Jeremiah 29:5

“Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The LORD of Hosts speaks through Jeremiah to the exiles carried from Jerusalem to Babylon. He addresses them at the outset of their forced relocation, instructing them on how to live in the foreign land.

The words — The text commands בְּנ֥וּ (be.Nu) "build" and בָתִּ֖ים (ba.Tim) "houses" alongside וְ/שֵ֑בוּ (ve./She.vu) "and dwell." It then orders וְ/נִטְע֣וּ (ve./nit.'U) "and plant" גַנּ֔וֹת (ga.Not) "gardens" to yield אֶת־פִּרְיָֽ/ן (et-pir.Ya/n) "their produce" for consumption.

The thread — This instruction echoes in Jeremiah 29:28, where a false prophet uses the same language to encourage long-term settlement in Babylon. It also parallels Ezekiel 28:26, which describes a future time when God’s people will dwell securely, build houses, and plant vineyards.

Why it lands — The verse requires the exiles to establish permanent domestic life and agricultural self-sufficiency rather than waiting for an immediate return. It frames obedience to God’s timeline as practical, daily investment in a foreign land.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

בְּנ֥וּbe.Nubuild בָתִּ֖יםva.Timhouses וְשֵׁ֑בוּve./She.vuand/ dwell וְנִטְע֣וּve./nit.'Uand/ plant גַנּ֔וֹתga.Notgardens וְאִכְל֖וּve./'ikh.Luand/ eat אֶת־'et-<obj.>פִּרְיָֽן׃pir.Ya/nproduce/ their

King James Version

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

Cross-references

Jeremiah 29:28 For he has sent to us in Babylon, claiming: Since the exile will be lengthy, build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat their produce.’”
Jeremiah 29:10 For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place.
Ezekiel 28:26 And there they will dwell securely, build houses, and plant vineyards. They will dwell securely when I execute judgments against all those around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’”