Jeremiah 29:3
What does Jeremiah 29:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Jeremiah 29:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jeremiah 29:3 means
This verse identifies the specific individuals entrusted with delivering Jeremiah's vital letter from Jerusalem to Babylon: Elasah, son of Shaphan, and Gemariah, son of Hilkiah. These men were part of an official delegation sent by Zedekiah, the current king of Judah, to King Nebuchadnezzar. Their presence provided a legitimate and secure means for Jeremiah's message to reach the exiles, ensuring its authenticity and demonstrating the prophet's obedience to God's command even in politically sensitive circumstances.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), saying,
KJV
King James Version · 1611By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), saying,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949By the hand of Elasah, the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah, the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah, king of Judah, sent to Babylon, to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,) saying,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862By the hand of Eleasah son of Shaphan, and Gemariah son of Hilkijah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon--to Babylon, saying,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752By the hand of Elasa the son of Saphan, and Gamarias the son of Helcias, whom Sedecias king of Juda sent to Babylon to Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, saying:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkijah (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon, unto Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), saying,
Context
Following the identification of the letter's recipients, this verse explains *how* the letter reached Babylon. The mention of specific envoys sent by King Zedekiah provides a concrete historical link, demonstrating the letter’s legitimacy and the precarious diplomatic environment. This detail reinforces the authenticity of the message to the exiles, who might otherwise doubt its origin.
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),
v.3This passage
v.4Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all the captivity, whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerusalem unto Babylon:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Chronicles 6:13
and Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,
- 2 Chronicles 34:20
And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
- 2 Kings 22:8
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
- Jeremiah 39:14
they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home. So he dwelt among the people.
- 2 Kings 22:12
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
- Ezekiel 8:11
And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, every man with his censer in his hand; and the odor of the cloud of incense went up.
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