Jeremiah 29 4

Jeremiah 29:4 kjv

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

Jeremiah 29:4 nkjv

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

Jeremiah 29:4 niv

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

Jeremiah 29:4 esv

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

Jeremiah 29:4 nlt

This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem:

Jeremiah 29 verses

Jeremiah 29 4 Meaning

The people of Jerusalem, facing exile in Babylon, are instructed by the prophet Jeremiah to build houses, plant gardens, marry, and have children. They are to pray for the welfare of the city where they are exiles because its prosperity is linked to their own. This divine counsel assures them of God's presence even in their foreign land and offers a path for enduring and thriving amidst their hardship.

Jeremiah 29 4 Context

Jeremiah chapter 29 addresses the exiled Judeans in Babylon, likely penned after a significant wave of deportations following the destruction of Jerusalem. The message comes from Jeremiah himself to the elders, priests, and prophets who were among the first exiles. This was a challenging time for the exiles, many of whom were susceptible to false prophets proclaiming a swift return and immediate restoration, directly contradicting Jeremiah's message of a prolonged exile. This prophecy's setting is crucial: it's a word to a community in distress, grappling with a new and unsettling reality, and needing discernment amidst conflicting voices about their future and God's plans.

Jeremiah 29 4 Word Analysis

• וּבְנוּ (uvnu): "And build." From the root בָּנָה (banah), meaning to build, establish, create. It signifies establishing a stable life, not a temporary dwelling.
• בָּתִּים (battim): "Houses." Plural of בַּיִת (bayit). Implies creating permanent residences, suggesting an expectation of dwelling there for a substantial period.
• וְשֵׁבוּ (v'shevu): "And dwell/settle." From the root שָׁבַע (shava'), to sit, remain, dwell. Reinforces the idea of permanence and putting down roots.
• וְנִטְעוּ (v'nit'u): "And plant." From the root נָטַע (nata'), to plant, set firm. This relates to agriculture, symbolizing investment in the land and its future productivity.
• גַּנִּים (gannim): "Gardens." Plural of גָּן (gan). Further emphasis on establishing livelihoods and contributing to the local economy and sustenance.
• וְאִכְלוּ (v'echlu): "And eat." From the root אָכַל (akhal), to eat, consume. Indicates enjoying the fruits of their labor, signifying a degree of well-being and provision.
• וּרְבוּ (urvu): "And multiply/increase." From the root רָבָה (ravah), to be or become great, many, numerous. Encourages procreation, building a future generation.
• שָׁמָּה (shammah): "There." A simple adverb of place, referring back to the land of Babylon.
• וְקִחְוּ־לָכֶם (v'kichu-lakhem): "And take for yourselves." From the root קָנָה (qanah), to get, acquire, buy. Suggests actively engaging in the process of finding spouses.
• בָּנִים (banim): "Sons." Also used for children in general.
• וּבָנוֹת (uvanot): "And daughters." Female offspring.
• וְנָתֹן (v'naton): "And give" or "And marry off" (wives to sons). This is a crucial, somewhat ambiguous grammatical construction indicating the active process of giving daughters in marriage and, importantly, finding wives for their sons, thus integrating into the new society.
• לְבָנִים (levanim): "To sons." The recipients of the wives.
• מִמְּנוּ (mimm'enu): "From you" or "For you." Indicating either that the sons themselves are finding wives from among the exile community or that they are to be given to sons.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Build houses and dwell: This compound instruction signifies stability, security, and establishing a permanent life in exile, moving beyond the temporary nature of being uprooted.
• Plant gardens and eat their produce: This phrase underscores economic self-sufficiency, investment in the land, and the assurance that their labor will yield sustenance, a sign of God's sustained blessing.
• Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives also for your sons: This comprehensive command to procreate and continue lineage emphasizes participation in the ongoing life of the community, building family units, and ensuring continuity through generations in the land of exile. The directive to "find wives also for your sons" specifically points to active integration into the Babylonian social structure through marriage.
• Seek the prosperity of the city... and pray for it: This is a radical instruction. Instead of remaining alienated or hostile, they are to actively desire and pray for the well-being of their captors' city, recognizing their welfare is now tied to it.

Jeremiah 29 4 Bonus Section

The command to seek the prosperity of Babylon is an early paradigm of interfaith and intercultural engagement. It implies that God's people are not meant to be a separate, hermetically sealed enclave but rather a salt and light that can contribute positively to the society around them, even if that society is the one holding them captive. This perspective contrasts sharply with absolute withdrawal and suggests a proactive role for believers in "every town and place" where the Spirit leads. The instruction to "seek the prosperity" is not about compromising faith, but about living out faith within the existing context. It’s a long-term vision that allows God’s people to endure and even flourish, demonstrating God's faithfulness through generations in a foreign land.

Jeremiah 29 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 29:4 is a profoundly practical instruction for a displaced people. God, through Jeremiah, does not command immediate return, nor does He instruct them to isolate themselves in bitter nostalgia. Instead, He tells them to invest in their present reality. This means creating a stable home life ("build houses and live in them"), cultivating sustenance ("plant gardens and eat their produce"), and perpetuating their lineage ("marry and have sons and daughters"). Crucially, they are to actively integrate into the social fabric by ensuring their sons have wives. The ultimate thrust is to "seek the prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile." This calls for a radical posture of civic responsibility and prayer for their oppressors and captors, recognizing that God’s purposes extend even to these challenging circumstances. It's about faithfulness in exile, trusting that God's presence and plan are with them, not dependent on their physical location in Jerusalem.

• Practical Application: When facing difficult or unexpected circumstances in life, God's people are called to be good stewards of their present situation. This involves stabilizing their own lives, contributing to the community they are in, and engaging with others constructively. For example, investing in local schools, serving in community initiatives, and praying for city leaders, even in challenging environments.