Jeremiah 29:5
Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
Original Language Analysis
בָתִּ֖ים
ye houses
H1004
בָתִּ֖ים
ye houses
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
2 of 8
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְשֵׁ֑בוּ
and dwell
H3427
וְשֵׁ֑בוּ
and dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
3 of 8
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וְנִטְע֣וּ
in them and plant
H5193
וְנִטְע֣וּ
in them and plant
Strong's:
H5193
Word #:
4 of 8
properly, to strike in, i.e., fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Jeremiah 29:28For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.Jeremiah 29:10For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
Historical Context
Archaeological evidence confirms that Jewish exiles did exactly this—they settled in communities, engaged in commerce, and some became prosperous. Business documents from Babylon include Jewish names, indicating their participation in economic life. The Murashu archive (5th century BC) shows Jews engaged in banking and trade. This engagement without assimilation allowed Judaism to survive the exile and even flourish, so that when return was possible, a strong Jewish identity remained.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this command to 'build and plant' challenge both withdrawal from culture and uncritical assimilation to it?
- What does faithful presence in our culture look like—engaging fully while maintaining distinct Christian identity?
- In what ways might we be tempted either to hunker down waiting for deliverance or to accommodate too much to the surrounding culture?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This command was revolutionary and controversial. Build houses? Plant gardens? This implies permanence, settling in for the long term. False prophets were promising return within two years (28:3), so building and planting seemed like faithlessness. Yet Jeremiah commands comprehensive engagement with their Babylonian context—not just survival but flourishing. The imperatives are emphatic: build (not rent temporary quarters), dwell (settle in), plant (invest in the future), eat (enjoy God's provision even in exile).
This instruction establishes a theology of 'faithful presence'—engaging culture without being absorbed by it. The exiles were not to withdraw into isolated communities, nor were they to assimilate and abandon their distinct identity. They were to be fully present in Babylon, contributing to its welfare, while maintaining faithfulness to Yahweh. This is exactly how Jesus described His followers: 'in the world' but 'not of the world' (John 17:11, 14).
Reformed theology recognizes that believers are simultaneously citizens of two kingdoms—earthly and heavenly. We have responsibilities in both realms. Building houses and planting gardens in Babylon models how we should engage our earthly cities while awaiting our true citizenship in the heavenly Jerusalem. We work, build, create, contribute—not because earth is ultimate, but because God calls us to faithful stewardship even in exile.