Jeremiah 29 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Jeremiah 29 meaning explained in AI Summary

Jeremiah 29 offers a message of hope and future for the Israelites exiled in Babylon. Here's a summary:

Context: The Southern Kingdom of Judah has fallen to Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar has deported many Israelites, including the prophet Jeremiah, to Babylon.

Message to the Exiles (verses 1-14):

Letter from Jeremiah: Jeremiah sends a letter to the elders, priests, prophets, and people exiled in Babylon.
Settle In: God instructs the exiles to build houses, plant gardens, marry, and have children. They should seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon.
70 Years: God reveals that the exile will last 70 years. After that, He will fulfill His promise to restore them to Jerusalem.
Prayer and Hope: God assures the exiles that He hears their prayers and has good plans for them – plans for hope and a future.

Warning Against False Prophets (verses 15-23):

False Promises: Jeremiah warns the exiles not to listen to false prophets in Babylon who claim a quick return to Jerusalem.
God's Judgment: He exposes the false prophets, stating that God has not sent them and their words are lies.
Example of Ahab and Zedekiah: Jeremiah cites the example of two false prophets, Ahab and Zedekiah, who were punished for their deceit.

Message to Shemaiah (verses 24-32):

Shemaiah's False Prophecy: Shemaiah, a false prophet in Babylon, sends a letter to Jerusalem criticizing Jeremiah for prophesying exile.
God's Rebuke: God condemns Shemaiah for opposing His true prophet and spreading false hope.
Consequences for Shemaiah: God declares that Shemaiah and his descendants will be punished for their disobedience.

Key Themes:

God's Sovereignty: Even in exile, God is in control and working out His purposes.
Hope and Future: Despite the difficult circumstances, God promises restoration and a future filled with hope.
Discernment: The chapter emphasizes the importance of discerning true prophets from false ones and holding onto God's word.
Faithfulness in Exile: The exiles are called to live faithfully even in a foreign land, trusting in God's promises.

Famous Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

This verse, often quoted out of context, reminds us that God has a plan for our lives, even in the midst of hardship. However, it's important to remember that this promise was specifically given to the Israelites in exile and is ultimately fulfilled in their return to Jerusalem. It speaks to God's faithfulness and love, but it doesn't negate the reality of suffering or guarantee an easy life.

Jeremiah 29 bible study ai commentary

Jeremiah 29 communicates God's sovereign plan for His people amidst judgment. It's a letter correcting the false hope of an immediate return from Babylonian exile, instead commanding the Jews to live faithfully for the long term in a foreign land. The chapter contrasts the true, difficult, but hopeful message of God with the easy, false promises of deceivers, centering on the famous promise of a future and a hope after a period of disciplined waiting.

Jeremiah 29 context

This letter was sent around 597 BC from Jerusalem to the first group of exiles in Babylon. This group included King Jehoiachin and the societal elite: officials, priests, prophets, and craftsmen. They were taken captive after Nebuchadnezzar's first major siege of Jerusalem. At this time, Jerusalem and the temple were still standing, and a puppet king, Zedekiah, was on the throne. Many in both Jerusalem and Babylon were being told by false prophets that the exile would be very short, perhaps only two years (Jer 28:3). Jeremiah's letter directly counters this dangerously misleading optimism, laying out God's true, long-term plan.

Jeremiah 29:1-3

These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalworkers had departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

In-depth-analysis

This letter is an official prophetic communication, not a personal note. It targets the leadership ("surviving elders") and all the exiles.
The list of exiled personnel (v. 2) highlights that Babylon strategically removed Judah's entire leadership and skilled class, crippling the nation.
The couriers, Elasah and Gemariah, were from prominent, faithful families. Shaphan (Elasah's father) was the scribe who served King Josiah during his reforms (2 Ki 22:8), and Hilkiah (Gemariah's father) was the high priest who found the Book of the Law. This added authority and credibility to Jeremiah's message, as they were trusted men.

Bible references

2 Kings 24:14-16: 'He carried away all Jerusalem... and all the mighty men of valor... and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land.' (Describes the deportation mentioned here).
Jeremiah 24:1-5: 'the LORD showed me two baskets of figs... one basket had very good figs... the other basket had very bad figs...' (Identifies these exiles as the "good figs" through whom God will work).

Cross references

Jer 28:1 (false prophets), 2 Chr 36:10 (Jeconiah's exile).

