Jeremiah 29:14
And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Original Language Analysis
וְנִמְצֵ֣אתִי
And I will be found
H4672
וְנִמְצֵ֣אתִי
And I will be found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
1 of 27
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י
and I will bring you again
H7725
וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י
and I will bring you again
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
5 of 27
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שְׁביּתְכֶ֗ם
your captivity
H7622
שְׁביּתְכֶ֗ם
your captivity
Strong's:
H7622
Word #:
7 of 27
exile, concretely, prisoners; figuratively, a former state of prosperity
אֶ֠תְכֶם
H853
אֶ֠תְכֶם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִֽכָּל
H3605
מִֽכָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 27
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹיִ֞ם
you from all the nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֞ם
you from all the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
11 of 27
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
וּמִכָּל
H3605
וּמִכָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 27
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם
and from all the places
H4725
הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם
and from all the places
Strong's:
H4725
Word #:
13 of 27
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 27
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִדַּ֧חְתִּי
whither I have driven
H5080
הִדַּ֧חְתִּי
whither I have driven
Strong's:
H5080
Word #:
15 of 27
to push off; used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (to expel, mislead, strike, inflict, etc.)
אֶתְכֶ֛ם
H853
אֶתְכֶ֛ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שָׁ֖ם
H8033
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
19 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י
and I will bring you again
H7725
וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י
and I will bring you again
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
20 of 27
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶתְכֶ֔ם
H853
אֶתְכֶ֔ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
21 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם
and from all the places
H4725
הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם
and from all the places
Strong's:
H4725
Word #:
23 of 27
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
24 of 27
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִגְלֵ֥יתִי
whence I caused you to be carried away captive
H1540
הִגְלֵ֥יתִי
whence I caused you to be carried away captive
Strong's:
H1540
Word #:
25 of 27
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
Cross References
Jeremiah 30:3For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.1 Chronicles 28:9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.Psalms 126:1When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.Psalms 32:6For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Psalms 126:4Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.Jeremiah 30:10Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.Romans 10:20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.Deuteronomy 30:3That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
Historical Context
This promise was fulfilled when Cyrus decreed that Jews could return to Judah (Ezra 1:1-4). Approximately 50,000 returned initially, though most Jews remained in dispersion. The fuller fulfillment came through Christ, who proclaimed 'the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand' (Mark 1:15), gathering a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. The final fulfillment awaits Christ's return when He gathers His elect from the four winds (Matthew 24:31).
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean that God will 'be found' by those who seek Him—how does this balance divine sovereignty and human seeking?
- How does the promise to restore from 'all nations' point forward to the multi-ethnic nature of the church?
- In what ways have believers been 'brought back' from spiritual captivity through Christ, and what final restoration still awaits?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
God promises He will 'be found' by those who seek Him—an assurance that genuine seeking will not be disappointed. The Hebrew construction emphasizes divine initiative even in being found—God makes Himself available to those who seek Him. This is not a distant deity playing hide-and-seek but a covenant God who desires relationship with His people and responds to their repentant seeking.
The promise to 'turn away your captivity' (shub shebut, שׁוּב שְׁבוּת) is a common Hebrew phrase meaning to restore fortunes or bring back from captivity. It appears throughout the prophets, always pointing to God's sovereign reversal of judgment. What God has done in discipline, He will undo in restoration. The exiles will be gathered 'from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you'—note again that God takes responsibility for the scattering, which gives assurance that He can accomplish the gathering.
The final promise, 'I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive,' completes the cycle—from land, through judgment, to restoration. Yet the ultimate fulfillment transcends geographical return to Palestine. In Christ, believers are brought from spiritual exile into the presence of God. The final restoration will see the new Jerusalem descend from heaven, and God will dwell with His people eternally (Revelation 21:3).