Jeremiah 29:5 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 29:4-7

Jeremiah 29:4-7. Thus saith the Lord, Build ye houses, and plant gardens, &c. It appears by the advice which the prophet here gives, that many of the captive Jews neglected to cultivate and plant the places allotted to them about Babylon; because they were not willing to bestow cost and pains for the advantage of others; since they flattered themselves that they were soon to return into Judea: and therefore, Jeremiah here admonishes them that their continuance in their captivity would... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 29:1-32

Letters to the captives in Babylon (29:1-32)In 597 BC several thousand of Jerusalem’s most capable people were taken captive to Babylon. Among them were some false prophets who began to predict, as Hananiah had done, that Babylon was about to fall and that the Judean captives were about to return to Jerusalem. Jeremiah, on hearing of this, wrote a letter to the community of captives (29:1-3).The advice Jeremiah gives to the exiles is that they settle down to a more or less permanent way of... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:5

"Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. Take 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: and multiply there, and be not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto Jehovah for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace."What a marvelous anticipation of New Testament teaching is in... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 29:5

5. 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. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 29:1-23

Jeremiah’s first letter to the exiles 29:1-23 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 29:5-7

The exiles were to settle down in Babylon, and carry on life as usual, rather than to plan on returning home soon. They were to build houses, plant gardens, marry, have children, and anticipate grandchildren."The external circumstances are far removed from humanity’s first home in a fruitful garden, but the divine blessing and human task are remarkably similar (compare Genesis 1:28-29; Genesis 2:8-9; Genesis 2:15-16)." [Note: Scalise, p. 80.] The exiles were also to seek the welfare of the city... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:1-32

1-14. Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles. Release after seventy years.1. Prophets] The exiles in Babylon had also false prophets, e.g. Ahab and Zedekiah (Jeremiah 29:21), and Shemaiah (of Jeremiah 29:24) among them. But they were on the whole of a better class (see Jeremiah 24:5-7), and the prophet might hope that his words would have more effect. 2. Carpenters] RV ’craftsmen.’4-7. They are not to sit loose to the land of their exile, but to make homes for themselves there. Else they will soon... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jeremiah 29:5

(5) Build ye houses, and dwell in them.—The command had a two-fold bearing. It counselled a patient acceptance of the present state of things. It announced, as the next verse does yet more emphatically, that their exile would last for at least two generations. It indicates, also, the comparative leniency with which the exiles were treated. They were allowed to become possessors both of lands and houses. The favour shown to Daniel and his friends would, of course, tend to make their condition... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 29:1-32

CHAPTER XCORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EXILESJeremiah 29:1-32"Jehovah make thee like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire."- Jeremiah 29:22NOTHING further is said about the proposed revolt, so that Jeremiah’s vigorous protest seems to have been successful. In any case, unless irrevocable steps had been taken, the enterprise could hardly have survived the death of its advocate, Hananiah. Accordingly Zedekiah sent an embassy to Babylon, charged doubtless with plausible... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Jeremiah 29:1-32

CHAPTER 29 Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles 1. Jeremiah’s letter (Jeremiah 29:1-23 ) 2. Concerning Shemaiah and his false prophecies (Jeremiah 29:24-32 ) Jeremiah 29:1-23 . King Zedekiah sent Elasah and Gemariah on a diplomatic mission to King Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah used the occasion to send a letter by them to the exiles. The letter first of all makes it clear that their stay in Babylon will not be transitory. They are to settle down, build homes, many, rear families, take wives for... read more