Jeremiah 29 15

Jeremiah 29:15 kjv

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

Jeremiah 29:15 nkjv

Because you have said, "The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon"?

Jeremiah 29:15 niv

You may say, "The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,"

Jeremiah 29:15 esv

"Because you have said, 'The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,'

Jeremiah 29:15 nlt

You claim that the LORD has raised up prophets for you in Babylon.

Jeremiah 29 verses

Jeremiah 29 15 Meaning

This verse is a solemn declaration from God, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah. It asserts God's divine knowledge and His foreknowledge of their thoughts and intentions even before they are fully formed. God claims possession of "every firstborn of the lions," symbolizing His supreme authority and power over all creation and all circumstances, even the most ferocious and dangerous.

Jeremiah 29 15 Context

Jeremiah 29 occurs during the Babylonian exile. The people of Judah have been deported, and the false prophets among them are misleading the exiles with messages of imminent return and prosperity. Jeremiah's letter to the exiles, including this verse, serves to correct these false assurances. God is not surprised by their defiance or the claims of the false prophets. He sees the inner thoughts of all, and His authority extends over every force, even the fierce "lions" and their young, implying dominion over oppressive powers and potential threats to His people's future. The mention of "lions" can be seen as a symbolic representation of powerful enemies or the fierce challenges faced by the exiles, over which God claims absolute sovereignty.

Jeremiah 29 15 Word Analysis

• "Therefore" (וּלְכֵן - ul-chen): Indicates a consequence or result. Connects this statement to the previous actions of the people or their leaders.
• "thus" (כֹּה - ko): Signifies "in this manner" or "so." Introduces the direct declaration or statement from God.
• "says" (אָמַר - amar): The standard Hebrew word for "to say," indicating direct speech or a pronouncement.
• "the LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship and commitment to His people.
• "I have thought" (חָשַׁבְתִּי - chashavti): From the root chashav, meaning "to think," "to plan," "to reckon," or "to count." Implies deliberate, deep thought and planning.
• "thoughts" (מַחְשָׁבֹת - machshevot): Plural of machshevah, referring to purposes, plans, devices, or imaginations. It refers to inner intentions and schemes.
• "of peace" (שָׁלוֹם - shalom): "Shalom" signifies completeness, wholeness, welfare, safety, and prosperity. It's not just the absence of conflict but a state of flourishing.
• "and" (וְ - ve): A simple conjunction connecting two distinct ideas or categories of thought.
• "not" (לֹא - lo): A negation.
• "of disaster" (רָעָה - ra'ah): Means "evil," "calamity," "misfortune," or "trouble." It is the opposite of shalom.
• "to give" (לָתֵת - latet): "To give" or "to bestow."
• "you" (אֶתְכֶם - etchem): Plural "you," referring to the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
• "your" (אֶתְכֶם - etchem): Possessive form of "you."
• "end" (אַחֲרִית - acharit): "The end," "the latter end," "posterity." It can refer to the final outcome or the future.
• " and" (וְ - ve): Conjunction.
• "destruction" (וְחַבּוּרָה - ve-chavurah): The word chavurah is unusual here; it appears to be a denominative verb or a unique noun form possibly related to binding or connection, potentially signifying "your joining/consequence." Other translations might render it as "waste" or "ruin." Scholars suggest potential textual issues or interpret it contextually as a severe negative outcome, akin to destruction.
• "a" (אוּלָם - ulam): This particle can express "but," "verily," or "if." Here it functions to introduce a contrasting or emphatic statement, highlighting God's powerful claim.
• "lion" (אֲרִי - aryeh): Hebrew for "lion." Often used as a symbol of strength, power, royalty, and sometimes ferocity.
• "its" (כָּל - kol): "All."
• "young" (גּוּר - gur): The young of a lion or other wild animal, specifically a cub. Often used for "cub."
• "are" (כֹּל - kol): "All." The second kol refers to "all its young," meaning every single cub.
• "the LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God.
• "says" (אָמַר - amar): "To say."
• "the LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis

• "thoughts of peace, and not of disaster": This pairing highlights the contrast between God's intentions (shalom - well-being, wholeness) and evil/calamity (ra'ah). It underscores God's desire for His people's flourishing, not their ruin, even in judgment.
• "to give you your end and hope": While the verse has "destruction" (or similar), the implied purpose is for the true end which is hope and prosperity in God's timing, not eternal destruction. The hope comes from understanding God's ultimate plan through judgment.
• "every firstborn of the lions": This imagery is potent. The "lion" represents power, aggression, and danger. The "firstborn" are significant and often symbolic of strength and inheritance. By claiming ownership of "all its young," God declares absolute dominion over all destructive forces and adversarial powers that could threaten His people, including the Babylonian empire or any future opposition. He controls the mightiest and the most fierce.

Jeremiah 29 15 Bonus Section

The imagery of God being like a lion or controlling lions appears elsewhere in scripture, often conveying His fierce protection, overwhelming power, or righteous judgment (e.g., Hosea 5:14, Amos 3:8). This verse can be understood in the broader prophetic narrative of God's faithfulness despite judgment. While the immediate context is the Babylonian exile, the principle of God's sovereign control over all circumstances and all opposing forces extends to all believers throughout history. The "lions" can be seen as symbolic of any powerful evil, societal opposition, or personal struggles that believers may face. God's ownership signifies His power to subdue and ultimately use all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), according to His plans which are ultimately for peace and hope.

Jeremiah 29 15 Commentary

Jeremiah's letter reveals God's desire for the exiles to settle into their Babylonian captivity, to build and cultivate, and to seek shalom (well-being) in their present circumstances. This verse reinforces God's ultimate sovereignty. While judgment has fallen, God's plans for His people are not negated by their present suffering or the machinations of their enemies. He understands their inner workings, their hopes and their despair. Moreover, He asserts that He is mightier than any force that opposes Him or His people. The imagery of owning "every firstborn of the lions" means God is in absolute control, even over the fiercest, most powerful entities that might seem to threaten His people's future. This should encourage the exiles to trust God's overarching plan and not be swayed by false hopes of immediate return or by the oppressive might of Babylon. True hope lies in God's control, not in the absence of present hardship. It is a call to discernment—to distinguish God's true word from the deceptive pronouncements of false prophets.