Jeremiah 29

1 This is the text [words, message] of the letter [scroll, written document] that Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed, a major prophet] the prophet [someone who speaks for God] sent [dispatched, departed] from Jerusalem [the city of peace] to the surviving [remaining, excess] elders [old, elderly men] among the exiles [those carried into captivity] and to the priests [those who serve God], the prophets [those who speak for God], and all [every, everything] the others Nebuchadnezzar [a powerful king of Babylon] had carried [taken, removed] into exile [captivity, banishment] from Jerusalem [the capital city of Palestine] to Babylon [a city and empire of confusion]. word study 2 (This was after King [also known as Jehoiachin] Jeconiah, the queen mother [a woman in a position of power], the court officials [rulers, leaders], the officials of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah] and Jerusalem [the city of peace], the craftsmen [skilled artisans, workmen], and the metalsmiths [smiths, locksmiths] had been exiled [departed, gone away] from Jerusalem [the capital city of Palestine].) word study 3 The letter was entrusted [given into the care of, handed over to] to Elasah [God has made, a servant of King Zedekiah] son of Shaphan [a type of rock rabbit, or a man who lived during the Exile and Return] and Gemariah [Jehovah has accomplished, the name of two Israelites] son of Hilkiah [a significant Israelite with several roles, including high priest during Josiah’s reign], whom Zedekiah [Jehovah is righteous, the name of six Israelites including the last king of Judah] king of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] sent [to dispatch, to commission] to King Nebuchadnezzar [a powerful king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and took Judah captive] in Babylon [meaning confusion or mixing]. It stated: word study 4 This is what [thus, in this manner] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], says to all [everything, every person] the exiles [captivity, being taken captive or exile] who were carried away [removed, taken captive] from Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital city of Palestine] to Babylon [confusion]: word study 5 “Build [establish, construct] houses [dwelling places, homes] and settle down [dwell, reside]. Plant [establish, cultivate] gardens [places of growth, orchards] and eat [consume, devour] their produce [fruit, crops]. word study 6 Take wives [and beget, to bring forth] and have sons [male descendants] and daughters [female children]. Take wives [women, female partners] for your sons [male offspring] and give your daughters [female offspring] in marriage [to husbands, in matrimony], so that they too may have sons [male children] and daughters [female children] [and bear them, to give birth]. Multiply [to increase, grow] there [in that place]; do not decrease [to diminish, become less]. word study 7 Seek [pursue, ask for] the prosperity [peace, wellness, completeness] of the city [town, settlement] to which I have sent you as exiles [captives, prisoners]. Pray [intercede, make petition] to the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] on its behalf [for its sake, in its favor], for if it prospers [has peace, is at peace], you too will prosper [have peace, be at peace].” word study 8 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants], says: “Do not [let not, be not deceived] be deceived by the prophets [someone who speaks for God, like a spokesperson] and diviners [those who use magic or divination to predict the future] among you, and do not listen to the dreams [ordinary or prophetic visions] you elicit [cause to be dreamed, bring forth] from them. word study 9 For [because of this reason] they are falsely [with deception, in a lying manner] prophesying [speaking under divine influence, foretelling] to you in My name [My identity, character, and authority]; I have not [absolutely not, in no way] sent [commissioned, appointed] them, declares [utters, speaks forth] the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God].” word study 10 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says: “When Babylon’s [the city of confusion] seventy years are complete, I will attend to you [visit and care for you] and confirm My promise [My good word, My covenant] to restore you [bring you back, return you] to this place [the land of Israel, the promised land]. word study 11 For I know [am fully aware of, have complete understanding] the plans [thoughts, intentions, devices] I have for you, declares the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], plans [purposes, schemes] to prosper [bring success, cause to flourish] you and not to harm [do evil, bring calamity] you, to give [bestow, grant] you a future [expected end, posterity] and a hope [confidence, expectation, cord of attachment]. word study 12 Then you will call [cry out to, invoke] upon Me and come [go, walk] and pray [intercede, make petition] to Me, and I will listen [hear, hearken] to you. word study 13 You will seek [diligently search for, inquire about] Me and find [discover, attain] Me when you search [look for, inquire about] for Me with all [every part of, your entire] your heart [innermost being, mind, and emotions]. word study 14 I will be found by you [made known, revealed], declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and I will restore [turn back, reverse] you from captivity [exile, bondage] and gather [collect, assemble] you from all the nations [Gentile lands, foreign countries] and places [locations, regions] to which I have banished [driven, scattered] you, declares the LORD. I will restore [bring back, return] you to the place [location, homeland] from which I sent [caused to be carried away, exiled] you into exile [captivity, bondage].” word study 15 Because you may say [argue, claim], “The LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has raised up [appointed, established] for us prophets [spokesmen for God, messengers] in Babylon [a place of confusion, exile],” word study 16 this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says about the king [ruler, monarch] who sits [dwells, reigns] on David’s [the ancestral king’s] throne [seat of authority] and all [every single one] the people [nation, community] who remain [dwell, reside] in this city [town, metropolis], your brothers [relatives, kin] who did not go [depart, migrate] with you into exile [captivity, banishment]— word study 17 this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things] says: “I will send [dispatch, cause to go] against them sword [a cutting instrument] and famine [hunger, a lack of food or spiritual nourishment] and plague [a disease, a pestilence], and I will make them like rotten [vile, disgusting] figs, so bad [evil, morally wrong] they cannot be eaten [consumed, devoured]. word study 18 I will pursue [chase down, relentlessly follow] them with sword [a cutting