29:5 29:5

Jeremiah 29:6

29:7 29:7

Bible Versions

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.
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}.
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.
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.
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.

Jeremiah 29:6 is a pivotal verse from a letter sent by the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. It conveys God's surprising instructions for His people during their long period of captivity, urging them to embrace normalcy and growth despite their circumstances.

Context of Jeremiah 29:6

The historical backdrop for Jeremiah 29:6 is the Babylonian exile, which began with King Nebuchadnezzar's first deportation of Judahites in 597 BC. Many of the Jewish captives, including King Jehoiachin and prominent citizens, were in Babylon. False prophets among the exiles were spreading messages of an imminent return to Jerusalem, giving the people false hope. Jeremiah's letter, delivered by messengers from Jerusalem, directly contradicted these lies, informing the exiles that their captivity would last for 70 years. This verse, along with others in the letter, outlines how God wanted them to live during this extended period away from their homeland.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Embracing Normalcy in Adversity: God commands the exiles to engage in the most fundamental aspects of human life: marriage and procreation. This instruction to "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" was a call to live ordinary, productive lives in a foreign land. It countered any despair that might lead to stagnation or a refusal to plan for the future.
  • Long-Term Perspective and Patience: This divine directive underscored that the exile would not be brief. By commanding them to build families for generations, God was teaching His people a critical lesson in patience and long-term vision. They were not to wait passively for an immediate deliverance but to actively invest in their present and future in Babylon.
  • Divine Preservation and Growth: The concluding phrase, "that ye may be increased there, and not diminished," reveals God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people. Despite their displacement and punishment, God intended for them to thrive and multiply, preventing their assimilation or disappearance. This echoes the original creation mandate to "be fruitful, and multiply" and highlights God's faithfulness even in judgment.
  • Obedience and Trust: Following these instructions required immense faith and obedience. It meant trusting God's plan even when it contradicted their desires for a swift return to Jerusalem. This command to settle down and seek the peace of the city where they were exiled prepared them for the future God had planned.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrasing "that ye may be increased there, and not diminished" is a clear and direct translation of the Hebrew intent. The word translated "increased" (רָבָה, ravah) means "to be great, numerous, multiply." The word "diminished" (מָעַט, ma'at) means "to be small, few, diminish." Together, they emphasize God's desire for the exiles to experience demographic growth and continued vitality, counteracting the natural tendency for a captive population to decline due to despair or assimilation.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 29:6 offers profound lessons for believers today. It teaches us about:

  • Finding Purpose in Present Circumstances: Even when we find ourselves in difficult, undesirable, or "exilic" situations, God calls us to live productively, invest in our communities, and build for the future. Our purpose is not put on hold because our circumstances are not ideal.
  • Long-Term Faith and Resilience: This verse encourages a long-term perspective in our walk with God. We are to trust His timing and His plan, even when it extends beyond our immediate desires. It's a call to resilience, knowing that God intends for His people to flourish, not to diminish. This long-term perspective aligns with God's overarching promise of a future and a hope for His people.
  • Active Engagement: Rather than passively waiting for change, we are called to actively engage in life, fostering growth and contributing positively wherever God has placed us. This includes building strong families and communities, which are vital for spiritual and societal health.
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.

  • 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.
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