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;
Read it in contextJeremiah's Letter to the Exiles
Start reading at Jeremiah 29:1 (Jeremiah 29:1 to Jeremiah 29:32).
The entire chapter details Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon, God's message through it, and the responses of false prophets, making the whole chapter the relevant literary unit.
29:1Now 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;
29:2(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;)
29:3By 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,
29:4Thus 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;
29:5Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
29:6Take 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.
29:7And 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.
29:8For 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.
29:9For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
29:10For 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.
29:11For 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.
29:12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
29:13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
29:14And 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.
29:15Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;
29:16Know 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;
29:17Thus 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.
29:18And 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:
29:19Because 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.
29:20Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:
29:21Thus 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;
29:22And 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;
29:23Because 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.
29:24Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,
29:25Thus 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,
29:26The 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.
29:27Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?
29:28For 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.
29:29And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.
29:30Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
29:31Send 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:
29:32Therefore 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.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Jeremiah son of Hilkiah is the prophet behind the book, with Baruch serving as his scribe. The complete collection includes narrative and a historical appendix as well as Jeremiah's dictated words. Biblical references: Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 36:4; Jeremiah 36:32. stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Jeremiah 29:1–29:32): Jeremiah's letter addresses the surviving elders, priests, prophets, and people carried captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Judah and Jerusalem before and during the Babylonian crisis, exiles in Babylon, and later readers of the preserved prophetic collection. Individual oracles name additional recipients. Biblical references: Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 29:1; Jeremiah 46:1. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The main event is Jeremiah the prophet sending a letter from Jerusalem to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. The theme of the letter is God's instructions for them during their captivity, urging them to settle, seek the peace of Babylon, and wait for seventy years for their return, while warning them against false prophets who offered immediate, false hopes.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His specific will for the Jewish exiles: they are to settle in Babylon, build lives, seek the peace of the city, and pray for it, rather than expecting an immediate return. He reveals His long-term plan for their restoration after seventy years, emphasizing His thoughts of peace and an "expected end." He also reveals His judgment upon false prophets who deceive the people with lies.
What is the literary style? The literary style is a prophetic letter, containing direct divine pronouncements introduced by "Thus saith the LORD" and specific instructions for the recipients.
When
When was it written? The book of Jeremiah was written between approximately 626 and 580 B.C. This specific letter was sent after Jeconiah's captivity (597 B.C.) and during the reign of Zedekiah.
When does the event take place? The event takes place after the first major deportation to Babylon, specifically after King Jeconiah, the queen, and many others were carried away captive (597 B.C.), during the reign of King Zedekiah in Judah.
Where
Where did it happen? The letter was sent from Jerusalem, Judah, to the Jewish captives located in Babylon.
Where was the author located? Jeremiah the prophet was located in Jerusalem, Judah, when he sent this letter.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles (Jeremiah 29:1 to Jeremiah 29:32).
Start reading at Jeremiah 29:1. The entire chapter details Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon, God's message through it, and the responses of false prophets, making the whole chapter the relevant literary unit.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This passage fits the broader context of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry by addressing the Jewish people during their exile. It provides divine guidance for living in captivity, correcting the false hopes promoted by other prophets for an immediate return, and reaffirming God's long-term plan for their restoration after seventy years. interpretation
How does it point to Christ? The promise of God's "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11) foreshadows the ultimate peace and restoration that God provides for His people through Jesus Christ. Just as God had a plan for the exiles' future and return, Christ is the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, offering true hope, reconciliation, and an eternal inheritance to all who believe, even while they live as sojourners in this world. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Today, believers can apply this passage by faithfully living out their calling in whatever circumstances God places them, even if those circumstances are challenging or not what they desired. It encourages us to be good citizens and to seek the welfare of our communities, trusting in God's sovereign plan and promises for our future, rather than being deceived by false hopes or seeking immediate escape from difficulties. We are to patiently wait on the Lord, knowing He has "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah 29
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jeremiah records words associated with his prophetic ministry and accounts surrounding Judah's fall. The book is not arranged as one continuous dated diary. Read each oracle's audience, occasion, and conditions rather than assigning every promise to every reader. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Narratives and letters contrast competing claims about the LORD's word and address life under Babylonian power, including the exiles' situation.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Narratives and letters contrast competing claims about the LORD's word and address life under Babylonian power, including the exiles' situation.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jeremiah records words associated with his prophetic ministry and accounts surrounding Judah's fall. The book is not arranged as one continuous dated diary. Read each oracle's audience, occasion, and conditions rather than assigning every promise to every reader.
Connection to the wholeNarratives and letters contrast competing claims about the LORD's word and address life under Babylonian power, including the exiles' situation.
Connection to the wholeWords of restoration appear amid announced judgment, including the new covenant promise; their wording and named audience must remain visible.
Connection to the wholeThe accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch.
Connection to the wholeThe historical appendix recounts the disaster and closes with Jehoiachin's release, placing the preceding messages beside their historical aftermath.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.