Jeremiah 29:15

Jeremiah 29:15, in plain English

The verse begins to address a new concern: the exiles might point to prophets living in Babylon and say, 'See, God has raised up prophets here, so we're in the right place spiritually.'

Why it's here

This is a hypothetical objection the exiles might raise to justify believing the false prophets. 'God wouldn't allow false prophets to flourish, right? So these must be legitimate.' It's a logic the exiles might use to comfort themselves, but God is about to dismantle it.

Who's speaking

Jeremiah, narrating what the exiles might say

Where it sits in the story

This sets up the contrast between what people assume is true and what God actually says. Just because something exists doesn't mean God ordained it. Just because something is widespread doesn't make it true. This principle matters for every era of history.

The scholarly reading

This verse introduces an anticipated objection: exiles might argue that God has raised up prophets among them in Babylon who contradict Jeremiah's message.

Language and setting

The phrase יַעַן אֲמַרְתֶּם הֵקִים יְהוָה לָנוּ נְבִיאִים בְּבָבֶל (ya'an amartem hekimyahweh lanu n'vi'im b'Bavel—'because you might say, the LORD has raised up for us prophets in Babylon') indicates Jeremiah anticipates his opponents will cite the existence of other prophets as legitimation. This represents a logical challenge: if God truly ordained the exile, why would he not authorize prophets to declare relief? The term הֵקִים (hekim—'raise up') is the same term used for authentic prophetic calling (Amos 2:11), meaning the objection had surface plausibility.

Voice

Jeremiah, articulating the anticipated counterargument from exiles who might question his authority.

Significance

This verse demonstrates the rhetorical sophistication of Jeremiah's argument. Rather than dismissing opposing prophets outright, he acknowledges their existence and preemptively addresses the exiles' temptation to believe them. This rhetorical strategy—stating the opponent's position before refuting it—was standard in ancient Near Eastern epistolary polemics.

13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

14I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

15Because you may say, “The LORD has raised up for us prophets in Babylon,”

16this is what the LORD says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile—

17this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

Read all of Jeremiah 29 — Written to exiles in Babylon: settle in, plant gardens, seek the city's welfare. And know this — I have plans for you. Plans for hope.