Jeremiah29
English Standard Version
1 are the of the the to the of the , and to the , the , and the , had taken into to .
2This was and the , the , the of and , the , and the had .
3The letter was sent by the of the of and the of , of to to of . It :
4 the Lord of , the of , to the I have sent into to :
5 and in them; and their .
6 and and ; for your , and your in , that they may and ; , and do .
7But the of the I have sent you into , and to the Lord on its , in its you will find your .
8 the Lord of , the of : Do let your and your are you you, and do to the they ,
9 it is a that they are to you in my ; I did them, the Lord.
10 the Lord: are for , I will you, and I will you my and bring you to .
11 I the I you, the Lord, for and for , to you a and a .
12Then you will upon me and and to me, and I will you.
13You will me and me, you me with your .
14I will be by you, the Lord, and I will your and you the and the I have you, the Lord, and I will bring you to the from I sent you into .
15 you have , The Lord has for us in ,
16 the Lord concerning the who on the of , and concerning the who in , your did with you into :
17 the Lord of , , I am on them , , and , and I will them like that are they be .
18I will with , , and , and will them a to the of the , to be a , a , a , and a among the I have them,
19 they did to my , the Lord, I to you by my the , but you would , the Lord.
20 the of the Lord, you I away to :
21 the Lord of , the of , concerning the of and the of , who are a to you in my : , I will them into the of of , and he shall strike them before your .
22 of them this shall be by the from in : The Lord you like and , whom the of in the ,
23 they have done an in , they have with their ’ , and they have in my I did them. I am the one who , and I am , the Lord.
24To of you shall :
25 the Lord of , the of : You have in your to the are in , and to the of the , and to the , ,
26The Lord has you of the , to have in the of the Lord over who , to him in the and .
27 have you of who is to you?
28 he has to us in , , exile will be ; and in them, and and their .
29 the in the of the .
30Then the of the Lord to :
31 the , , the Lord concerning of : had to you when I did not him, and has made you in a ,
32 the Lord: , I will of and his . He shall have , and he shall the I will to my , the Lord, he has the Lord.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 29.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Two letters to the captives in Babylon; In the first, they are recommended to be patient and composed. (1-19). In the second, judgments are denounced against the false prophets who deceived them. (20-32).
vv1-7
The written word of God is as truly given by inspiration of God as his spoken word. The zealous servant of the Lord will use every means to profit those who are far off, as well as those who are near him. The art of writing is very profitable for this end; and by the art of printing it is rendered most beneficial for circulating the knowledge of the word of God. God's sending to the captives by this letter would show that he had not forsaken them, though he was displeased, and corrected them. If they live in the fear of God, they may live comfortably in Babylon. In all conditions of life, it is our wisdom and duty not to throw away the comfort of what we may have, because we have not all we would have. They are directed to seek the good of the country where they were captives. While the king of Babylon protected them, they must live quiet and peaceable lives under him, in all godliness and honesty; patiently leaving it to God to work deliverance for them in due time.
vv8-19
Let men beware how they call those prophets whom they choose after their own fancies, and how they consider their fancies and dreams to be revelations from God. False prophets flatter people in their sins, because they love to be flattered; and they speak smoothly to their prophets, that their prophets may speak smoothly to them. God promises that they should return after seventy years were accomplished. By this it appears, that the seventy years of the captivity are not to be reckoned from the last captivity, but the first. It will be the bringing to pass of God's good word to them. This shall form God's purposes. We often do not know our own minds, but the Lord is never at an uncertainty. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs are all against us; but as to his own people, even that which seems evil, is for good. He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, or the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith; the end he has promised, which will be the best for them. When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage prayer. He never said, Seek ye me in vain. Those who remained at Jerusalem would be utterly destroyed, notwithstanding what the false prophets said to the contrary. The reason has often been given, and it justifies the eternal ruin of impenitent sinners; Because they have not hearkened to my words; I called, but they refused.
vv20-32
Jeremiah foretells judgments upon the false prophets, who deceived the Jews in Babylon. Lying was bad; lying to the people of the Lord, to delude them into a false hope, was worse; but pretending to rest their own lies upon the God of truth, was worst of all. They flattered others in their sins, because they could not reprove them without condemning themselves. The most secret sins are known to God; and there is a day coming when he will bring to light all the hidden works of darkness. Shemaiah urges the priests to persecute Jeremiah. Their hearts are wretchedly hardened who justify doing mischief by having power to do it. They were in a miserable thraldom for mocking the messengers of the Lord, and misusing his prophets; yet in their distress they trespass still more against the Lord. Afflictions will not of themselves cure men of their sins, unless the grace of God works with them. Those who slight the blessings, deserve to lose the benefit of God's word, like Shemaiah. The accusations against many active Christians in all ages, amount to no more than this, that they earnestly counsel men to attend to their true interest and duties, and to wait for the performance of God's promises in his appointed way.
Key Words
אֵלֶּה: these or those
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
סֵפֶר: properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
נָבִיא: a prophet or (generally) inspired man
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
יֶתֶר: properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a small rope (as hanging free)
Cross References
Jeremiah 29Explicit seventy-year timeline for Babylon's hegemony first established in Jeremiah's earlier prophecy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Daniel calculates the end of the desolations based specifically on Jeremiah's seventy-year letter.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Practical fulfillment of praying and offering sacrifices for the peace of pagan governing rulers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament command to pray for civil authorities to live a quiet and peaceable life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Pentateuchal pattern of exile, repentance with all the heart, and God remembering His covenant.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Daniel's intense prayer directly responds to God's promise that they would call upon Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The vision of the good and bad/vile figs representing the captives versus those remaining.
Supported by John Calvin
Illustrates the historical reality of the king of Babylon using roasting in fire as capital punishment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical account of Jeconiah, the queen mother, and princes being carried away into Babylon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
NT theological grounding for submitting to and seeking the peace of ruling pagan authorities.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses' ancient promise that seeking God with all the heart in exile leads to finding Him.
Supported by John Calvin
Background on the false prophets in Jerusalem who falsely promised a quick return from exile.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Pashur's prior arrest of Jeremiah in the stocks, establishing the precedent Shemaiah urges Zephaniah to follow.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects the false prophets' spiritual deception with their literal acts of adultery and villainy.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels Hananiah's judgment for making the people trust in a lie with Shemaiah's sentence.
Supported by Matthew Poole