Jeremiah 29 29

Jeremiah 29:29 kjv

And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah 29:29 nkjv

Now Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah 29:29 niv

Zephaniah the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah 29:29 esv

Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah 29:29 nlt

But when Zephaniah the priest received Shemaiah's letter, he took it to Jeremiah and read it to him.

Jeremiah 29 verses

Jeremiah 29 29 Meaning

This verse speaks about the confirmation of Jeremiah’s prophecy by a specific priestly house, specifically that of Hanameel. It highlights that Hanameel’s word was recognized as authoritative, implying a validation of the message concerning the future of Jerusalem and its people in relation to the Babylonian exile. The essence is the divine endorsement of a specific prophetic utterance.

Jeremiah 29 29 Context

Jeremiah 29 occurs during the Babylonian exile, when many Jews had been deported to Babylon. The chapter contains a letter from Jeremiah to the exiles, reassuring them that though they are in captivity, God has not forgotten them. He instructs them to settle down, build houses, plant gardens, and seek the welfare of the city where they are exiled, for their own well-being and prosperity were tied to the prosperity of their captors. This contrasts sharply with the false prophet Hanameel, who was prophesying a swift return and the immediate rebuilding of the temple, a message that encouraged false hope and resistance. Jeremiah’s prophecy in this chapter, and specifically the detail regarding Hanameel’s own recognition of a further word, situates the confirmation of divine message within this broader discourse on obedience, patience, and understanding God’s sovereign timing in their exile.

Jeremiah 29 29 Word Analysis

• וַיַּעַשׂ (vay-ya'as): "And he did" or "and he made." This Hebrew verb signifies action or accomplishment. In this context, it refers to the people’s act of entering into the covenant.
• כָּל־ (kol-): "All." Emphasizes the totality of the people involved.
• הָעָם (ha-'am): "The people." Refers to the populace, in this case, the people of Israel or a significant portion thereof.
• בְּרִית (brit): "Covenant." A solemn agreement or treaty, often between God and humans, or between individuals/groups.
• לִשְׁמֹעַ (lish-mo'a): "To listen" or "to obey." The infinitive form of the verb, indicating purpose or intention to hear and heed.
• אֶל־ (el-): "To" or "unto." A preposition indicating direction or recipient.
• דִּבְרֵי (div-rei): "The words of." Plural genitive of 'dabar' (word).
• חֲנַנְאֵל (Cha-na-nel): "Hanameel." The name of the priest who is presented as receiving or speaking a confirmation of Jeremiah's prophecy. The name means "God has favored" or "God has graciously given."
• הַנָּבִיא (han-na-vi): "The prophet." The definite article "ha" emphasizes this specific individual as THE prophet, in contrast perhaps to other prophets present or implied.
• כִּ֣י (ki): "That" or "because." A conjunction introducing a subordinate clause.
• חֲנַנְאֵל (Cha-na-nel): Repeated here, stressing that it was Hanameel's word that was acknowledged.
• הָיָה (ha-yah): "Was" or "he was." The verb 'to be'.
• מִקֶּצֶת (mik-tzeht): "From the midst of" or "part of."
• הָעִיר (ha-'ir): "The city." Refers to Jerusalem.
• עִם (im): "With." A preposition indicating accompaniment.
• הָאַנְשִׁים (ha-an-shim): "The men."

Words-Group Analysis

• "And all the people entered into a covenant to listen to the words of Hanameel the prophet...": This phrase describes a communal act of agreement and commitment. The people are binding themselves, by covenant, to heed the specific words that Hanameel, a priest and also identified as a prophet, would convey. This action signifies a solemn and formal acceptance of his message as authoritative. The inclusion of "the prophet" emphasizes his prophetic calling in this instance, even as Jeremiah is the primary prophet in focus in the surrounding context.
• "...because Hanameel was part of the city with the men...": This clause offers a rationale or condition for this covenant. It suggests that Hanameel's position, being "part of the city" and "with the men" (likely referring to the respected or authoritative men of the city, possibly including officials or elders), lent weight or context to his words, leading the people to form this covenant to listen. This highlights the influence of established positions and perceived solidarity with community leaders in accepting prophetic messages.

Jeremiah 29 29 Bonus Section

This verse offers an insight into how prophetic confirmation could happen beyond direct pronouncements. It shows a collective decision to enter into a covenant, a serious commitment to adhere to certain teachings or messages. The specific mention of Hanameel, who in Jeremiah 28 acts as a false prophet contradicting Jeremiah, here appears to be part of a broader narrative of confirmation or, at least, a record of who conveyed messages the people deemed important to follow. It implies that even amidst false prophecy, there were true words that resonated and were acted upon. The wording suggests Hanameel may have been communicating a divine directive that aligned with the longer-term plan God had revealed through Jeremiah, despite Hanameel's earlier misguided pronouncements. This emphasizes that God can use various vessels, and His word ultimately stands, finding validation even when communicated through channels that might have previously erred.

Jeremiah 29 29 Commentary

Jeremiah 29:29 underscores the dynamic and often surprising ways God's confirmation of His prophetic word can manifest. While Jeremiah himself was the central prophet commissioned to deliver a crucial message of long-term faithfulness during exile, this verse records a moment where the words of Hanameel, a priest also designated as a prophet, were specifically sought and covenanted to be obeyed. This wasn't about Hanameel superseding Jeremiah, but rather that Hanameel conveyed or was associated with a word that gained widespread agreement and adherence from the people. This event serves to validate a specific prophetic utterance in a tangible way, indicating that even within the difficult circumstances of exile, the community recognized and committed to following what they understood as God's revealed will, conveyed through an accepted spokesperson. It's a testament to the collective need for direction and reassurance in uncertain times.