Jeremiah 29:6

KJV

Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

KJV (with Strong's)

Take {H3947} ye wives {H802}, and beget {H3205} sons {H1121} and daughters {H1323}; and take {H3947} wives {H802} for your sons {H1121}, and give {H5414} your daughters {H1323} to husbands {H582}, that they may bear {H3205} sons {H1121} and daughters {H1121}; that ye may be increased {H7235} there, and not diminished {H4591}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Choose women to marry, and have sons and daughters. Choose wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage to men, so that they can have sons and daughters - increase your numbers there, don't decrease.

Berean Standard Bible

Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.

American Standard Version

Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters: and multiply ye there, and be not diminished.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 29:6 is a pivotal instruction within a letter from the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, commanding them to embrace normal life activities such as marriage and procreation. This directive urged the exiles to establish families, secure their lineage, and ensure demographic growth in their foreign land, directly countering any despair that might lead to stagnation or decline and emphasizing God's long-term plan for their preservation and flourishing despite their captivity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 29:6 is an integral part of a longer letter (Jeremiah 29:1-23) sent by the prophet Jeremiah from Jerusalem to the exiles who had been deported to Babylon. This letter directly follows Jeremiah's pronouncements of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, including the impending destruction of the temple and the city. The preceding verses (Jeremiah 29:4-5) establish the foundational command to "build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce," setting the stage for the specific instructions regarding family life in verse 6. This verse, along with the command to "seek the peace of the city" in [Jeremiah 29:7](/jeremiah/29-7 "Jeremiah 29:7 - Seek the Peace of the City"), forms a cohesive unit of divine counsel for living productively and faithfully during a prolonged period of exile, directly refuting the false prophecies of an imminent return propagated by figures like Hananiah (Jeremiah 28) and Shemaiah (Jeremiah 29:24-32).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the Babylonian exile, specifically the first major deportation of Judahites in 597 BC under King Nebuchadnezzar. Thousands of prominent citizens, skilled workers, and the royal family, including King Jehoiachin, were forcibly removed from Jerusalem and resettled in Babylon. Culturally, the Jewish people were deeply tied to their land, temple, and covenant identity, which included the promise of numerous descendants. Being exiled to a foreign land, under the dominion of a pagan empire, presented an existential crisis. The natural inclination might have been to resist assimilation, refuse to build, or abstain from procreation, hoping for a swift return to Jerusalem. Jeremiah's letter, therefore, was a radical counter-cultural message, calling them to live as productive citizens in Babylon, contradicting the popular, but false, messages of a quick deliverance that were circulating among the exiles.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader Old Testament narrative. It underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Faithfulness**, demonstrating that even in judgment and exile, God remains actively involved in the lives of His people, guiding their steps and ensuring their preservation. It highlights **Hope in Adversity**, offering a pragmatic, long-term vision for survival and flourishing rather than despair or passive waiting. The command to marry and procreate directly relates to the **Covenant Promise of Offspring**, echoing the original creation mandate to "be fruitful and multiply" found in [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - The Creation Mandate") and the Abrahamic covenant promises of numerous descendants (e.g., [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - The Abrahamic Covenant")). Furthermore, it emphasizes **Obedience and Trust**, requiring the exiles to trust God's counter-intuitive plan over their own desires or the deceptive messages of false prophets. This command to settle and grow in Babylon prepares them for the ultimate fulfillment of God's plans for their future, as promised in [Jeremiah 29:11](/jeremiah/29-11 "Jeremiah 29:11 - God's Plans for Hope and a Future").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Take (Hebrew, _lâqach'_):** From H3947, this primitive root means "to take (in the widest variety of applications)." In this context, it signifies an active, intentional act of acquiring or choosing a spouse. It's not a passive reception but a deliberate engagement in the process of marriage, underscoring the responsibility and agency of the exiles in building their families.
* **Beget (Hebrew, _yâlad'_):** From H3205, this primitive root means "to bear young; causatively, to beget." It refers to the act of procreation, the bringing forth of children. In the context of Jeremiah 29:6, it highlights the divine command for the exiles to continue their lineage and ensure the continuity of their people, fulfilling the foundational biblical mandate to multiply.
* **Increased/Diminished (Hebrew, _râbâh'_ / _mâʻaṭ'_):** From H7235 and H4591 respectively, these words represent a powerful contrast. _Râbâh_ means "to increase (in whatever respect); to be great, numerous, multiply," while _mâʻaṭ_ means "to pare off, i.e., lessen; to be (or causatively, to make) small or few." Together, they encapsulate God's explicit desire for the exiles' demographic growth and vitality, preventing their decline or assimilation into the foreign culture, affirming His commitment to their preservation as a distinct people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters;":** This initial command directly addresses the male exiles, instructing them to marry and initiate families. It is a foundational directive for the establishment of new households, emphasizing the continuation of life and lineage even in a foreign land. The act of "begetting sons and daughters" underscores the importance of procreation for the survival and growth of the community.
* **"and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters;":** This clause extends the command to the next generation, demonstrating God's long-term vision. It instructs the current generation to facilitate marriages for their children, ensuring the perpetuation of the family line and the community for decades to come. The repetition of "that they may bear sons and daughters" reinforces the divine imperative for sustained population growth.
* **"that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.":** This concluding phrase reveals the ultimate purpose and desired outcome of these commands. God's intention is for His people to "increase" (multiply, grow in number) in Babylon, rather than "diminish" (decrease, become few, or assimilate). This highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, ensuring the preservation and flourishing of Israel even during a period of judgment and exile.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 29:6 employs several impactful literary devices. The most prominent is **Command**, as the verse is structured as a direct divine imperative, conveyed through the prophet Jeremiah. This authoritative tone underscores the non-negotiable nature of God's will for His people. **Repetition** is also evident in the repeated emphasis on "sons and daughters" and the dual command to "take wives" and "give daughters to husbands," reinforcing the central theme of procreation and family continuity across generations. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Contrast** in the concluding phrase, "increased there, and not diminished." This juxtaposition vividly portrays God's desired outcome for His people, highlighting His intention for their flourishing over their decline, even in challenging circumstances. The entire command also functions as **Symbolism**, where the act of building families and increasing in number symbolizes hope, resilience, and a long-term commitment to a future that God has planned, despite the immediate reality of exile.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 29:6 profoundly illustrates God's active involvement in the lives of His people, even when they are under divine judgment and in a foreign land. It reveals that God's covenant promises, particularly those concerning the multiplication of Abraham's descendants, remain active and are not nullified by human sin or adverse circumstances. The command to build families and increase in number is a practical outworking of God's commitment to preserve His chosen people and ensure their future, demonstrating His faithfulness even when His people are unfaithful. It challenges the human tendency to despair in difficult situations, instead calling for active, hopeful engagement with life, trusting in God's overarching plan for restoration and blessing. This passage teaches that "exile" – whether literal or metaphorical – is not an end, but a phase within God's sovereign narrative, where His people are called to live purposefully and productively.

