Jeremiah 29:7 kjv
And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
Jeremiah 29:7 nkjv
And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
Jeremiah 29:7 niv
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
Jeremiah 29:7 esv
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Jeremiah 29:7 nlt
And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare."
Jeremiah 29 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 27:17-18 | Don't let your prophets deceive you... Jerusalem will not be spared. | Jeremiah 27:17-18 |
| Psa 106:3 | Oh, the happiness of those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times! | Psalms 106:3 |
| Isa 49:23 | Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. | Isaiah 49:23 |
| Pro 10:22 | The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. | Proverbs 10:22 |
| 1 Tim 2:1-2 | I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people. | 1 Timothy 2:1-2 |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. | Romans 13:1 |
| Ezr 6:10 | ...that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons. | Ezra 6:10 |
| Jer 14:7-9 | Though our iniquities testify against us, act for your name's sake... | Jeremiah 14:7-9 |
| Pro 29:18 | Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint. | Proverbs 29:18 |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. | Romans 12:18 |
| Jer 24:5-7 | Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will look on the returned exiles from Judah. | Jeremiah 24:5-7 |
| Luke 19:41-42 | And when he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, "Would that you even now had known on what your peace depends!" | Luke 19:41-42 |
| Acts 24:2-3 | ...highly thankful to you for all that contributes to the present peace. | Acts 24:2-3 |
| 1 Pet 2:13-17 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme. | 1 Peter 2:13-17 |
| Deut 23:6 | You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity that I may be destroyed by them. | Deuteronomy 23:6 |
| Neh 2:18 | And I told them of the hand of my God that it had been upon me for good. | Nehemiah 2:18 |
| Dan 4:27 | Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness. | Daniel 4:27 |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Hebrews 12:14 |
| Jer 31:28 | And as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down, to overthrow, to destroy, and to bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant. | Jeremiah 31:28 |
| Psa 37:3-4 | Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. | Psalms 37:3-4 |
| Prov 11:24-25 | scattering proceeds to greater riches, but one who withholds tends to poverty. The one who blesses others will be enriched. | Proverbs 11:24-25 |
Jeremiah 29 verses
Jeremiah 29 7 Meaning
Seek diligently the well-being of the city to which I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD for it, because in its prosperity you will prosper.
Jeremiah 29 7 Context
Jeremiah 29 is a letter written by the prophet Jeremiah to the elders of the exiles in Babylon. The Judean people had been taken into Babylonian captivity. This verse is a core part of that prophetic message. Jeremiah's aim was to counter the false prophets who were predicting a quick return to Jerusalem and to provide guidance for living faithfully in exile. The people of Judah had suffered God's judgment due to their sin, but God still had a plan for them, which included a future restoration.
Jeremiah 29 7 Word analysis
- "Seek" (Hebrew: deresh - דְּרֵשׁ): To search for, to seek out, to inquire of, to desire. This implies an active and earnest effort.
- "Diligently" (Hebrew: b'-me'od - בְּמְאֹד): With all your might, with earnestness, exceedingly. Emphasizes the intensity of the seeking.
- "The well-being" (Hebrew: shalom - שָׁלוֹם): Peace, welfare, prosperity, safety, completeness, wholeness. It encompasses all aspects of good living and flourishing.
- "Of the city" (Hebrew: ha-'ir - הָעִיר): Referring to Babylon, the city where they were exiled.
- "To which" (Hebrew: asher - אֲשֶׁר): A relative pronoun, connecting to the city.
- "I have sent you" (Hebrew: shalaḥti - שָׁלַחְתִּי): From shalah (שָׁלַח) - to send, to dispatch. God is the one who initiated the exile.
- "Into exile" (Hebrew: golah - גֹּלָה): Captivity, exile. The state of being removed from one's homeland.
- "And pray" (Hebrew: w'-hithpalalu - וְהִתְפַּלְּלוּ): And pray, supplicate. An intensive form, suggesting fervent prayer.
- "To the LORD" (Hebrew: la-Yahweh - לַיהוָה): Addressing God directly.
- "For it" (Hebrew: ba-'ad-tah - בַּעֲדָהּ): For its benefit, on its behalf.
- "Because" (Hebrew: ki - כִּי): For, indeed.
- "In its prosperity" (Hebrew: b'-shlomah - בְּשְׁלוֹמָהּ): In its well-being, its peace, its prosperity.
- "You will prosper" (Hebrew: tizmanun - תִּזְמְנוּ): From zman (זמן) - to be opportune, to prosper, to thrive, to be supplied. It means to find provision or flourishing.
Words-group analysis
- Seek the well-being of the city: This phrase (darashu l'-shalom ha-'ir) is a radical call to integration and positive engagement with the surrounding culture and government, even that of the oppressive Babylon. It's not just about passive existence, but active contribution to the welfare of the host nation.
- Pray for it: The command to pray for the city's peace connects individual spiritual life with communal and civic responsibility. Prayer is an act of trust in God's sovereign hand over even foreign nations.
- In its prosperity you will prosper: This causal link (ki b'-shlomah tizmanun) establishes a principle: the flourishing of the individual is intrinsically tied to the flourishing of the community and the nation in which they reside, when that community is rightly ordered.
Jeremiah 29 7 Bonus section
The principle of seeking the well-being of the place one is situated echoes in the New Testament. Jesus taught His disciples to pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:10), a prayer for the divine will to impact earthly spheres. Paul instructs believers to be subject to governing authorities and to pray for those in authority (1 Tim 2:1-2; Rom 13:1; 1 Pet 2:13-17), which aligns with Jeremiah’s counsel. This proactive engagement and prayer for societal welfare is a consistent theme in biblical teaching on living as a people of faith in the wider world.
Jeremiah 29 7 Commentary
This verse is a profound instruction from God regarding the attitude of His people in foreign lands. Jeremiah tells the exiles in Babylon to actively work for the peace and prosperity of the city that holds them captive. This means engaging positively in their new environment, contributing to its welfare, and praying for its stability and well-being. This is counterintuitive, as they were victims of Babylon's actions. However, God’s wisdom here operates on a different level. Their personal welfare and eventual fulfillment of God's promises were linked to the general order and peace of Babylon. When the city thrived, they, as residents, would benefit from that stability and provision. This teaches believers to be good citizens and stewards wherever they are placed, recognizing that God works through established authorities and societal structures, even when they are not ideal. It's a call to positive contribution and trust in God's sovereign plan that extends beyond their immediate circumstances.