King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 29:14 Mean?

Jeremiah 29:14 in the King James Version says “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 nat... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Jeremiah 29:14 · King James Version


Context

12

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

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.

15

Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;

16

Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;


Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
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).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural 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).

Reflection Questions

  1. What does it mean that God will 'be found' by those who seek Him—how does this balance divine sovereignty and human seeking?
  2. How does the promise to restore from 'all nations' point forward to the multi-ethnic nature of the church?
  3. In what ways have believers been 'brought back' from spiritual captivity through Christ, and what final restoration still awaits?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.


Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
וְנִמְצֵ֣אתִי1 of 27

And I will be found

H4672

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

לָכֶם֮2 of 27
H0
נְאֻם3 of 27

of you saith

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָ֑ה4 of 27

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י5 of 27

and I will bring you again

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

אֶת6 of 27
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שְׁביּתְכֶ֗ם7 of 27

your captivity

H7622

exile, concretely, prisoners; figuratively, a former state of prosperity

וְקִבַּצְתִּ֣י8 of 27

and I will gather

H6908

to grasp, i.e., collect

אֶ֠תְכֶם9 of 27
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מִֽכָּל10 of 27
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַגּוֹיִ֞ם11 of 27

you from all the nations

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

וּמִכָּל12 of 27
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם13 of 27

and from all the places

H4725

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)

אֲשֶׁ֨ר14 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הִדַּ֧חְתִּי15 of 27

whither I have driven

H5080

to push off; used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (to expel, mislead, strike, inflict, etc.)

אֶתְכֶ֛ם16 of 27
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שָׁ֖ם17 of 27
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

נְאֻם18 of 27

of you saith

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָ֑ה19 of 27

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י20 of 27

and I will bring you again

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

אֶתְכֶ֔ם21 of 27
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֶל22 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם23 of 27

and from all the places

H4725

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)

אֲשֶׁר24 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הִגְלֵ֥יתִי25 of 27

whence I caused you to be carried away captive

H1540

to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal

אֶתְכֶ֖ם26 of 27
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מִשָּֽׁם׃27 of 27
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 29:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 29:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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