Jeremiah 29:4-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 29:1-7

We are here told, I. That Jeremiah wrote to the captives in Babylon, in the name of the Lord. Jeconiah had surrendered himself a prisoner, with the queen his mother, the chamberlains of his household, called here the eunuchs, and many of the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, who were at that time the most active men; the carpenters and smiths likewise, being demanded, were yielded up, that those who remained might not have any proper hands to fortify their city or furnish themselves with weapons... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 29:4

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel ,.... For the letter was written by the order of the Lord, was endited by him, and was sent in his name, the prophet was only his amanuensis; and the titles which the Lord here takes are worthy of notice: "the Lord of hosts": of the armies above and below, that does according to his pleasure in heaven and in earth, with whom nothing is impossible; who could easily destroy the enemies of his people, and deliver them, either immediately by his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 29:5

Build ye houses, and dwell in them ,.... Intimating hereby that they must not expect a return into their own land in any short time, but that they should continue many years where they were; suggesting also, that as they had ability, so they should have liberty, of building themselves houses; nor should they be interrupted by their enemies; nor would their houses be taken from them, when built; but they should dwell peaceably and quietly in them, as their own; which they might assure... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 29:6

Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters ,.... That is, such as had no wives, who were either bachelors or widowers; not that they were to take wives of the Chaldeans, but of those of their own nation; for intermarriages with Heathens were forbidden them; and this they were to do, in order to propagate their posterity, and keep up a succession: and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands ; or "men" F19 לאנשים "viris", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 29:7

And seek the peace of the city ,.... The prosperity and happiness of Babylon, or any other city in Chaldea, were they were placed: this they were to do by prayer and supplication to God, and by all other means that might be any ways conducive to the good of the state where they were: whither I have caused you to be carried away captives ; and as long as they continued so; for being under the protection of the magistrates of it, though Heathens, they owed them submission, and were under... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:4

Thus saith the Lord of hosts - This was the commencement of the letter. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:5

Build ye houses - Prepare for a long continuance in your present captivity. Provide yourselves with the necessaries of life, and multiply in the land, that ye may become a powerful people. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:7

Seek the peace of the city - Endeavor to promote, as far as you can, the prosperity of the places in which ye sojourn. Let no disaffection appear in word or act. Nothing can be more reasonable than this. Wherever a man lives and has his nourishment and support, that is his country as long as he resides in it. If things go well with that country, his interest is promoted by the general prosperity, he lives at comparative ease, and has the necessaries of life cheaper; and unless he is in a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:5

Verse 5 God commanded the captives to build houses in Chaldea, to plant vineyards, and also to marry wives, and to beget children, as though they were at home. It was not, indeed, God’s purpose that they should set their hearts on Chaldea, on the contrary, they were ever to think of their return: but until the end of the seventy years, it was God’s will that they should continue quiet, and not attempt this or that, but carry on the business of life as though they were in their own country. As... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:6

Verse 6 In bidding them to take wives for their sons, and to give their daughters in marriage, he speaks according to the usual order of nature; for it would be altogether unreasonable for young men and young women to seek partners for themselves, according to their own humor and fancy. God then speaks here according to the common order of things, when he bids young men not to be otherwise joined in marriage than by the consent of parents, and that young women are not to marry but those to whom... read more

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