“Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Build houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat their fruit.
- KJV Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
- BSB “Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.
- NKJV Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.
- NASB ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God tells the exiles to build houses and plant gardens in Babylon. They are to settle in for a long stay, not expect a quick return.
Overview
Against the false prophets' promise of speedy deliverance, God commands the exiles to put down roots. Building and planting signal stability and acceptance of a prolonged sojourn. This counsel required faith to obey, trusting God's timeline over comforting illusions. It teaches God's people to live faithfully and productively even in less-than-ideal circumstances, as pilgrims who still labor where God places them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Jer 29:28because he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, The captivity is long: build houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat their fruit?”’”
- Jer 29:10For Yahweh says, “After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
- Ezek 28:26They shall dwell securely therein; yes, they shall build houses, and plant vineyards, and shall dwell securely, when I have executed judgments on all those who do them despite all around them; and they shall know that I am Yahweh their God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 29:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.