Jeremiah 29:4-7

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

In-depth-analysis

"I have sent you into exile": God takes direct responsibility. It was not merely Nebuchadnezzar's military might, but God's sovereign hand of judgment.
"Build... plant... marry... multiply": These commands instruct the exiles to establish deep, permanent roots. This is a multi-generational plan, directly refuting the lie of a short exile. It is the opposite of a temporary refugee mindset.
Word - Shalom (שָׁלוֹם): The Hebrew for "welfare" is shalom, meaning peace, wholeness, prosperity, and well-being. This is a shocking command.
"Seek the welfare (shalom) of the city... for in its shalom you will find your shalom": This is a revolutionary theological and political command. Instead of rebellion or withdrawal, God's people are to be a blessing to their captors. Their well-being is now tied to the well-being of a pagan empire. This lays a foundation for the Christian's role in secular society.

Bible references

Genesis 12:2-3: 'I will bless you... and you will be a blessing... in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' (Fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant in a new, counter-intuitive way).
1 Timothy 2:1-2: '...I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life...' (Echoes the principle of praying for civic leaders for the sake of peace).
Genesis 1:28: 'And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply...”' (A re-issuing of the creation mandate in the context of exile).

Cross references

Ezra 6:10 (pray for king of Persia), Rom 13:1 (submit to authorities), 1 Pet 2:11-12 (live honorably among gentiles).

Polemics

This is a direct polemic against nationalistic zealotry and the message of false prophets who advocated for rebellion or non-cooperation. It taught the exiles that God's Kingdom is not tied to a single geographical location or political circumstance. True faithfulness is not about reclaiming political power but about living out God's commands wherever one is.

Jeremiah 29:8-9

"For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD."

In-depth-analysis

The source of deception is internal ("prophets... who are among you"). The greatest danger was not from Babylon, but from false spiritual leaders within the community of exiles.
They used the right formula ("in my name") but delivered the wrong message ("a lie" - sheqer). This is the mark of false prophecy.
"dreams that they dream": The text in Hebrew can be read "dreams that you cause them to dream." This implies the people's desire for good news was fueling the false prophets. They heard what they wanted to hear.

Bible references

Jeremiah 23:25-26: '"I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’... who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams..."' (Jeremiah's consistent attack on fraudulent prophecy).
Deuteronomy 18:22: '...when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken...' (The classic test of a true prophet).
2 Timothy 4:3-4: 'For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions...' (NT parallel for people seeking messages they want to hear).

Cross references

Jer 14:14, 27:14-15; Ezek 13:6-7; Matt 24:11, 24; 1 John 4:1.

Jeremiah 29:10-14

"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with your whole heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

In-depth-analysis

Verse 10: "seventy years": This is a specific, sobering timeframe. It meant that most of the adult exiles hearing the letter would die in Babylon. Hope was for their children and grandchildren.
Verse 11: The Core Promise:
- Context is key: This promise is plural ("you" is plural in Hebrew). It is a promise made to the corporate nation of Israel in the midst of their national punishment. It is about national restoration, not primarily individual prosperity.
- "plans for welfare (shalom) and not for evil (ra’ah)": God's ultimate intention is redemptive. The current "evil" or calamity of exile is a disciplinary part of a larger plan for shalom.
- "a future and a hope (tiqvah)": The promise is one of national survival and covenant renewal, not an escape from present difficulty.
Verses 12-13: The Condition: Restoration is not automatic. It is conditioned on the people's response. True, wholehearted repentance ("seek me with your whole heart") is the catalyst for God fulfilling His promise.
Verse 14: The Fulfillment: God promises to reverse the curse of exile (Deut 28), regathering His people. This finds its initial fulfillment in the return under Ezra and Nehemiah and its ultimate fulfillment in Christ gathering people from all nations.

Bible references

Daniel 9:2: '...I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.' (Daniel taking this prophecy literally and praying based on it).
Deuteronomy 4:29-31: 'But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul... he will not forget the covenant with your fathers...' (The foundational OT text for the pattern of exile, repentance, and restoration).
Romans 8:28: 'And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.' (A principle-level application for Christians: God works His purposes even through suffering).

Cross references

2 Chr 36:21-23 (fulfillment of 70 years), Deut 30:1-5 (promise of restoration), Matt 7:7 (seek and you will find), Jas 4:8 (draw near to God), Acts 2:38-39 (repentance and the promise).

Polemics

The main polemic is against de-contextualized "prosperity gospel" interpretations of verse 11. Scholars universally stress its original context was national and corporate, a promise of restoration after judgment, not a guarantee of personal health and wealth for believers today. Its principle (God's good and sovereign purpose) applies to Christians, but the specific promise (return from Babylon) does not.

