Jeremiah 29:1

What does Jeremiah 29:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Jeremiah 29:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Jeremiah 29:1 means

This verse introduces the central communication of the prophecy: a letter from Jeremiah, still in Jerusalem, to the Jewish exiles already living in Babylon. This letter was addressed to the respected leaders—elders, priests, and prophets—as well as the general populace who had been forcibly removed from their homeland. It establishes the authoritative divine source of the message, emphasizing that despite their displacement, God's word could still reach His people through His chosen prophet, Jeremiah, wherever they were.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the responsible men among those who had been taken away, and to the priests and the prophets and to all the rest of the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken away prisoners from Jerusalem to Babylon;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And these <FI>are<Fi> words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the remnant of the elders of the removal, and unto the priests, and unto the prophets, and unto all the people--whom Nebuchadnezzar removed from Jerusalem to Babylon,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the ancients that were carried into captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people, whom Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And these are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon

Context

This verse opens the chapter by setting the scene for a significant divine communication. It details the sender and recipients of a crucial letter. It serves as an essential introduction, preparing the reader for the weighty instructions and promises that follow to a community far from home, facing uncertainty and false hopes.

v.1This passage

v.2(after that Jeconiah the king, and the queen-mother, and the eunuchs, and the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem),

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Galatians 6:11

    See with how large letters I write unto you with mine own hand.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:8

    For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it: though I did regret it (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season),

  • Revelation 2:1

    To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

  • Jeremiah 29:25

    Thus 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,

  • Hebrews 13:22

    But I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation: for I have written unto you in few words.

  • Jeremiah 28:4

    and I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went to Babylon, saith Jehovah; for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

Related questions readers ask