Jeremiah 29:3 kjv
By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,
Jeremiah 29:3 nkjv
The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying,
Jeremiah 29:3 niv
He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:
Jeremiah 29:3 esv
The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said:
Jeremiah 29:3 nlt
He sent the letter with Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah when they went to Babylon as King Zedekiah's ambassadors to Nebuchadnezzar. This is what Jeremiah's letter said:
Jeremiah 29 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 29:1 | Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exile, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. | Introduction to the letter's content. |
| 2 Kings 24:14-16 | And he carried away all Jerusalem and all the princes and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand into exile, and all the craftsmen and the smelters. None remained, except the poorest sort of people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon. And the sons of Jehoiachin, the king of Judah, were carried away also unto Babylon: among them was Mattaniah, Jehoiakim's uncle, whom Nebuchadnezzer appointed king in his stead. | Historical account of the first deportation to Babylon. |
| Ezekiel 1:1-3 | Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. (On the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,) And the word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of Chaldea by the river of Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. | Ezekiel's prophecy among the exiles in Babylon. |
| Psalm 137:1 | By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. | Emotional state of the exiles. |
| Jeremiah 28:1-4 | And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, even in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, which is in heaven; Thou hast broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. After yet two years will I bring again all the vessels of the house of the LORD, that were taken from this place into this place, and I will bring again into this place (Jerusalem) Jehoiachin the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon. | Contrast with false prophecies of immediate return. |
| Isaiah 40:2 | Speak ye comfortably unto Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins. | God's compassionate word to His people. |
| Jeremiah 23:3-4 | And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their pastures; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they lack, any saith the LORD. | God's promise to gather and restore His people. |
| Acts 7:42-43 | Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. | Connecting past idolatry to future exile. |
| Jeremiah 25:11-12 | And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. | Prophecy of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity. |
| Jeremiah 32:6-8 | And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Get thee a field of thine own, for thou hast the right of redemption to buy it. So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD: and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. | God's action in Jerusalem during the siege. |
| 2 Chronicles 36:21 | To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. | Fulfillment of the 70 years of desolation. |
| John 14:1-3 | Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. | Jesus' promise of preparing a place and return. |
Jeremiah 29 verses
Jeremiah 29 3 Meaning
This verse describes a specific group of individuals: the remnant of Judah, who had already been taken into Babylonian captivity along with King Jehoiachin. Jeremiah, under divine instruction, is sending a letter to these exiles. The letter conveys God's message to them.
Jeremiah 29 3 Context
This letter is sent by Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon, who were deported after King Jehoiachin was taken captive. This was part of the larger Babylonian captivity that befell Judah due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry. The immediate context is a period of false hope among the exiles, fueled by prophets like Hananiah (mentioned in chapter 28) who claimed an imminent return to Jerusalem. Jeremiah's letter counters these false assurances, providing a divine perspective on their situation and God's future plans for them, including a prolonged but purposeful period of exile and eventual restoration.
Jeremiah 29 3 Word Analysis
- Jeremiah: "Yirmeyahu" in Hebrew, meaning "Yahweh [is] exalted" or "Yahweh throws." The prophet whose name signifies God's sovereignty and judgment.
- the prophet: "han-navi" (הַנָּבִיא) - "the prophet." Refers to Jeremiah's established role and authority.
- sent: "shalach" (שָׁלַח) - "sent," "dispatched." Indicates divine commission and action through Jeremiah.
- from Jerusalem: "mîYerûšālēm" (מִירוּשָׁלִַם) - "from Jerusalem." Specifies the origin point of the communication, the conquered city.
- to: "el" (אֶל) - "to," "toward." Direction of the message.
- the rest: "šē'erîṯ" (שְׁאֵרִית) - "remnant," "remainder." Crucially identifies the recipients as survivors, a portion of the larger populace. This implies a scattering and selection.
- of the elders: "haqqəšîyšîm" (הַקְּשִׁישִׁים) - "the elders." Leaders and experienced men of the deported community.
- and: "wə" (וְ) - "and." Conjunction linking different groups.
- to the priests: "lakohănîm" (לַכֹּהֲנִים) - "to the priests." Spiritual leaders in exile, whose ministry was impacted by their displacement.
- and to the prophets: "wəlak-lā' nāḇî'îm" (וְלַנָּבִיאִים) - "and to the prophets." Those who claimed to speak for God within the exile community.
- and to all the people: "wə'el-kol-hā'ām" (וְאֶל־כָּל־הָעָם) - "and to all the people." Encompassing all strata of the deported Jewish society.
- whom Nebuchadnezzar: "ăšer-hînʿîyb Nebûkāḏnēṣṣar" (אֲשֶׁר־הִנְעִב נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר) - "whom Nebuchadnezzar." Naming the Babylonian king responsible for the deportation, emphasizing human agency in God's larger plan.
- had carried away captive: "hišgêh" (הִשְׁגָּה) - "carried captive," "exiled." A strong term indicating forceful removal and bondage.
- from Jerusalem to Babylon: "mîYerûšālēm bāḇəlāh" (מִירוּשָׁלִַם בָּבֶלָה) - "from Jerusalem to Babylon." Marking the transition from their homeland to a foreign land.
Jeremiah 29 3 Bonus Section
The reference to "the remnant of the elders, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people" highlights that the message is comprehensive, reaching all segments of the exiled community. This isn't just a general decree, but a specific pastoral letter intended to guide their collective spiritual and practical life in a foreign land. The act of sending a letter, rather than delivering the message orally, emphasizes the importance and detailed nature of God's word conveyed here, preparing for a longer stay and future reintegration into their promised land, but on God's timeline. This also contrasts with the immediacy claimed by false prophets, providing a balanced and God-honoring perspective.
Jeremiah 29 3 Commentary
Jeremiah's letter is a pivotal communication to a disheartened community. It clarifies that their captivity is not an abandonment by God, but a consequence of their sin. However, it also offers hope, outlining a necessary period of settlement in Babylon. This message corrects the immediate, unfounded hopes of quick return held by some, and instead guides them towards a more realistic and faithful engagement with their present circumstances, looking towards a future divine intervention. It underscores that even in exile, God's purposes for His people continue, demanding obedience and patience.