Jeremiah Chap 29:11

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

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*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been corrected like it once was, pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following two truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Eloleichem) which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Jeremiah Chapter 29:11”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Just before the study, I would like to provide one more vital quote from the book of Yahoshua - Joshua Ch 1:7-8. (JPS-1917).

“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

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Introduction:

Who would have thought how one single verse can teach us so much: Well this study will reveal much from the relevant single verse!

I will be commencing with the Hebrew version of Yirmyahu – Jeremiah’s chapter 29, verse 11. This will be followed by a number of translations 1. (JPS), 2. myself, the author, and 3. Sefaria.org (SEF).

כִּי אָנֹכִי יָדַעְתִּי אֶת-הַמַּחֲשָׁבֹת, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי חֹשֵׁב עֲלֵיכֶם-נְאֻם-יְהוָה: מַחְשְׁבוֹת שָׁלוֹם וְלֹא לְרָעָה, לָתֵת לָכֶם אַחֲרִית וְתִקְוָה

Here are the three vesions from - (1) my own tanslation, and (2 & 3) JPS different versions:

1. “‘For I, I know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you’, declares יְהוָה - the LORD, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope’”. Yirmyahu - Jeremiah 29:11. (My personal direct translation).

2. “‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith יְהוָה - the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. Yirmyahu - Jeremiah 29:11. (JPS-1917 version).

3. For I am mindful of the plans I have made concerning you, declares אֱלֹהִים – Elohim (God), plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a hopeful future. (JPS-2023).

For interest, Number 1. Is a literal, word for word style translation of the Hebrew. I kept it as close to the Hebrew structure as English will allow, without smoothing it into a polished Tanankh translation style.

However, I am able to provide a somewhat lightly polished version:

4. “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, declares יְהוָה - the LORD: thoughts of peace and not of harm, to give you a future and a hope”.

Notes on the actual Hebrew:

כִּי אָנֹכִי יָדַעְתִּי - “For I, I know” (the double “I” adds emphasis).

אֶת־הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת - “the thoughts” (not plans, intentions, etc. Though those are interpretive possibilities).

אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי חֹשֵׁב עֲלֵיכֶם - “which I am thinking toward you”.

נְאֻם־יְהוָה - “declares יְהוָה - the LORD”.

מַחְשְׁבוֹת שָׁלוֹם - “thoughts of peace/well – being - wholeness”.

וְלֹא לְרָעָה - “and not for evil - harm.”

לָתֵת לָכֶם אַחֲרִית וְתִקְוָה - “to give you a future (an end/outcome) and a hope.”

The question you may be thinking of is; ‘Why all that, and what does it all mean?’

Be assured I will cover everything that is so important to all of us!

This is a well-known and an quoted verse from the Tanakh. It’s promise is held dearly by us, the Hebrews all over the world. However, despite it being wellknown, the complete meaning of this verse is generally missed. We know the words, but we do not really know how they apply to our lives!

Many take this verse, and they apply it specifically to themselves today, that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim has their life perfectly mapped out, and they only have to walk in obedience to אֱלֹהִים.

Others take this verse a step further claiming this verse is a promise of health and wealth. Since we are children of our beloved אֱלֹהִים we should only expect the best. it has been said that this view, pain and suffering are a sign of a lack of faith.

The main problem with these interpretations is that they ignore the context and make Jeremiah 29:11 a sort of an all - ‘ME-centered’ verse. Thinking that it is all about what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim can and is going to do for ‘ME’. And that is not what this verse is saying. Let’s back up and look at the it’s context.

In Jeremiah 29 we see אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, talking to the nation of Yisrael - Israel through the prophet Jeremiah. During this time we the Israelites were living in captivity in Babylon, and we were slaves.

In this time of captivity, there were false prophets going around claiming that אֱלֹהִים was going to release His people soon. And in Jeremiah 29, אֱלֹהִים is denouncing these false prophets, and is clearly telling His people of Israel, that they are going to have to wait 70 more years and that was bad news.

But אֱלֹהִים does not stop there. Not only do they have to live in captivity for 70 more years, but אֱלֹהִים also instructs them to seek peace while they are there.

Obviously, that was rather tough news to hear. Most of them hearing this message will sadly be dead before they will be released.

This is who Jeremiah was writing to. Real people that were going through a really tough time.

This shows us that Jeremiah was not a personal promise written to us today. And it’s not a promise that if we follow אֱלֹהִים He will allow us to prosper in this life. The context tells us quiet otherwise.

Jeremiah 29:11 is addressed to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s our people, the Israelites, and it’s in the middle of a promise that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is still in control even when things may be bleak. It’s a promise that even though things might not make sense to them at that time, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s plan was still good. This verse gives hope to a group of people who were struggling to understand what אֱלֹהִים was doing.

Let’s break down Jeremiah 29 a little further:

“For I know the plans I have for YOU.” We know from the context of this verse that “you” was referring to us the Israelites living in captivity long ago. This passage is not written directly to us today and therefore cannot be applied to us, today!

However, that does not mean that Jeremiah does not have any application for us. It is written for you, but it’s not written ‘TO you’.

Understanding this principle, will help us better apply אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Word to our lives. With that in mind let us look a little closer at what these plans actually are.

While Jeremiah is not a personal promise, it is a powerful reminder that אֱלֹהִים is still in control. Even when things do not seem like it, even when life is tough, and even when the world is falling apart around us, אֱלֹהִים is in always in control!

אֱלֹהִים is faithful and fulfilled his promise to us the Israelites. He did just what he said. That should bring hope to all of us, that אֱלֹהִים will continue to fulfil his promises to us today.

This verse is not a promise that we will be prosperous in this life. Or that as long as we trust אֱלֹהִים our lives will be easy and we will have all we want, no we have to live the lives we have!

Rather, Jeremiah 29:11 is a reminder that even though we will face difficulties in this life אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s promises are always true. He is faithful and will bring us through a range of difficulties.

All things will work out for those who trust in אֱלֹהִים. Maybe not how we want; we the Israelites probably did not want to spend 70 more years in captivity. But אֱלֹהִים leads our people through those dark times, and He will lead us through ours today!

I am well aware that some things will never make sense in this life. It must have seemed so to us, the Israelittes, who sadly died in captivity. But אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim can see things we cannot. He is orchestrating a story, one we do not know yet.

However from all we have been told in the Tanakh, we have this promise. אֱלֹהִים is with us, and we can find peace and rest in that. The message is not one of an easy life. Rather it’s a promise that we can have hope because אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of Israel, will always be with us!

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PLEASE NOTE: This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following, via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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