Focused Passage

Jeremiah 29:24-32

The Letter to the Exiles: Seek the City's Welfare and Wait for the LORD's Restoration

The chapter moves from the historical setting of Jeremiah's letter, to practical instructions for faithful exile life, to warnings against false prophets, to the seventy-year restoration promise, and finally to judgment oracles against hardened leaders and lying prophets.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

24You are to tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite that

25this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “In your own name you have sent out letters to all the people of Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests. You said to Zephaniah:

26‘The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet—you must put him in stocks and neck irons.

27So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you?

28For he has sent to us in Babylon, claiming: Since the exile will be lengthy, build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat their produce.’”

29(Zephaniah the priest, however, had read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet.)

30Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:

31“Send a message telling all the exiles what the LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you—though I did not send him—and has made you trust in a lie,

32this is what the LORD says: ‘I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good that I will bring to My people, declares the LORD, for he has preached rebellion against the LORD.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 24

Original words

You are to tellתֹּאמַ֥רH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | PrepositionShemaiahשְׁמַעְיָ֥הוּH8098Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Nehelamiteהַנֶּחֱלָמִ֖יH5161Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularthatלֵאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 25

Original words

this is whatכֹּֽה־H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֧הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֛וֹתH6635Noun - common pluralthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֥יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֞רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-לֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-יַ֡עַןH3282Adverb-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeIn your own nameבְשִׁמְכָ֜הH8034Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularyouאַתָּה֩H859Pronoun - second person masculine singularhave sent outשָׁלַ֨חְתָּH7971Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularlettersסְפָרִ֗יםH5612Noun - masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe peopleהָעָם֙H5971Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeof Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִַ֔םH3389Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singulartoוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe priestהַכֹּהֵ֔ןH3548Article | Noun - masculine singularZephaniahצְפַנְיָ֤הH6846Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Maaseiahמַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙H4641Noun - proper - masculine singularand toוְאֶ֥לH413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֖יםH3548Article | Noun - masculine pluralYou said [to Zephaniah]לֵאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

BSB notes

  • Hebrew You said; the addressee Zephaniah is added for clarity.
Verse 26

Original words

The LORDיְהוָ֞הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas appointedנְתָנְךָ֣H5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularyou priestכֹהֵ֗ןH3548Noun - masculine singularin place ofתַּ֚חַתH8478PrepositionJehoiadaיְהוֹיָדָ֣עH3077Noun - proper - masculine singular-הַכֹּהֵ֔ןH3548Article | Noun - masculine singularto beלִֽהְי֤וֹתH1961Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthe chief officerפְּקִדִים֙H6496Noun - masculine pluralin the houseבֵּ֣יתH1004Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularresponsible for anyלְכָל־H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructmadmanאִ֥ישׁH376Noun - masculine singular. . .מְשֻׁגָּ֖עH7696Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singularwho acts like a prophetוּמִתְנַבֵּ֑אH5012Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularyou must putוְנָתַתָּ֥הH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularhimאֹת֛וֹH853Direct object marker | third person masculine singularinאֶל־H413Prepositionstocksהַמַּהְפֶּ֖כֶתH4115Article | Noun - feminine singular. . .וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand neck ironsהַצִּינֹֽק׃H6729Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 27

Original words

So nowוְעַתָּ֗הH6258Conjunctive waw | Adverbwhyלָ֚מָּהH4100Interrogativehave you notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlerebukedגָעַ֔רְתָּH1605Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularJeremiahבְּיִרְמְיָ֖הוּH3414Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularof Anathothהָֽעֲנְּתֹתִ֑יH6069Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularwho poses as a prophetהַמִּתְנַבֵּ֖אH5012Article | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularamong youלָכֶֽם׃Preposition | second person masculine plural
Verse 28

Original words

Forכִּ֣יH3588Conjunction. . .עַל־H5921Preposition. . .כֵּ֞ןH3651Adverbhe has sentשָׁלַ֥חH7971Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto usאֵלֵ֛ינוּH413Preposition | first person common plural[in] Babylonבָּבֶ֥לH894Noun - proper - feminine singularclaimingלֵאמֹ֖רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructSince the exileהִ֑יאH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularwill be lengthyאֲרֻכָּ֣הH752Adjective - feminine singularbuildבְּנ֤וּH1129Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralhousesבָתִּים֙H1004Noun - masculine pluraland settle downוְשֵׁ֔בוּH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralplantוְנִטְע֣וּH5193Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralgardensגַנּ֔וֹתH1593Noun - feminine pluraland eatוְאִכְל֖וּH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralאֶת־אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir produceפְּרִיהֶֽן׃H6529Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine plural
Verse 29

Original words

Zephaniahצְפַנְיָ֥הH6846Noun - proper - masculine singularthe priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןH3548Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhowever, had readוַיִּקְרָ֛אH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthisהַזֶּ֑הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularletterהַסֵּ֣פֶרH5612Article | Noun - masculine singular[to]בְּאָזְנֵ֖יH241Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֥הוּH3414Noun - proper - masculine singularthe prophetהַנָּבִֽיא׃פH5030Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

Then the wordדְּבַר־H1697Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularcameוַֽיְהִי֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶֽל־H413PrepositionJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּH3414Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .לֵאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 31

Original words

Sendשְׁלַ֤חH7971Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singulara messageעַל־H5921Prepositiontellingלֵאמֹ֔רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe exilesהַגּוֹלָה֙H1473Article | Noun - feminine singularwhatכֹּ֚הH3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularconcerningאֶל־H413PrepositionShemaiahשְׁמַעְיָ֖הH8098Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Nehelamiteהַנֶּחֱלָמִ֑יH5161Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularBecauseיַ֡עַןH3282Adverb-אֲשֶׁר֩H834Pronoun - relativeShemaiahשְׁמַעְיָ֗הH8098Noun - proper - masculine singularhas prophesiedנִבָּ֨אH5012Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto youלָכֶ֜םPreposition | second person masculine pluralthough Iוַֽאֲנִי֙H589Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singulardid notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlesend himשְׁלַחְתִּ֔יוH7971Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularand has made you trustוַיַּבְטַ֥חH982Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶתְכֶ֖םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralinעַל־H5921Prepositiona lieשָֽׁקֶר׃H8267Noun - masculine singular
Verse 32

Original words

-לָכֵ֞ןH3651Adverbthis is whatכֹּֽה־H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularvvvהִנְנִ֨יH2005Interjection | first person common singularI will surely punishפֹקֵ֜דH6485Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularעַל־עַל־H5921PrepositionShemaiahשְׁמַעְיָ֣הH8098Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Nehelamiteהַנֶּחֱלָמִי֮H5161Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְעַל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand his descendantsזַרְעוֹ֒H2233Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularHe will haveיִהְיֶ֨הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularnoלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleoneאִ֣ישׁ׀H376Noun - masculine singularleftיוֹשֵׁ֣ב׀H3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularamongבְּתוֹךְ־H8432Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthisהַזֶּ֗הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularpeopleהָעָ֣םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularnorוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlewill he seeיִרְאֶ֥הH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe goodבַטּ֛וֹבH2896Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeIאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularwill bringעֹשֶֽׂה־H6213Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularto My peopleלְעַמִּ֖יH5971Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singulardeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularforכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionhe has preachedדִבֶּ֖רH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularrebellionסָרָ֥הH5627Noun - feminine singularagainstעַל־H5921Prepositionthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃סH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.