Devine Scripture

Jeremiah 29:12–13

What does Jeremiah 29:12–13 mean?

A plain-English look at Jeremiah 29:12–13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Jeremiah 29:12–13 means

Jeremiah 29:12

Building on the promise of future hope, God outlines the conditions for His people's interaction with Him: "And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you." This verse emphasizes the accessibility of God to His people, even in exile. Their return to Him in prayer and earnest seeking would be met with His attention and response. It highlights the active role of sincere, heartfelt prayer in their relationship with God, a means through which they could connect with His plans for their peace and future.

Jeremiah 29:13

This verse further clarifies the depth of the spiritual engagement God desires: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." It goes beyond merely calling upon God, requiring a wholehearted, diligent pursuit of Him. This implies a turning away from idolatry, false hopes, and a shallow faith, towards a genuine, all-encompassing commitment to God. This sincere searching is presented as the condition for truly encountering and experiencing God's presence and fulfilling His promises.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And you will go on crying to me and making prayer to me, and I will give ear to you. And you will be searching for me and I will be there, when you have gone after me with all your heart.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And ye have called Me, and have gone, and have prayed unto Me, and I have hearkened unto you, And ye have sought Me, and have found, for ye seek Me with all your heart;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And you shall call upon me, and you shall go. and you shall pray to me, and I will hear you. You shall seek me, and shall find me: when you shall seek me with all your heart.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you; and ye shall seek me and find me, for ye shall search for me with all your heart,

Context

v.12After revealing His good plans, this verse outlines the exiles' appropriate response: prayer. It describes the active role they must play in seeking God. This instruction explains the practical means by which the exiles can connect with the hope offered in the previous verse, emphasizing a personal and communal turning back to God.

v.13Expanding on the call to prayer, this verse intensifies the requirement for a wholehearted search for God. It adds a crucial qualitative dimension to their spiritual effort. This emphasis on sincere devotion is vital for the exiles, showing them that their restoration would involve a deep, personal commitment to God, not just a formal religious act.

v.11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.

v.12–13This passage

v.14And I will be found of you, saith Jehovah, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith Jehovah; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Cross references

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

  • Jeremiah 33:3

    Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not.

  • Psalms 10:17

    Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek: Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear;

  • Nehemiah 2:4

    Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

  • Isaiah 65:24

    And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  • Matthew 7:7

    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

  • Jeremiah 31:9

    They shall come with weeping; and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.

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