📖 Jeremiah — Chapter 29 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Jeremiah 29:1 Now these are the words Rof the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;
Jeremiah 29:2 (After that RJeconiah the king, and the queen, and the Teunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)
Jeremiah 29:3 By the hand of Elasah the son of RShaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,
Jeremiah 29:4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, Rwhom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
Jeremiah 29:5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
Jeremiah 29:6 RTake 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 29:7 And Rseek 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 29:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; RLet not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
Jeremiah 29:9 For they prophesy RTfalsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That Rafter seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
Jeremiah 29:11 For RI know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an Texpected end.
Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me Rwith all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:14 And RI will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Jeremiah 29:15 RBecause ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;
Jeremiah 29:16 Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;
Jeremiah 29:17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; RBehold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
Jeremiah 29:18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and Rwill deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, Tto be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:
Jeremiah 29:19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 29:20 Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, Rall ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:
Jeremiah 29:21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, Rwhich prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;
Jeremiah 29:22 And of them Rshall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
Jeremiah 29:23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken Rlying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 29:24 Thus shalt thou also speak to RShemaiah the TNehelamite, saying,
Jeremiah 29:25 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, RBecause thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,
Jeremiah 29:26 The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be Rofficers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.
Jeremiah 29:27 Now Rtherefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?
Jeremiah 29:28 For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
Jeremiah 29:29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.
Jeremiah 29:30 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
Jeremiah 29:31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; RBecause that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:
Jeremiah 29:32 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will Rpunish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught Trebellion against the LORD.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 29:1–11 — Build life and seek the city’s peace in exile
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jeremiah’s letter tells the Babylonian captives to build, plant, form households, and pray for the city where they live. The promise of a future follows the stated seventy years rather than an immediate escape.
Key Truth: Practice patient faithfulness within present circumstances.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Now these are the ____ of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem …” (Jeremiah 29:1)
Find it in Jeremiah 29:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “____ ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives …” (Jeremiah 29:6)
Find it in Jeremiah 29:6 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of ____ , and not of evil, to give you an expected …” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Find it in Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 29:12–22 — Wholehearted seeking and accountability
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Lord promises to hear prayer and gather those seeking him with all their heart. The letter also warns of judgment on Jerusalem’s remaining people and named false prophets among the exiles.
Key Truth: Seek God honestly rather than listening to deception.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and …” (Jeremiah 29:12)
Find it in Jeremiah 29:12 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so ____ .” (Jeremiah 29:17)
Find it in Jeremiah 29:17 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “And of them shall be ____ up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which …” (Jeremiah 29:22)
Find it in Jeremiah 29:22 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 29:23–32 — A counter-letter tries to silence Jeremiah
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The misconduct of false prophets is exposed, and Shemaiah demands that Jeremiah be restrained for urging settled life in Babylon. The Lord answers by condemning his unsent teaching of rebellion.
Key Truth: Do not resist truthful guidance because it requires patience.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying ____ in my name, which I have not commanded them; even …” (Jeremiah 29:23)
Find it in Jeremiah 29:23 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “For therefore he ____ unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build …” (Jeremiah 29:28)
Find it in Jeremiah 29:28 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “____ shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,” (Jeremiah 29:24)
Find it in Jeremiah 29:24 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
1 Timothy 2:2 — Prayer for rulers seeks conditions for a peaceful life.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What faithful work can you do now while waiting for a hoped-for change?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why should the exiles seek the city’s peace?
2. How does the seventy-year statement frame the future promise?
3. What characterizes the seeking that accompanies finding God?
4. What two kinds of wrongdoing are named against the false prophets?
5. Why is Shemaiah judged?
Notes
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