Jeremiah 29:28 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 29:28 nkjv
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.' "
Jeremiah 29:28 niv
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.'?"
Jeremiah 29:28 esv
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."'"
Jeremiah 29:28 nlt
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.'"
Jeremiah 29 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 28:11 | And when Jeremiah heard the words of the people… | False prophecy accusation |
| Jeremiah 28:15 | Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will thrust you from off the face of the earth... | Hananiah's condemnation |
| Jeremiah 29:1 | Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent... | Jeremiah's letter |
| Jeremiah 29:4 | Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all of the exiles whom I sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon... | Instruction to exiles |
| Jeremiah 29:10 | For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will carry out to you my good promise and bring you back to this place. | Promise of return |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | 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. | God's good plans |
| Jeremiah 29:22 | And of those who were carried to Babylon, of Elnathan the son of Keren-happuch, whom the king of Babylon made king in Babylon, against whom Jeremiah prophesied falsely to them— | Accusation of false prophecy |
| Jeremiah 29:23 | Because they have done nothing scandalous in Israel, but have themselves committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and have spoken words falsely in my name which I did not command them... | Their own sin |
| Jeremiah 32:19 | You are great in counsel and mighty in deed; your eyes are ever open to all the ways of the sons of men, rewarding each according to his way, and according to the fruit of his deeds. | God's justice |
| Jeremiah 50:7 | All who found them devoured them, and their adversaries said, ‘It is no crime, because they sinned against the LORD, their righteous dwelling place, the hope of their fathers.’ | Sin against the LORD |
| Lamentations 1:8 | Jerusalem sinned a great sin; therefore she has become a discharging menstruant... | Jerusalem's sin |
| Daniel 9:5 | We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and your rules. | Confession of sin |
| Daniel 9:7 | Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as is evident today of the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem... | Shame of sin |
| 1 Peter 2:16 | Live as free people, and not as those who use their freedom as a cover for evil, but as servants of God. | Not using freedom for evil |
| Romans 3:23 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, | Universal sin |
| Romans 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Wages of sin |
| Hebrews 10:26 | For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, | Deliberate sin |
| Psalm 40:11 | Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD! Let your steadfast love and your faithfulness preserve me always. | Plea for mercy |
| Isaiah 44:24 | thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread down the earth by myself... | God as Creator |
| Genesis 2:7 | then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living creature. | Creation of man |
Jeremiah 29 verses
Jeremiah 29 28 Meaning
This verse declares that Jeremiah did not prophesy lies, and the people wrongly attributed their suffering to him, rather than their own transgressions against the LORD.
Jeremiah 29 28 Context
Jeremiah 29 contains a letter sent by the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon. This chapter addresses the false prophecies of return circulating among the exiles and provides God's true message of patience and future restoration after seventy years. The immediate context of verse 28 is the accusation made by certain exiles against Jeremiah, accusing him of false prophecy and complicity in their continued exile.
Jeremiah 29 28 Word Analysis
- וְאֶפֶס (wə’ep̄es): And none (Connective "and" and "not") - Indicates continuation and negation.
- כִּ֣י (kî): because/that - Introduces the reason for their claim against Jeremiah.
- לְחַבֵּ֖ל (ləḥabbêl): to destroy/corrupt/bring to ruin - The specific nature of the "false prophecy" they attributed to Jeremiah was one leading to their ruin.
- בָּלָ֥ה (bālâ): destroyed/wasted/consumed - Refers to their current state of ruin, which they incorrectly blamed on Jeremiah.
- כִּ֧י (kî): because - Introduces the true cause of their suffering.
- עָשָׂ֣ה (ʿāśâ): has done/made - Refers to their actions.
- כָּל־ (kol-): all/every - Emphasizes the totality of their wrongdoings.
- דִּבְרֵ֣י (divrê): words/deeds/things - Encompasses all their speech and actions.
- דַּבְּרִ֣ים (dabbərîm): things/words - Reinforces that their "things" done against God were the cause.
- שֶׁ־בְּשֵׁ֥ם (šebəšêm): because of/in the name of - Implies their actions were carried out against the LORD.
- יְ֠הוָ֠ה (Yhwh): LORD - The covenant name of God, indicating their sin was against their covenant relationship with Him.
Words-group Analysis
- "אֶפֶס כִּ֣י לְחַבֵּ֖ל בָּלָ֥ה" (‘ep̄es kî ləḥabbêl bālâ): This phrase means "there is no one that has destroyed/ruined it". The "it" here refers to their destruction and exile. They are stating that their current miserable state was not the result of Jeremiah's prophetic message, implying it must have been something else they attributed to him falsely. The actual meaning is they were ruined.
- "כִּ֧י עָשָׂ֣ה כָּל־ דִּבְרֵ֣י דַבְּרִ֣ים שֶׁ־בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֠הוָ֠ה" (kî ʿāśâ kol- divrê dabbərîm šebəšêm Yhwh): This clause is a mistranslation of the Hebrew text. The original Hebrew signifies: "Because all that they have done is because they have sinned in the name of the LORD." The phrase should be understood as the accusation by the people against Jeremiah and the subsequent refutation. The Hebrew should be understood as: "and (since) it has done all the things by the name of the LORD". This means "since the LORD has done all the things which have been spoken in His name" — implying that the LORD is responsible for their ruin, but not because Jeremiah lied, rather because they sinned against the LORD.
Jeremiah 29 28 Bonus Section
The accusation against Jeremiah and his defense in this verse serve as a potent reminder that God’s judgment, while severe, is always just and a consequence of human sin. The people’s attempt to shift blame from their actions to the prophet is a classic evasion of personal responsibility, a theme seen throughout scripture. Jeremiah’s response reinforces the prophetic ministry as being accountable to God’s word, not subject to popular opinion or scapegoating. This chapter also powerfully illustrates God’s faithfulness in His promises of restoration, even after His people's transgressions. The seventy-year prophecy, fulfilled in the Babylonian exile and subsequent return, underscores God’s long-suffering and His ultimate plan for His people's welfare and hope.
Jeremiah 29 28 Commentary
This verse clarifies the misconception the people held about their suffering in exile. They falsely accused Jeremiah, believing his prophecies were leading to their destruction. However, Jeremiah asserts that his words were from the LORD. The true cause of their plight was their own persistent sin and disobedience to the LORD, which brought about the divinely ordained consequences. This highlights the importance of discerning the true source of spiritual instruction and understanding that suffering is often a result of unfaithfulness to God. The prophet’s role is to declare God’s truth, even when it brings difficult consequences, and the people’s responsibility is to receive God’s word faithfully.