Jeremiah 29:10
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The phrase "perform my good word" isn't just a general promise; it points to God activating and making tangible a word that, for seventy years, had felt dormant and unseen. It highlights that His promises aren't just spoken but are powerful, meant to be experienced when their time is fully come.
“For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is writing to the exiles in Babylon, directly contradicting the false prophets who were promising a quick return. He’s telling them that the exile will last exactly seventy years, a specific period tied to Babylon's prominence, and that they must settle in for the long haul rather than chase illusions. This word of God clarifies the duration of their suffering and offers a concrete promise of their eventual restoration.
Why did God set such a specific, long timeframe for their exile? It wasn't arbitrary—it was a divine appointment.
The 'seventy years' isn't just a random number; it marks a full measure of judgment against Babylon's pride and God's people's unfaithfulness. Commentators note that this period relates to the duration of the Babylonian empire itself, and secondarily, the length of the exile.
After judgment comes restoration, and God's promise is not just words—it's an active engagement with His people.
The phrase 'I will visit you' signifies more than just checking in; it's God actively attending to His people's situation. This 'visit' is intrinsically linked to 'my good word'—God's promise. It's the assurance that His word isn't dormant but will be powerfully fulfilled.
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Understand the original words
paqad · Hebrew Verb
A divine intervention in human affairs, usually to provide deliverance, blessing, or judgment; it signifies God's active, personal presence in the lives of His people.
dabar · Hebrew Noun
A binding commitment or declared word of God that is certain to come to pass, reflecting His perfect faithfulness and inability to fail in His purposes.
This verse directly addresses the exiles in Babylon after Jerusalem's destruction, offering a specific timeframe for their return and a promise of God's faithfulness, contrasting with the false hopes of immediate release propagated by other prophets.
605 BC
First Deportation of Exiles
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem, initiating the first wave of exiles, including members of the royal family and skilled individuals like Daniel. This marks the beginning of the 70-year exile period.
597 BC
Second Deportation of Exiles
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens, a significant portion of Jerusalem's leadership and craftsmen.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This event solidifies the second stage of the exile and marks a profound national trauma.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
The Babylonian Empire falls to the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great, an event that sets the stage for the end of the Jewish exile.
538 BC
Cyrus's Decree Allowing Return
Cyrus the Great issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the end of the 70-year period of Babylonian dominance over Judah.
This passage describes the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy, showing how God brought the Jews back to Jerusalem after the seventy years of exile, just as promised.
Ezra 1:1-4This passage directly follows the account of the exile's end and shows God stirring up Cyrus the Persian to allow the people to return, demonstrating God fulfilling His 'good word' to them.
Daniel 9:1-2Daniel himself understood from the prophecies, including this one, that the seventy years of exile were drawing to a close, prompting his prayer for restoration.
Jeremiah 25:11-12This earlier prophecy from Jeremiah already laid out the seventy-year period of servitude to Babylon and the subsequent judgment on Babylon itself, setting the stage for this promise of return.
Psalm 137:1This psalm vividly portrays the sorrow and longing of the exiles during the seventy years in Babylon, highlighting the deep pain from which God's promise of return offered immense hope.
barnesJeremiah 29:10: "For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."
After seventy years - literally, according to the measure of the fulfillment of 70 years for Babylon. The 70 years ( Jeremiah 25:11 note) are primarily the length of the Babylonian empire, and only in a secondary sense that of the Jewish exile.
calvinJeremiah 29:10: "For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."
- Quia sic dicit Jehova, secundum mensuram (nam ml't accipitur metaphorice pro mensura; sed adhuc aspera esset loquutio, ideo simplicius vertendum est, quia ubi impleti fuerint) in Babylone septuaginta anni, visitabo vos, et suscitabo super vos sermonem meum bonum, ut reducam vos ad locum hunc.
In order t…
The phrase "perform my good word" isn't just a general promise; it points to God activating and making tangible a word that, for seventy years, had felt dormant and unseen. It highlights that His promises aren't just spoken but are powerful, meant to be experienced when their time is fully come.
Jeremiah is writing to the exiles in Babylon, directly contradicting the false prophets who were promising a quick return. He’s telling them that the exile will last exactly seventy years, a specific period tied to Babylon's prominence, and that they must settle in for the long haul rather than chase illusions. This word of God clarifies the duration of their suffering and offers a concrete promise of their eventual restoration.
Jeremiah is writing to the exiles in Babylon, directly contradicting the false prophets who were promising a quick return. He’s telling them that the exile will last exactly seventy years, a specific period tied to Babylon's prominence, and that they must settle in for the long haul rather than chase illusions. This word of God clarifies the duration of their suffering and offers a concrete promise of their eventual restoration.
"“For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place." — The phrase "perform my good word" isn't just a general promise; it points to God activating and making tangible a word that, for seventy years, had felt dormant and unseen. It highlights that His…
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Last reviewed October 2026
