Jeremiah 29 28

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 verses

Jeremiah 29 28 meaning

Jeremiah 29:28 presents a quote from the false prophet Shemaiah, reporting Jeremiah's message to the exiles in Babylon. Shemaiah relay's Jeremiah's unpopular advice for them to accept their prolonged stay by building homes, planting gardens, and dwelling there. This specific message contradicted the false hopes of an immediate return propagated by Shemaiah and other pseudo-prophets, thereby provoking Shemaiah's indignation and prompting his appeal to the priests in Jerusalem to silence Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 29 28 Context

Jeremiah 29 is widely known as "The Letter to the Exiles," a pivotal communication from Jeremiah, who was still in Jerusalem, to the Jewish exiles deported to Babylon following King Jehoiachin's surrender in 597 BCE. In this letter (vv. 4-7), Jeremiah conveys a message from God: the exiles should not heed false prophets predicting a swift return, but instead settle in Babylon, build, plant, marry, and seek the peace and prosperity of their foreign city. They were told the exile would last for seventy years before God would restore them. This particular verse (28) captures the reaction to Jeremiah's revolutionary counsel. Shemaiah of Nehelam, a false prophet living among the exiles in Babylon, quotes Jeremiah's message – specifically "This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them" – in his letter of complaint to Zephaniah the priest in Jerusalem, demanding that Jeremiah be silenced and punished for unsettling the exiles with such "unsettling" truth. Shemaiah's indignant quotation underscores his strong opposition to Jeremiah's instruction, as it undermined the immediate, false hope he and others propagated.

Jeremiah 29 28 Word analysis

• For he hath sent (ki shalach)

  • For (ki): Here functions as a conjunction, providing the reason or explanation for Shemaiah's subsequent complaint against Jeremiah.
  • he (hu): Refers to Jeremiah. Shemaiah identifies the sender of the unwelcome message.
  • hath sent (shalach): To send forth, dispatch. It signifies the act of delivering Jeremiah’s authoritative, though unsolicited by some, message.

• unto us in Babylon (eleynu babavel)

  • us (eleynu): Identifies the Jewish exiles in Babylon as the intended recipients of Jeremiah's letter, a group Shemaiah belonged to.
  • in Babylon (babavel): The specific geographical location of their captivity, a symbol of God's judgment and foreign dominion.

• saying, This captivity is long: (leimor, arekah hi hammikeret)

  • saying (leimor): Indicates the direct quotation of Jeremiah's message, which forms the basis of Shemaiah’s grievance.
  • This captivity (ha-mikeret): From makar (to sell, surrender); it describes the state of forced relocation or deportation, not merely being physically imprisoned.
  • is long (arekah): From arek, meaning extended or protracted. This phrase represents the crucial point of contention, challenging the false prophets' promises of an immediate return and establishing God's long-term plan.

• build ye houses, and dwell in them; (binu battim veshevu)

  • build ye (binu): An imperative verb (root banah), a command to actively construct permanent dwellings. It suggests investment and stability.
  • houses (battim): Refers to permanent homes, signifying settlement rather than temporary lodging.
  • and dwell in them (veshevu bahen): To sit, inhabit, remain (root yashab). Reinforces the instruction for a settled, established life, committing to the present situation.

• and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; (vinte'u gannot ve'iklu et-piryam)

  • and plant gardens (vinte'u gannot): An imperative verb (root nata). Commands engagement in agricultural activity, implying long-term sustenance, planning, and productivity. Gardens (gannot) suggest cultivated plots for food.
  • and eat the fruit of them (ve'iklu et-piryam): To consume and benefit from the harvest (root akal). It's an idiom for enjoying the produce of their labor and finding sustenance, even a measure of prosperity, in the land of their exile.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "For he hath sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long": This initial phrase encapsulates the source and nature of Shemaiah's distress. He's reacting to Jeremiah's letter that proclaims a long captivity for the exiles in Babylon, directly contradicting the popular narrative of a quick return, which was emotionally comforting but spiritually misleading.
  • "build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;": This forms a composite set of instructions promoting proactive integration and establishing a stable, productive life within the foreign land. It urges the exiles to transform their mindset from merely waiting to actively living. This directive for settled domesticity and agricultural labor highlights God's expectation for His people to find purpose, even within a period of divine discipline, embodying a sense of stewardship over their current circumstances.

Jeremiah 29 28 Bonus section

The seemingly mundane instructions to build and plant were in fact profound theological statements. By commanding such activities, God was reinforcing the Abrahamic covenant's promise of numerous descendants (Gen 12:2, 17:6) and continued productivity, even outside the Promised Land. This demonstrated God's ongoing presence and plan for His people, even in exile. The very act of investing in the land (planting gardens) signaled a long-term commitment that contradicted all immediate hopes of return, requiring immense faith and resilience from the exiles. It implicitly challenged them to re-evaluate what "home" meant—not just a geographical location, but wherever God called them to be, maintaining their identity as His people while embedded in a pagan society.

Jeremiah 29 28 Commentary

Jeremiah 29:28 is crucial for understanding the prophetic conflict in exile. It reveals the exact nature of Jeremiah’s unpopular, yet divinely inspired, advice: that the Babylonian captivity was not a fleeting tribulation but a prolonged period (seventy years). His instruction to "build houses," "plant gardens," and "dwell" and "eat the fruit" from them was a radical call to embrace normalcy and purpose within abnormal circumstances. This went against both natural human desire for immediate relief and the comforting, yet false, prophecies circulating among the exiles. Instead of an escapist, despairing, or passively resentful waiting, God, through Jeremiah, commanded a proactive, disciplined engagement with their new reality. It wasn't about assimilating culturally to Babylon's gods but about diligently applying the principles of living as God's people in a foreign land. This divine wisdom ensured the survival and well-being of the Jewish community through an arduous era, laying the groundwork for a future return. It teaches that even in periods of trial and delayed hope, there is a call to faithful living, productivity, and finding a God-given purpose in the present moment. For example, individuals facing a lengthy legal battle might be tempted to put their lives on hold, but Jeremiah's message encourages finding ways to build a stable life and invest in future endeavors despite the ongoing struggle. Similarly, waiting for a long-term goal might require continued effort and engagement rather than stagnation.