Jeremiah 29 6

Jeremiah 29:6 kjv

Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

Jeremiah 29:6 nkjv

Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters?that you may be increased there, and not diminished.

Jeremiah 29:6 niv

Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.

Jeremiah 29:6 esv

Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.

Jeremiah 29:6 nlt

Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away!

Jeremiah 29 verses

Jeremiah 29 6 meaning

Jeremiah 29:6 is a divine instruction delivered through the prophet Jeremiah to the Judean exiles in Babylon. It commands them to engage fully in the processes of establishing families and procreating—taking wives, fathering children, and arranging marriages for their children. This instruction serves a dual purpose: to ensure the multiplication and growth of the community in exile, thus preventing its decrease or dissipation, and to convey the message that their stay in Babylon would be long-term, requiring a settled and productive existence rather than a temporary, waiting state. It emphasizes God's sovereign plan for their long-term preservation and future restoration, even in a foreign land.

Jeremiah 29 6 Context

Jeremiah chapter 29 is a pivotal letter sent by the prophet Jeremiah from Jerusalem to the exiles who had been carried away to Babylon with King Jehoiachin in 597 BC. This letter directly contradicted the optimistic prophecies of false prophets, both in Jerusalem and among the exiles, who claimed that the Babylonian captivity would be short, lasting only two years. Jeremiah's message instructed the exiles to prepare for a long stay (70 years, as revealed in Jer 29:10) and to actively seek the welfare of the pagan city where God had placed them. Verse 6 specifically follows the command in verse 5 to build houses and plant gardens, urging them to establish stable, family lives, implying full societal engagement rather than passive waiting for an imminent return. This divine directive set a framework for resilient endurance, demonstrating God's sovereign plan for their future, even amidst judgment and displacement.

Jeremiah 29 6 Word analysis

• Take wives (קְחוּ נָשִׁים - qᵉḥû nāšîm): The verb qaḥû means "take" or "receive." Here, it signifies actively choosing and entering into marriage. It is a command to engage in normal life functions, settling down, contrary to an ephemeral or provisional existence. This action secures the perpetuation of the community.
• And father sons and daughters (וְהוֹלִידוּ בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת - wᵉhôlîḏû bānîm ûbānôṯ): Hôlîḏû is causative, meaning "cause to beget" or "father/bear." It’s the direct, natural outcome of taking wives, indicating that the command is not merely to marry, but to raise families. This points to establishing a future generation, a vital component of national survival and a continuation of God's covenant promises.
• Marry your sons (וּקְחוּ לִבְנֵיכֶם נָשִׁים - ûqᵉḥû liḇnêḵem nāšîm): This extends the command to the next generation, showing generational responsibility. The parents are commanded to find wives for their adult sons, implying continuity of the family unit and tradition within the exilic community.
• And give your daughters in marriage (וְאֶת בְּנוֹתֵיכֶם תְּנוּ לַאֲנָשִׁים - wᵉ’eṯ bᵉnôṯêḵem tᵉnû lā’ănāšîm): Tᵉnû means "give," often used in the context of giving a daughter's hand in marriage. This instruction further solidifies the generational commitment to community propagation and stability. It underscores a sustained effort to build and not just endure.
• That they may bear sons and daughters (וְיֵלְדוּ בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת - wᵉyêlḏû bānîm ûbānôṯ): The conjunction "that they may" (וְ) indicates the purpose or desired outcome of the preceding commands regarding marriage: procreation. It reinforces the theme of multiplication and community growth.
• Multiply there (וְרָבוּ שָׁם - wᵉrāḇû šām): Rāḇû means "become numerous" or "multiply." This is a direct echo of the creation mandate (Gen 1:28) and Abrahamic covenant. It emphasizes active growth in their current location, Babylon, making it a place of flourishing for the exiles despite their circumstances.
• And do not decrease (וְאַל תִּמְעָטוּ - wᵉ’al timᵉ‘āṭû): Timᵉ‘āṭû means "become few" or "diminish." The negative command "do not" (אַל) is a strong prohibition, highlighting the danger of fading away. This contrasts sharply with the typical decline of exiled communities. It’s a divine imperative to maintain their identity and numerical strength against all odds.

• "Take wives and father sons and daughters; marry your sons and give your daughters in marriage": This collection of commands lays out a comprehensive strategy for domestic establishment and generational continuation. It signifies a long-term commitment to living life to its fullest, implying that God's plans would span generations within Babylon. The actions are normal, natural life processes but are given profound spiritual significance here, acting as a direct counter to the despondency and fatalism that could have gripped the exiles.
• "That they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease": These phrases clearly articulate the purpose and desired outcome of the domestic commands. The purpose is procreation and overall community growth. The divine imperative "multiply there" extends God's foundational blessings of fruitfulness even into a foreign land of captivity, making it a space where His people are sustained. The final phrase "and do not decrease" underscores a powerful injunction against dwindling or being assimilated, ensuring the preservation of the covenant community until the time of their return.

Jeremiah 29 6 Bonus section

The instructions in Jeremiah 29:6 highlight a profound aspect of God's covenant with Abraham—the promise of innumerable descendants (Gen 15:5; 22:17). By commanding the exiles to "multiply there, and do not decrease," God actively ensured the fulfillment of this promise even in a place of punishment and captivity. This demonstrates that God's faithfulness and covenant promises transcend human circumstances, including exile and perceived abandonment. This command to thrive within a hostile environment can be understood as an indirect polemic against the idea that God had forgotten His people or that His covenant was nullified by their sin and subsequent exile. Instead, He was actively involved in their preservation for His future purposes. The practice of intermarriage for sons and daughters within the exilic community would also have subtly contributed to maintaining Jewish identity and preventing total assimilation, implicitly ensuring that the 'seed' of Abraham would remain distinct amidst the nations until God's designated time for restoration.

Jeremiah 29 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 29:6 serves as a foundational component of God's unexpected plan for His people in exile. Far from calling them to maintain a transient identity, the verse urges active engagement in building stable, intergenerational families. It dismantles the illusion of an imminent return, instead setting a course for committed, long-term living in Babylon. This was a radical command, running contrary to nationalistic desires and the predictions of false prophets. It demonstrated God's desire for His people to thrive, not just survive, ensuring the continuity of the covenant community even outside their homeland. The command to multiply and not decrease was crucial for their numerical and spiritual preservation, securing the line for the promised future restoration. It reflects a theological principle that God's people are to live productively and seek their well-being wherever God places them, awaiting His timing for ultimate deliverance.Example: A missionary family settles long-term in a foreign country, raising children there, enrolling them in local schools, and contributing to the local community, demonstrating commitment beyond a short-term assignment.Example: During times of hardship or uncertainty, people might put off starting families or making long-term investments; this verse counsels against such paralysis, urging faith-filled participation in life's ongoing processes.