Jeremiah 29:5

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

“Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.

American Standard Version (1901)

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

Bible in Basic English

Go on building houses and living in them, and planting gardens and using the fruit of them;

Douay-Rheims 1899

Build ye houses, and dwell in them: and plant orchards, and eat the fruit of them.

Free Bible Version

Build yourselves houses there to live in. Plant gardens and grow food to eat.

Geneva Bible 1599

Buylde you houses to dwell in, and plant you gardens, and eate the fruites of them.

King James (Authorized) Version

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

Translation for Translators

“Build houses there, and plan to stay there because you will be there for many years. Plant gardens, and eat the food that is produced in the gardens.

Unlocked Literal Bible

'Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.

Noah Webster Bible

Build ye houses, and dwell in them ; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

World English Bible

“Build houses and dwell in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.

Young's Literal Translation

Build ye houses, and abide; and plant ye gardens, and eat their fruit;

Context

Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles

⁴This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles who were carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:⁵“Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.⁶Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.

Summary

In this verse, Jeremiah instructs the exiled Israelites to settle down in Babylon and build homes, plant gardens, and eat the produce. Despite being in a foreign land, they are encouraged to live their lives fully and not just exist in a state of despair. This message conveys the importance of resilience, faithfulness, and making the best of the circumstances one finds themselves in, trusting that God has a plan even in times of exile or difficulty.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Build . . . houses--In opposition to the false prophets' suggestions, who told the captives that their captivity would soon cease, Jeremiah tells them that it will be of long duration, and that therefore they should build houses, as Babylon is to be for long their home.