* [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - The Creation Mandate to Be Fruitful")
* [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - God's Promise to Abraham of Numerous Descendants")
* [Jeremiah 29:11](/jeremiah/29-11 "Jeremiah 29:11 - God's Plans for Hope and a Future")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 29:6 offers a powerful message of resilience, hope, and purposeful living for believers today, especially when navigating difficult or undesirable circumstances. It challenges the notion that our purpose or spiritual life is put on hold until ideal conditions emerge. Instead, God calls us to actively engage with our present reality, investing in relationships, building strong families, and contributing to the communities where we are planted, even if they feel like "exile." This verse encourages a long-term perspective, trusting God's timing and His sovereign plan, which often extends far beyond our immediate desires for comfort or resolution. It fosters a spirit of active faith, where we are called to be fruitful and multiply—not just biologically, but in terms of spiritual growth, impact, and influence—rather than allowing despair or passivity to diminish our potential. Our call is to live with intentionality, knowing that God desires our flourishing and increase, even in the midst of trials, preparing us for the future He has for us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what "exilic" situations or undesirable circumstances do I find myself today, and how might God be calling me to "build" and "plant" within them?**
* **How does the command to embrace a long-term perspective in Jeremiah 29:6 challenge my desire for immediate solutions or gratification?**
* **Am I actively contributing to the growth and flourishing of my family and community, or am I allowing despair or passivity to diminish my impact?**

### FAQ
**Why would God command the exiles to marry and have children in a foreign land, rather than waiting to return to Jerusalem?**

Answer: God's command in [Jeremiah 29:6](/jeremiah/29-6 "Jeremiah 29:6 - Command to Marry and Procreate in Exile") was a crucial directive to counter the false hope of an imminent return to Jerusalem, which was being propagated by false prophets. By instructing them to build families and ensure their lineage, God was impressing upon the exiles that their captivity would be prolonged (70 years, as stated in [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - The Seventy-Year Prophecy")). This command was a call to embrace a long-term perspective, to live productively, and to trust in God's sovereign plan for their preservation and future flourishing, even in a foreign land. It ensured the continuation of the covenant people and prevented their assimilation or demographic decline, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promises despite their circumstances.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 29:6 is a specific command to the exiles in Babylon, it finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the broader narrative of God's people and His kingdom. The command to "increase there, and not diminish" foreshadows the spiritual multiplication of God's people not through physical lineage alone, but through the new birth in Christ. Just as the exiles were called to live purposefully in a foreign land, believers in Christ are called to live as "aliens and strangers" in this world ([1 Peter 2:11](/1_peter/2-11 "1 Peter 2:11 - Aliens and Strangers")), actively engaging in God's mission to "make disciples of all nations" ([Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission")). The preservation of the physical lineage in Jeremiah's day was essential for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, who is the ultimate "seed" through whom all nations would be blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - The Seed of Abraham")). Through Christ, the true "Israel" is expanded beyond ethnic boundaries, and His church is commissioned to "be fruitful and multiply" spiritually, bearing much fruit for the kingdom ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Abiding in the Vine")). Thus, the command to increase and not diminish finds its ultimate and eternal fulfillment in the ever-growing, multi-ethnic body of Christ, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone ([Ephesians 2:20](/ephesians/2-20 "Ephesians 2:20 - Christ as the Cornerstone")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 28:1

¶ And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Genesis 28:4

And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

Genesis 29:19

And Laban said, [It is] better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

Genesis 24:51

Behold, Rebekah [is] before thee, take [her], and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

Judges 12:9

And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, [whom] he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

Genesis 24:3

And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Genesis 24:4

But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.