Jeremiah 29:11

Context

Jeremiah 29 is a letter that Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the exiles who had been carried away to Babylon (29:1). At the time, some prophets were predicting that the exile would soon end, but Jeremiah told the exiles to build houses in Babylon, plant gardens, have children, and pray for the peace of that city (vv. 5–7). He then promised that after seventy years were accomplished at Babylon, God would visit them and bring them back (v. 10), and verse 11 gives the reason for that promise. Verses 12–14 declare that if they seek God with all their heart, they will find him, and he will bring them back from captivity.

Interpretation

• As a promise to the community: The "you" in the original is plural, and the promise is addressed to the entire exilic community. Interpreters also emphasize that the hope was not immediate deliverance but a future seventy years away, one that most of the generation receiving the letter would not live to see.
• As a revelation of God's character: Although the promise was given to Israel, it reveals a God who intends good toward his people, and so it is seen as a source of comfort for believers today as well. It is read together with Romans 8:28.
• The meaning of "peace": "Peace" (shalom) is a broad term that denotes not merely the absence of conflict but also wholeness and prosperity. It is the same word used in verse 7, where the exiles are told to seek the "peace" of the city of Babylon.

Debates and Issues

Many observe that using this verse as God's promise concerning an individual's career or success amounts to quoting it out of context. Unlike the false prophets, who said that suffering would soon end, Jeremiah in fact announced a long wait. Critics of prosperity theology contend that the verse has been turned into a promise of immediate prosperity. Others hold that the principle itself—that God has good plans for his people—carries over into the New Testament, so it is legitimate for individual believers to draw hope from this verse. There is broad agreement, however, that this hope is one that passes through suffering.

In the Korean Church

The verse is frequently used in graduation and school-entrance services, in New Year's Eve watch-night services, and in prayers for students preparing for entrance exams and for job seekers. It is also one of the verses most often printed on cards and framed for display.

Related Passages

• Jeremiah 29:4–14
• Romans 8:28
• Lamentations 3:22–23