Jeremiah 29

“Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders…” Naming Jerusalem and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“(After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters…” Naming Jerusalem and Jeconiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto…” Naming Babylon and Elasah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be…” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;” Naming Build keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that…” Naming Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD .” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For thus saith the LORD , That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, captive, captivity. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth…” Naming David and Know keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make…” The line’s distinctive content terms include eaten, evil, famine. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be…” The line’s distinctive content terms include astonishment, curse, deliver. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD , which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD , all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:” Naming Babylon and Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,” Naming Nehelamite and Shemaiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the…” Naming Because keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the…” Naming Jehoiada keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.” Naming Jeremiah and Zephaniah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,” Naming Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that…” Naming Shemaiah and Because keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD ; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.