And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

19Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending [them]; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.

20Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:

21Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;

22And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which [are] in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;

23Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and [am] a witness, saith the LORD.

24¶ [Thus] shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,

25Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that [are] at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,

26The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man [that is] mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

27Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?

28For therefore he sent unto us [in] Babylon, saying, This [captivity is] long: build ye houses, and dwell [in them]; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

29And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.

30Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,

31Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:

32Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jeremiah sends a letter to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, instructing them to settle, build, marry, and seek the peace of their captor city, for their own welfare. He warns against false prophets and promises their return to Jerusalem after seventy years, affirming the LORD's plans for their peace and a hopeful future. Meanwhile, judgment is pronounced upon false prophets in Babylon and those remaining in Jerusalem who reject the LORD's word.

Medium Summary

Jeremiah the prophet dispatches a letter from Jerusalem to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, including elders, priests, and the general populace. The LORD commands them to establish lives there: build houses, plant gardens, marry, and multiply, rather than expecting an immediate return. Crucially, they are to seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon, praying for it, as their own well-being is intertwined with the city's. The letter sternly warns against false prophets and diviners among them, who speak lies in the LORD's name. Instead, the LORD promises that after seventy years in Babylon, He will visit them and fulfill His good word, bringing them back to Jerusalem, for His thoughts toward them are of peace and an “expected end.” He also pronounces severe judgment upon the unrepentant in Jerusalem and specifically condemns false prophets like Ahab, Zedekiah, and Shemaiah, who deceive the people and teach rebellion.

Long Summary

Jeremiah the prophet sends a significant letter from Jerusalem to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, addressing the residue of elders, priests, prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive. This letter, delivered by Elasah and Gemariah, conveys the direct word of the LORD of hosts to those in captivity. The LORD instructs them to embrace their new circumstances by building houses, planting gardens, taking wives, and raising families, ensuring their increase and not diminution in Babylon. Furthermore, they are commanded to actively seek the peace and prosperity of the city where they are exiled and to pray to the LORD for it, as their own peace is dependent upon Babylon's welfare. A critical part of the message is a warning against false prophets and diviners among them who prophesy lies in the LORD's name, for He has not sent them. In contrast to these deceivers, the LORD declares His true plan: after seventy years are accomplished in Babylon, He will visit them and perform His good word, causing them to return to Jerusalem. He assures them that His thoughts toward them are of peace and not evil, to give them an “expected end,” promising that when they call upon Him and seek Him with all their heart, He will be found and will turn their captivity. The letter also addresses those remaining in Jerusalem, prophesying severe judgment upon the king and people who did not go into captivity, likening them to “vile figs” and threatening them with sword, famine, and pestilence for their disobedience. Specific condemnation is directed at false prophets in Babylon, Ahab and Zedekiah, who committed villany and adultery, prophesying lies; they will be delivered to Nebuchadnezzar and roasted in the fire, becoming a curse. Finally, the LORD rebukes Shemaiah the Nehelamite for sending letters to Jerusalem, criticizing Jeremiah and instructing priests to imprison him. For prophesying lies and teaching rebellion, Shemaiah and his seed will be punished, not seeing the good the LORD will do for His people.

Core Concepts

  • Life in ExileThe command for the exiles in Babylon to settle, build homes, plant gardens, marry, and multiply, signifying a long-term stay and a call to establish a functioning community despite their captive status.
  • Seeking Peace for the CityAn instruction for the captives to pray for and seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon, the city of their captivity, understanding that their own peace is intrinsically linked to its well-being.
  • Warning Against False ProphetsA strong admonition against prophets and diviners who speak lies in the LORD's name, deceiving the people with false hopes of an immediate return, and a clear distinction between true and false divine messages.
  • Promise of Restoration (70 Years)The LORD's specific declaration that after seventy years in Babylon, He will visit His people and bring them back to Jerusalem, revealing His long-term plan for their future.
  • Divine Thoughts of PeaceAn assurance from the LORD that His intentions for His people are “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end,” emphasizing His benevolent purpose despite their current suffering.
  • Judgment on Disobedient in JerusalemA prophecy of severe punishment—sword, famine, and pestilence—upon those who remained in Jerusalem and rejected the LORD's words, likening them to “vile figs.”
  • Condemnation of Specific False ProphetsSpecific judgments pronounced against individuals like Ahab, Zedekiah, and Shemaiah, who prophesied lies, committed wickedness, and taught rebellion, highlighting the LORD's direct intervention against those who mislead His people.