Jeremiah 29:15

¶ Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;

Because ye have said {H559}, The LORD {H3068} hath raised us up {H6965} prophets {H5030} in Babylon {H894};

"You say that ADONAI has raised up prophets for you in Bavel.

Because you may say, “The LORD has raised up for us prophets in Babylon,”

Because ye have said, Jehovah hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;

Commentary

Jeremiah 29:15 is a crucial verse in Jeremiah’s letter to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, revealing a key challenge to God's true message. It highlights the people's misplaced trust in deceitful spiritual leaders.

Context of Jeremiah 29:15

This verse comes from a significant letter sent by the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish community already deported to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, around 597 BC. In this letter (Jeremiah 29:1-14), Jeremiah instructs the exiles to settle down, build homes, plant gardens, and seek the welfare of Babylon, for their captivity would last 70 years. This was a difficult message, contrasting sharply with the popular, but false, prophecies circulating among them that promised a swift return to Jerusalem. Verse 15 specifically addresses the exiles' assertion that the LORD Himself had "raised up prophets in Babylon," implying a divine endorsement for these optimistic, yet misleading, voices. This assertion directly contradicts Jeremiah's earlier warnings in Jeremiah 29:8-9 not to be deceived by such prophets.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Danger of False Prophecy: The verse underscores the pervasive problem of false prophets who spoke "peace, peace; when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14). These individuals offered comforting lies that aligned with the people's desires, rather than the challenging truth of God's plan for a prolonged exile.
  • Distrust of God's True Word: By claiming that the LORD had raised up these false prophets, the exiles were essentially rejecting Jeremiah’s authentic message, which called for patience and submission to God's disciplinary hand. Their statement reveals a desire for a message that suited their immediate hopes, rather than one that aligned with divine reality.
  • Consequences of Deception: This verse serves as a preamble to God's strong judgment against these false prophets (e.g., Ahab and Zedekiah mentioned in Jeremiah 29:21-23), highlighting the severe repercussions for those who mislead God's people and for those who choose to believe lies over truth.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "prophets" is nevi'im (נְבִיאִים), which simply means "spokesmen" or "those who declare." The issue here is not the title, but the source of their message. These individuals were falsely claiming divine inspiration, speaking "a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:16).

Practical Application

Jeremiah 29:15 offers timeless lessons for believers today. We must exercise discernment, especially in a world filled with many voices claiming spiritual authority. It is crucial to test every message against the unchanging truth of God's written Word. Do not be swayed by comforting messages that contradict biblical principles or promise an easy way out of difficult seasons. True faith often requires patience and submission to God's timing, even when it means enduring hardship, rather than embracing deceptive shortcuts.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 1:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I [was] among the captives by the river of Chebar, [that] the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

  • Ezekiel 1:3 (2 votes)

    The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

  • Jeremiah 29:8 (2 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • Jeremiah 29:9 (2 votes)

    For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 28:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, [and] in the fifth month, [that] Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which [was] of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

  • Jeremiah 28:17 (2 votes)

    So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.