Jeremiah 29:15-20

"Because you have said, ‘The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,’—for thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with you into exile: ‘Behold, I will send on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten... I will make them a horror... because they did not pay attention to my words... and you too have not listened, declares the LORD.’... hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon."

In-depth-analysis

Jeremiah now pivots to address the faulty logic of the exiles, who believed God was also speaking through prophets in Babylon (v. 15).
He contrasts the future hope of the exiles (the "good figs" of Jer 24) with the imminent and total doom of those remaining in Jerusalem under Zedekiah (the "bad figs").
The classic judgment trio of "sword, famine, and pestilence" is invoked, showing that the fate of those who remained in Judah would be far worse than the fate of those in exile.
This reinforces Jeremiah's earlier message: exile is the "safe" place. Being in Babylon is the path to preservation, while staying in Jerusalem is the path to annihilation. This turns their entire worldview upside down.

Bible references

Jeremiah 24:8-10: '“But like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten,” says the LORD, “so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah... I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them...”' (The direct source of the "vile figs" imagery).
Deuteronomy 28:21-26: (Lists pestilence, sword, and famine as covenant curses for disobedience).
Lamentations 4:9: 'Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger, who wasted away, pierced by lack of the fruits of the field.' (A testimony to the horror of the judgment that came upon Jerusalem).

Cross references

Jer 21:7, 34:17, 38:2; Ezek 5:12.

Jeremiah 29:21-23

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: ‘Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall strike them down before your eyes. Because of them a curse shall be taken up by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The LORD make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. I am the one who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.’"

In-depth-analysis

Jeremiah names two specific false prophets in Babylon, Ahab and Zedekiah.
Their judgment will be public and gruesome: executed by Nebuchadnezzar. The verb "roasted" suggests a death by fire, a known Assyrian and Babylonian punishment (Dan 3).
Their sin was twofold: prophetic lies (a sin against God) and adultery (a sin against the community). Immorality and false doctrine are often linked in Scripture.
Their names will become a proverbial curse, a permanent warning to the community about the consequence of spiritual fraud and hypocrisy.
"I am the one who knows, and I am a witness": God's omniscience is the final verdict. No sin is hidden from Him.

Bible references

Daniel 3:6: '...whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.' (Shows that "roasting in the fire" was a known Babylonian punishment).
2 Peter 2:1-2, 14: '...false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you... They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin.' (Connects false teaching with moral corruption).

Cross references

Deut 13:5 (death penalty for false prophets), Jer 23:14 (prophets of Jerusalem commit adultery).

Jeremiah 29:24-32

"To Shemaiah of Nehelam you shall say... ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem... saying to Zephaniah... “The LORD has made you priest instead of Jehoiada... to put in the stocks and neck-irons any madman who prophesies.”... Why then have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth...? Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “Send to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah... Behold, I will punish Shemaiah... he shall not have anyone to live among this people, and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people... because he has spoken rebellion against the LORD.’”"

In-depth-analysis

The conflict shifts to another false prophet, Shemaiah, who tried to undermine Jeremiah from afar by writing letters to the priests in Jerusalem.
He attempts to incite Zephaniah, the new chief priest, to arrest Jeremiah, calling him a "madman."
Zephaniah's response is telling: instead of arresting Jeremiah, he reads the letter to him. This shows his loyalty to God's true prophet over the false one.
God's judgment on Shemaiah is specific and devastating: his family line will be cut off ("not have anyone to live among this people"), and he will be excluded from the future restoration ("he shall not see the good"). This is the ultimate curse: to be cut off from God's covenant community and its hopeful future.

Bible references

Jeremiah 20:1-2: '...Pashhur... the chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying... and Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks...' (Shows the kind of punishment Shemaiah was calling for).
Deuteronomy 18:20: 'But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak... that same prophet shall die.' (Shemaiah's "rebellion" warrants this judgment).

Cross references

Num 16:31-33 (Korah's rebellion), Jer 28:15-17 (Hananiah's death).