instrument] and famine [a lack of food, spiritual hunger] and plague [a disease, pestilence]. I will make them a horror [a feeling of great fear, terrified] to all the kingdoms [ruler’s power, territories] of the earth [the land, a country]—a curse [a promise of judgment, an oath], a desolation [a state of ruin, waste], and an object of scorn [contempt, ridicule] and reproach [shame, disgrace] among all the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrews] to which I banish [drive away, expel] them. word study 19 I will do this because they have not listened [refused to hear, disobeyed] to My words [divine messages, utterances], declares the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], which I sent to them again and again [repeatedly, rising early and sending] through My servants [faithful messengers] the prophets [spokespersons for God]. And neither have you exiles [those in captivity, displaced people] listened [given ear, obeyed], declares the LORD [the Lord God, Yehovah].” word study 20 So hear [listen and obey] the word [divine message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], all [every single one] you exiles [captives, those taken away] I have sent away [deported, banished] from Jerusalem [the city of peace] to Babylon [a place of confusion, mixing]. word study 21 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], the God [Elohim, the supreme Deity] of Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob], says about Ahab [a king of Israel] son of Kolaiah [voice of Jehovah] and Zedekiah [Jehovah is righteous] son of Maaseiah [work of Jehovah], who are prophesying [speaking under divine influence, foretelling] to you lies [deception, falsehood] in My name [My character, reputation]: “I will deliver [hand over, give into the power of] them to Nebuchadnezzar [a powerful king of Babylon] king of Babylon [a city of confusion], and he will kill [slay, put to death] them before your very eyes [in your presence, openly]. word study 22 Because of them, all [every single one, the entire group] the exiles [captives, prisoners of war] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] who are in Babylon [a city and empire of confusion] will use this curse [a wish for harm or evil]: ‘May the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] make you like Zedekiah [Jehovah is righteous] and Ahab [a king of Israel who did many bad things], whom the king [a royal person, a ruler] of Babylon [a city and empire of confusion] roasted [to roast, to parch] in the fire [burning, flame]!’ word study 23 For they have committed an outrage [villainy, folly] in Israel by committing adultery [being unfaithful, having immoral relations] with the wives of their neighbors [close friends, companions] and speaking lies [false words, deception] in My name [My identity, character], which I did not command [give orders, instruct] them to do. I am He who knows [is aware, understands], and I am a witness [one who sees, testifies], declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God].” word study 24 You are to tell [speak to, address] Shemaiah [heard by God, a prophet] the Nehelamite [from the family line of Nechlam, he of the dream] that [saying, to say, commanded to speak] word study 25 this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], the God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] of Israel [the chosen people], says: “In your own name [authority, identity] you have sent out letters [written messages, scrolls] to all the people [nation, community] of Jerusalem [the city of peace], to the priest [spiritual leader, mediator] Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests [spiritual leaders, ministers]. You said to Zephaniah [God has treasured, a prophet]: word study 26 ‘The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has appointed you priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] in place of Jehoiada [Jehovah knows], to be the chief officer [overseer, one in charge] in the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD, responsible for any madman [one who acts crazy, insane] who acts like a prophet [one who speaks under the influence of the divine spirit]—you must put him in stocks [a device used to punish people, restrain] and neck irons [a form of punishment, public humiliation]. word study 27 So now [at this time, in this present moment], why [what is the reason, how is it that] have you not [absence of action, failure to act] rebuked [to reprove, correct, or admonish] Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] of Anathoth [a city near Jerusalem, a descendant or inhabitant of the place], who poses as [makes himself, claims to be] a prophet [one who speaks under the influence of the divine spirit] among you [in your midst, as one of you]? word study 28 For [because of this reason] he has sent [dispatched a message] to us in Babylon [the city of confusion], claiming [saying, declaring]: Since the exile [captivity, time of bondage] will be [is going to be] lengthy [long, prolonged], build [construct, establish] houses [dwellings, homes] and settle down [dwell, reside]; plant [cultivate, sow] gardens [orchards, vineyards] and eat [consume, devour] their produce [fruit, crops].’” word study 29 (Zephaniah [God has treasured] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], however, had [previously] read [called out loud, proclaimed] this letter [scroll, written document] to Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] the prophet [one who speaks for God].) word study 30 Then the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came [existed, came into being] to Jeremiah [whom God has appointed, a prophet of God]: word study 31 “Send a message [to all them of the captivity, to all the exiles] telling all the exiles [those who have been taken away, in Babylon] what the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] says concerning Shemaiah [heard by God, a false prophet] the Nehelamite [from the family line of Nechlam, one who has a dream]. Because Shemaiah [a prophet in King Rehoboam’s time] has prophesied [spoken under the influence of the divine spirit, to speak or sing] to you—though I [the Lord, the speaker] did not send [appoint, command] him—and has made you trust [have confidence, faith] in a lie [deception, falsehood, a thing that is not true], word study 32 this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘I will surely punish [visit upon, oversee] Shemaiah [heard by God] the Nehelamite [of the dream] and his descendants [seed, offspring]. He will have no one left [not a man] among this people [nation, community], nor will he see [look upon, experience] the good [welfare, blessing] that I will bring [do, make] to My people [nation, community], declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], for he has preached [spoken, promoted] rebellion [revolt, turning away] against the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God].’” word study