Jeremiah 29 11

Jeremiah 29:11 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 29:11 nkjv

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.

Jeremiah 29:11 niv

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.

Jeremiah 29:11 esv

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.

Jeremiah 29:11 nlt

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.

Jeremiah 29 verses

Jeremiah 29 11 Meaning

Jeremiah 29:11 is a declaration from the Lord to the exiled people of Israel in Babylon, assuring them of His benevolent and deliberate intentions. Despite their current hardship and separation from their homeland, God confirms that His established purposes for them are not for calamity or destruction but are instead filled with His intention for their holistic well-being (shalom), promising them a secure and hopeful future. It underlines God's ultimate design for His covenant people.

Jeremiah 29 11 Context

Jeremiah 29:11 is found within a letter written by the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported many of the elite, skilled workers, and spiritual leaders of Judah to Babylon, beginning in 597 BC. The recipients of this letter were living as captives, away from their homeland and temple, facing deep despair, and susceptible to false prophets who promised an immediate return to Jerusalem (e.g., Hananiah in Jer 28).

Jeremiah's message, counter to the false hope, commanded the exiles to settle down in Babylon, build houses, plant gardens, marry, and seek the peace (shalom) of the city for a divinely ordained period of 70 years (Jer 29:1-10). Verse 11 then provides the fundamental reason and assurance behind this challenging command: God's ultimate intention for them is good, encompassing a future of well-being and hope, rather than continuing hardship or annihilation. This promise underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant people, even in their disobedience and exile, looking towards a future restoration and renewal.

Jeremiah 29 11 Word analysis

• For I know: Yada' (יָדַע), not merely intellectual knowledge but deep, intimate, and experiential knowing. It speaks of God's personal acquaintance with and intentional investment in the lives of His people.

• the plans: Machashavah (מַחֲשָׁבָה), meaning thoughts, devices, purposes, or intentions. It implies carefully formulated designs, highlighting God's deliberate, premeditated, and intelligent planning, not an accidental outcome.

• I have for you: Direct and personal address from God to His covenant community, "you" (plural), referring to the collective exiles of Judah. It underscores God's specific, personal commitment to their future.

• declares the Lord: Ne'um Yahweh (נְאֻם יְהוָה), a solemn prophetic formula, emphasizing the divine authority and certainty of the pronouncement. It highlights the inerrancy and reliability of this word from God.

• plans to prosper you: Here "prosper" is linked to the Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם). Shalom signifies complete well-being, wholeness, peace, security, health, flourishing, and harmony in every aspect of life – spiritual, material, relational, and communal. It is a state of covenantal completeness and flourishing.

• and not to harm you: The word "harm" is ra' (רָע), meaning evil, disaster, calamity, or misfortune. This phrase serves as a powerful contrast to their current condition of exile, affirming that while the exile was a judgment (a form of harm as a consequence of their sin), God's ultimate purpose is not punitive destruction but restoration and positive welfare.

• plans to give you hope: Tiqvah (תִּקְוָה), meaning expectation, a cord (implying connection or security), a longing for an anticipated positive future. It's a confident assurance of future good that God will bring about, rooted in His faithfulness, not merely wishful thinking.

• and a future: Acharit (אַחֲרִית), meaning the end, outcome, latter end, destiny, posterity. It points to a definitive, positive culmination or destiny for the nation, beyond their current state of captivity, signifying restoration and an ongoing heritage.

• Word-group Analysis:

  • "For I know the plans I have for you...": This opening emphasizes God's personal knowledge and deliberate, pre-determined intention behind their experience, challenging any notion of haphazard events.
  • "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.": The threefold repetition of "plans" (machashavah) powerfully stresses the steadfastness and meticulousness of God's intentions. The pairing of "prosper...not to harm" highlights the restorative, life-affirming nature of God's design, directly contrasting their present adversity. "Hope and a future" encapsulate the ultimate positive outlook, assuring a divine culmination to their trials and ensuring an enduring legacy for His people. This complete statement outlines the comprehensive goodness of God's ultimate intention.

Jeremiah 29 11 Bonus section

While often quoted as an individual promise, the original recipient of Jeremiah 29:11 was the collective nation of Israel in exile. This context is vital because it was a corporate promise concerning the restoration of the covenant people to their land and relationship with God after a period of discipline. Misapplications can lead to an unbiblical expectation of constant material ease, overlooking the communal and redemptive-historical elements. However, the verse also expresses a timeless truth about God's character: He is intrinsically good, providentially active, and always seeks the well-being and hope of His obedient children within His sovereign plan, ultimately fulfilled in Christ for the church, the spiritual Israel. This profound promise does not negate suffering but assures that suffering is purposeful and contained within God's good, ultimate intention for His people.

Jeremiah 29 11 Commentary

Jeremiah 29:11 is a pivotal declaration that anchors the exiled Israelites in the overarching benevolent will of God. It directly counters the despair and false prophecies prevalent during the Babylonian exile. It reveals that despite the disciplinary act of exile—a consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness—God's ultimate design for His people was never their destruction but their flourishing and a divinely orchestrated destiny. This "future" was tied to their return from exile (Jer 29:10) but also pointed beyond to the eschatological hope for Israel, including the promise of a new covenant (Jer 31:31-34) and a complete spiritual and national restoration.

The verse clarifies that "prosperity" is not merely material gain, but the comprehensive shalom – wholeness, peace, and well-being that defines God’s intended state for His covenant community. This shalom would be realized after a period of patient endurance (70 years), demanding that the exiles live faithfully within their current circumstances, engaging responsibly while actively praying and seeking the Lord (Jer 29:7, 12-13). It is a call to trust God’s timing and purpose, even when His path is challenging and seemingly goes against human desire for immediate relief. This principle applies to God's people today: even amidst trials, God's ultimate plan is for their spiritual good, conformity to Christ, and participation in His eternal kingdom.