Jeremiah chapter 29 analysis

Living in the Meantime: The central theological challenge of the chapter is how to live faithfully between a past judgment and a future promise. The answer is not passive waiting but active, faithful presence in the world, seeking its shalom.
Word of God vs. Words of Men: The chapter is a case study in discernment. False prophecy appeals to "itching ears," offering immediate comfort and reinforcing existing biases. True prophecy often brings a difficult, long-term message that requires repentance and trust in God's sovereignty over history.
Decontextualization of Jeremiah 29:11: Modern popular use often strips this verse of its crucial context. It is not a blank check for personal health and wealth. It is a corporate promise to a nation under divine discipline, assuring them that judgment is not God's final word. For the Christian, the promise is applied through the New Covenant, where our ultimate "welfare" (shalom), "future," and "hope" are secured in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, not in earthly circumstances.
God's Sovereignty Over Nations: God's control is absolute. He uses Nebuchadnezzar as His instrument of judgment ("whom I have sent") and will determine the exact length of the exile ("seventy years"). The fates of pagan empires and the covenant people are both firmly in His hand.

Jeremiah 29 summary

Jeremiah sends a letter to the exiles in Babylon to correct the false, short-term hope peddled by false prophets. He commands them to settle in for a long stay—to build, plant, and multiply, and even to pray for the peace (shalom) of Babylon. He then delivers God's promise that after seventy years of disciplinary exile, a repentant generation will be restored, for God's ultimate plans are for their welfare and hope. The chapter ends with God's pronouncement of judgment against the specific false prophets who spoke lies and rebellion.

Jeremiah 28 AI Jeremiah 30 AI

Jeremiah 29 AI Image Audio and Video

Jeremiah chapter 29 kjv

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;)
³ By 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,
⁴ Thus 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;
⁵ Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
⁶ Take 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.
⁷ And 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.
⁹ For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
¹⁰ For 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.
¹¹ For 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.
¹² Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
¹⁴ And 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;
¹⁷ Thus 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.
¹⁸ And 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:
¹⁹ Because 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.
²⁰ Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:
²¹ Thus 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;
²² And 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;
²³ Because 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,
²⁵ Thus 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,
²⁶ The 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.
²⁷ Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?
²⁸ For 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 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.
³⁰ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
³¹ Send 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:
³² Therefore 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.

Jeremiah chapter 29 nkjv

¹ Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remainder of the elders who were carried away captive?to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon.
² (This happened after Jeconiah the king, the queen mother, the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.)
³ The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying,
⁴ Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
⁵ Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.
⁶ Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters?that you may be increased there, and not diminished.
⁷ And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
⁸ For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
⁹ For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD.
¹⁰ For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.
¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
¹² Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
¹³ And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
¹⁴ I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
¹⁵ Because you have said, "The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon"?
¹⁶ therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, concerning all the people who dwell in this city, and concerning your brethren who have not gone out with you into captivity?
¹⁷ thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.
¹⁸ And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth?to be a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,
¹⁹ because they have not heeded My words, says the LORD, which I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; neither would you heed, says the LORD.
²⁰ Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all you of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon.
²¹ Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in My name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall slay them before your eyes.
²² And because of them a curse shall be taken up by all the captivity of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, "The LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire";
²³ because they have done disgraceful things in Israel, have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and have spoken lying words in My name, which I have not commanded them. Indeed I know, and am a witness, says the LORD.
²⁴ You shall also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,
²⁵ Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,
²⁶ "The LORD has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, so that there should be officers in the house of the LORD over every man who is demented and considers himself a prophet, that you should put him in prison and in the stocks.
²⁷ Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who makes himself a prophet to you?
²⁸ For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, 'This captivity is long; build houses and dwell in them, and plant gardens and eat their fruit.' "
²⁹ Now Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.
³⁰ Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying:
³¹ Send to all those in captivity, saying, Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I have not sent him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie?
³² therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his family: he shall not have anyone to dwell among this people, nor shall he see the good that I will do for My people, says the LORD, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD.

Jeremiah chapter 29 niv

¹ This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
² (This was after King Jehoiachin and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.)
³ He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:
⁴ This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
⁵ "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.
⁶ Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.
⁷ Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
⁸ Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.
⁹ They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.
¹⁰ This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
¹⁴ I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
¹⁵ You may say, "The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,"
¹⁶ but this is what the LORD says about the king who sits on David's throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile?
¹⁷ yes, this is what the LORD Almighty says: "I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten.
¹⁸ I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them.
¹⁹ For they have not listened to my words," declares the LORD, "words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either," declares the LORD.
²⁰ Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.
²¹ This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies to you in my name: "I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes.
²² Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: 'May the LORD treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned in the fire.'
²³ For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and in my name they have uttered lies?which I did not authorize. I know it and am a witness to it," declares the LORD.
²⁴ Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite,
²⁵ "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah,
²⁶ 'The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the LORD; you should put any maniac who acts like a prophet into the stocks and neck-irons.
²⁷ So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you?
²⁸ He has sent this message to us in Babylon: It will be a long time. Therefore build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.'?"
²⁹ Zephaniah the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet.
³⁰ Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
³¹ "Send this message to all the exiles: 'This is what the LORD says about Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies,
³² this is what the LORD says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good things I will do for my people, declares the LORD, because he has preached rebellion against me.'?"

