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 reveals that in exile, the descendants of Abraham were to thrive and increase. Despite their displacement, they were not meant to diminish but to multiply and prosper in the foreign land where they were sent. The focus is on continued growth and the establishment of families and a community.

Jeremiah 29 6 Context

Jeremiah 29 is a letter written by the prophet Jeremiah to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem, who had been carried away into exile to Babylon. The Babylonians had conquered Judah and Jerusalem, taking a significant portion of the population, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, as captives. This exile was a consequence of Judah's persistent disobedience and idolatry, as prophesied by Jeremiah and other prophets. The people in exile were likely discouraged and perhaps felt abandoned by God. This verse, within the letter, provides instruction and reassurance.

Jeremiah 29 6 Word Analysis

• "Take ye wives":

  • (Hebrew: וִשְׂאוּ לָכֶם, wə·śā·’ū lā·ḵem) - Imperative form of "to take," here specifically implying taking as wives.
  • This command to marry and have children was counter-intuitive to the potential despair of exile. It implies establishing a life and a future in Babylon.

• "and beget sons and daughters":

  • (Hebrew: וְהוֹלִידוּ בָנִים וּבָנוֹת, wə·hō·lî·ḏū ḇā·nîm û·ḇā·nō·ṯ) - Imperative forms for "to give birth" (sons) and "to bear" (daughters).
  • Direct instruction for procreation, reinforcing the continuity of lineage and family.

• "and take wives for your sons":

  • (Hebrew: וּשְׂאוּ נָשִׁים לְבִנֵיכֶם, wə·śā·’ū ⁿā·šîm lə·ḇî·nê·ḵem) - Repeats the verb for "take" as wives, specifying for their sons.
  • Ensures the continuation of the family line and the integration into the Babylonian society through marriage alliances, while still preserving the Jewish identity.

• "and give your daughters to marriage":

  • (Hebrew: וּתְנוּ לִבְנוֹתֵיכֶם לַאֲנָשִׁים, wə·ṯə·nū liḇ·nō·ṯê·ḵem la·’ă·nā·šîm) - Imperative form of "to give" (daughters) "to men" (husbands).
  • This means they should arrange marriages for their daughters, ensuring their place within the social structure and perpetuating the covenant community.

• "that they may bear sons and daughters":

  • (Hebrew: לְמַעַן תַּרְבּוּ שָׁם, lə·ma·’an ṯar·ḇū-šām) - Indicates purpose; "so that you may multiply there."
  • The ultimate goal is multiplication in Babylon, directly connected to God’s overarching plan for His people.

• "and multiply there":

  • (Hebrew: וְתָרֹבּוּ שָׁם, wə·ṯā·rō·ḇū šām) - Another imperative form of "to multiply."
  • Reinforces the previous phrase; the command is clear: increase in number.

• "and not be diminished":

  • (Hebrew: וְלֹא תִּמְעָטוּ׃, wə·lōʾ-ṯi·mə·‘a·ṭū-׃) - Imperative prohibition: "and do not become few."
  • This is a crucial counterpoint to potential despair, directly stating that God’s intention is not their annihilation or severe reduction but their continued existence and growth.

Jeremiah 29 6 Bonus Section

This command is a nuanced application of God's promises regarding the posterity of Israel. While it might seem contradictory to the earlier prophecies of return from exile, it's not about them settling permanently but about God's faithfulness in preserving His people through a period of judgment. The multiplication in Babylon also provided a significant diaspora community through which the message of God would eventually spread, and through which the eventual return and restoration would occur. It highlights that God's redemptive plan often involves unexpected pathways, where His people are called to live faithfully and fruitfully even in adverse circumstances. The instruction is an act of preservation, not assimilation.

Jeremiah 29 6 Commentary

The directive in Jeremiah 29:6 to marry, procreate, and multiply in exile served several purposes. Firstly, it countered the pervasive despair and potential hopelessness felt by the exiles, affirming God's continued commitment to them and His intention for His people to endure. Secondly, it was a practical instruction for establishing a sustainable community in a foreign land, even if temporary. Thirdly, it reflected God's promise to Abraham, which encompassed the multiplication of his descendants as a fundamental aspect of the covenant. The instruction to ensure their sons married and their daughters were given in marriage ensured the preservation of their lineage and identity amidst the surrounding cultures, paradoxically leading to their growth within the Babylonian empire. This command is a profound statement of God’s sovereignty, working through circumstances that appeared to be catastrophic.