WHAT IT MEANS
Hope in Exile
God had not abandoned His people even though their restoration would not be immediate.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
CONTEXT
What is happening here?
Jeremiah is writing to exiles in Babylon and tells them to build lives there while trusting God’s long-term promise to restore them after a long season.
APPLY IT
For today
Hope in God’s faithfulness without demanding that His timetable match yours.
Read it in 5 translations
KJV King James Version
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
BSB Berean Standard Bible
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.
WEB World English Bible
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.
ASV American Standard Version
For 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.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you—an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope.
Surrounding context — Jeremiah 29
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that [be] in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
כִּי֩H3588 · kiforאָנֹכִ֨יH595 · a.no.khiIיָדַ֜עְתִּיH3045 · ya.dato knowאֶת־H853 · et[Obj.]הַמַּחֲשָׁבֹ֗תH4284 · ma.cha.sha.vahplotאֲשֶׁ֧רH834 · a.sherwhichאָנֹכִ֛יH595 · a.no.khiIחֹשֵׁ֥בH2803 · cha.shavto devise: designעֲלֵיכֶ֖םH5921 · aluponנְאֻם־H5002 · ne.umutteranceיְהוָ֑הH3068 · ye.ho.vahLORDמַחְשְׁב֤וֹתH4284 · ma.cha.sha.vahplotשָׁלוֹם֙H7965 · sha.lompeaceוְלֹ֣אH3808 · lonotלְרָעָ֔הH7451 · rabad: harmfulלָתֵ֥תH5414 · na.tanto give: giveלָכֶ֖םH9036 · khemyouאַחֲרִ֥יתH319 · a.cha.ritendוְתִקְוָֽה׃H8615 · tiq.vahcord
Cross-references
Isaiah 55:8-12For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.Psalm 33:11The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.Micah 4:12But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.Psalm 40:5Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered.Job 23:13But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.Lamentations 3:26[It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.Isaiah 46:10-11Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:Ezekiel 34:11-31For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.Jeremiah 3:12-19Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever.Jeremiah 31:1-33At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.Joel 2:28-32And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:Isaiah 40:1-31Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.Hosea 14:2-9Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.Zephaniah 3:14-20Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.Hosea 2:14-23Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.Jeremiah 30:18-22Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.Zechariah 12:5-10And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem [shall be] my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.Micah 7:14-20Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily [in] the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed [in] Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
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HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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