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Jeremiah 29:28

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 29:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “forasmuch as he hath sent unto us in Babylon, saying, [The captivity] is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

forasmuch as he hath sent unto us in Babylon, saying, [The captivity] is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them?
Jeremiah 29:28 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 29

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
25Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thine own name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying,
26Jehovah hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of Jehovah, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks and in shackles.
27Now therefore, why hast thou not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who maketh himself a prophet to you,
28forasmuch as he hath sent unto us in Babylon, saying, [The captivity] is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them?
29And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.
30Then came the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah, saying,
31Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith Jehovah concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he hath caused you to trust in a lie;
← Jeremiah 29:27Jeremiah 29:29 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For therefore he sent unto us [in] Babylon, saying, etc.] That is, Jeremiah the prophet; and this was the reason, because his mouth was not stopped, and he restrained from prophesying; so that Shemaiah lays all the blame on Zephaniah, and his brethren the priests; who, had they done their duty, would have prevented Jeremiah’s letter to the captives, as he suggests; the purport of which was, this [captivity] is long; so Kimchi, Abarbinel, and Ben Melech, supply it; or, “it [is] long”f567; it will be a long time before the captives shall return to their own land; and therefore they should not think of it, or provide for it; but, on the contrary, for their continuance in Babylon; giving the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Referring to Jeremiah's first letter to Babylon (Jer 29:5).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A narrative showing the effects of Jeremiah’s letter. Shemaiah the leader of the false prophets wrote to Zephaniah, urging him to restrain the prophet’s zeal with the prison and the stocks. Jeremiah 29:24 To Shemaiah - Rather, concerning. The Nehelamite - Not as in the margin; but one belonging to the village of Nehlam (unknown). Jeremiah 29:26 Officers - Deputy high priests who had the oversight of the temple. Mad - See 2 Kings 9:11 note. Many of the symbolic actions of the prophets, such as that of Jeremiah going about with a yoke on his neck, would be mocked at by the irreverent as passing the line between prophecy and madness. Prisons - Rather, the stocks Jeremiah 20:2. The stocks -…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Jer 29:1-10 Jeremiah 29:29”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 29 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification