Jeremiah 29 14

Jeremiah 29:14 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 29:14 nkjv

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.

Jeremiah 29:14 niv

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."

Jeremiah 29:14 esv

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.

Jeremiah 29:14 nlt

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."

Jeremiah 29 verses

Jeremiah 29 14 Meaning

God promises a future restoration. This promise is to be found after a period of exile and distress. It signifies hope for the Jewish people who were in Babylonian captivity.

Jeremiah 29 14 Context

Jeremiah 29 is a letter sent by the prophet Jeremiah to the elders of the exiles in Babylon. The people are in distress and are hearing false prophecies of a swift return. Jeremiah's letter addresses these false hopes by confirming the seventy-year period of exile, as decreed by God. However, he then pivots to assure them that after this period, God will remember them, bring them back to their land, and restore their fortunes. This particular verse is a crucial part of that reassurance, focusing on God's direct involvement in finding and restoring His people. The immediate historical context is the Babylonian exile, a consequence of Israel's sin and unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 29 14 Word analysis

• And (וְ – wə) - A conjunction that connects clauses, indicating continuation or addition.
• I (אָנֹכִי – ’anokhi) - The first-person singular pronoun, emphasizing God's personal agency in the action.
• will search (וּבִקַּשְׁתִּי – uv'qash’ti) - From the root bāqash (בָּקַשׁ), meaning "to seek," "to look for," or "to search." It implies an active and diligent search.
• for (אֶת־ – ’et) - A direct object marker, indicating that "you" is the object of the verb "will search."
• you (אֶתְכֶם – ’et’chem) - The second-person masculine plural pronoun, referring to the exiles in Babylon.
• And (וְ – wə) - Another conjunction, linking the next action.
• I (וּמָצָאתִי – ūmatza’ti) - The first-person singular, again emphasizing God's direct action.
• will find (וּמָצָאתִי – ūmatza’ti) - From the root mātsā’ (מָצָא), meaning "to find," "to obtain," or "to encounter."
• you (אֶתְכֶם – ’et’chem) - The direct object of "will find."
• when (בְּכָל־ – b’kōl) - Can mean "in all" or "with all." In this context, it leads into a statement of totality.
• you (לִבְּכֶם – lib’chem) - The second-person masculine plural, meaning "your hearts." This points to the internal state and disposition.
• search (תְּבַקְשׁוּנִי – təvaqshuni) - From bāqash (בָּקַשׁ) again, in the second-person plural perfect tense with the pronoun suffix "me" (-נִי). It means "you will seek me."
• with (בְּכָל־ – b’kōl) - As above, meaning "with all" or "entirely."
• your (לְבָבְכֶם – levav’chem) - Again, "your hearts."
• hearts (לְבָבְכֶם – levav’chem) - Emphasizes the seat of emotion, will, and intellect.

Group by words-group analysis:

• "search for you" / "find you": The repeated emphasis on "search" and "find" highlights God's proactive and successful pursuit of His people, even in their dispersed and lost state. It's not that they initiate finding God, but God seeks them.
• "when you search for me with all your heart": This phrase connects God's act of finding with their sincere desire and effort to seek Him. It implies that the restoration is contingent on their wholehearted turning back to God, a key theme in the book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 29 14 Bonus Section

The concept of God searching and finding His people is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. It reflects His covenant faithfulness, even when His people are unfaithful. This searching isn't a matter of uncertainty for God but a deliberate act of reclamation. The parallel in the New Testament is Christ, the Good Shepherd, who seeks His lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7; John 10:11). Furthermore, the "finding" anticipates the spiritual finding and reconciliation offered through Jesus Christ, where God is no longer sought in a physical location but in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). The eighty-year period (implied by the 70 years of exile plus time for return and rebuilding) is significant; it's a generational discipline that leads to a deeper, more sincere dependence on God.

Jeremiah 29 14 Commentary

This verse is a powerful assurance from God that He will actively seek out and find His people during their exile. It is not an abandonment, but a time of discipline followed by redemption. The promise is conditional upon their seeking Him with their entire being, indicating a desire for spiritual reconciliation. God's promise to be found is absolute if the seeking is also absolute. This underscores the covenantal relationship: when His people turn back wholeheartedly, He will respond by restoring them. The implication is that in their deepest distress, their earnest turning to God will be met with His active intervention.

Practical Usage:

• When feeling lost or far from God, remember He is actively seeking you.
• In times of hardship, a sincere, wholehearted pursuit of God is met with His presence and help.