Jeremiah chapter 29 esv

¹ These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
² This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem.
³ The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said:
⁴ "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
⁵ Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.
⁶ Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.
⁷ But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
⁸ For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream,
⁹ for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD.
¹⁰ "For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
¹³ You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
¹⁴ I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
¹⁵ "Because you have said, 'The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,'
¹⁶ thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with you into exile:
¹⁷ 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten.
¹⁸ I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,
¹⁹ because they did not pay attention to my words, declares the LORD, that I persistently sent to you by my servants the prophets, but you would not listen, declares the LORD.'
²⁰ Hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
²¹ 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall strike them down before your eyes.
²² Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: "The LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,"
²³ because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. I am the one who knows, and I am witness, declares the LORD.'"
²⁴ To Shemaiah of Nehelam you shall say:
²⁵ "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,
²⁶ 'The LORD has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to have charge in the house of the LORD over every madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and neck irons.
²⁷ Now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who is prophesying to you?
²⁸ For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, "Your exile will be long; build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce."'"
²⁹ Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.
³⁰ Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
³¹ "Send to all the exiles, saying, 'Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah of Nehelam: Because Shemaiah had prophesied to you when I did not send him, and has made you trust in a lie,
³² therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants. He shall not have anyone living among this people, and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people, declares the LORD, for he has spoken rebellion against the LORD.'"

Jeremiah chapter 29 nlt

¹ Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.
² This was after King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the court officials, the other officials of Judah, and all the craftsmen and artisans had been deported from Jerusalem.
³ He sent the letter with Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah when they went to Babylon as King Zedekiah's ambassadors to Nebuchadnezzar. This is what Jeremiah's letter said:
⁴ This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem:
⁵ "Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce.
⁶ Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away!
⁷ And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare."
⁸ This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams,
⁹ because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them," says the LORD.
¹⁰ This is what the LORD says: "You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
¹² In those days when you pray, I will listen.
¹³ If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
¹⁴ I will be found by you," says the LORD. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land."
¹⁵ You claim that the LORD has raised up prophets for you in Babylon.
¹⁶ But this is what the LORD says about the king who sits on David's throne and all those still living here in Jerusalem ? your relatives who were not exiled to Babylon.
¹⁷ This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: "I will send war, famine, and disease upon them and make them like bad figs, too rotten to eat.
¹⁸ Yes, I will pursue them with war, famine, and disease, and I will scatter them around the world. In every nation where I send them, I will make them an object of damnation, horror, contempt, and mockery.
¹⁹ For they refuse to listen to me, though I have spoken to them repeatedly through the prophets I sent. And you who are in exile have not listened either," says the LORD.
²⁰ Therefore, listen to this message from the LORD, all you captives there in Babylon.
²¹ This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says about your prophets ? Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah ? who are telling you lies in my name: "I will turn them over to Nebuchadnezzar for execution before your eyes.
²² Their terrible fate will become proverbial, so that the Judean exiles will curse someone by saying, 'May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned alive!'
²³ For these men have done terrible things among my people. They have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives and have lied in my name, saying things I did not command. I am a witness to this. I, the LORD, have spoken."
²⁴ The LORD sent this message to Shemaiah the Nehelamite in Babylon:
²⁵ "This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: You wrote a letter on your own authority to Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, and you sent copies to the other priests and people in Jerusalem. You wrote to Zephaniah,
²⁶ "The LORD has appointed you to replace Jehoiada as the priest in charge of the house of the LORD. You are responsible to put into stocks and neck irons any crazy man who claims to be a prophet.
²⁷ So why have you done nothing to stop Jeremiah from Anathoth, who pretends to be a prophet among you?
²⁸ Jeremiah sent a letter here to Babylon, predicting that our captivity will be a long one. He said, 'Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce.'"
²⁹ But when Zephaniah the priest received Shemaiah's letter, he took it to Jeremiah and read it to him.
³⁰ Then the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah:
³¹ "Send an open letter to all the exiles in Babylon. Tell them, 'This is what the LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Since he has prophesied to you when I did not send him and has tricked you into believing his lies,
³² I will punish him and his family. None of his descendants will see the good things I will do for my people, for he has incited you to rebel against me. I, the LORD, have spoken!'"