Jeremiah 29:6Take wives, and father sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there, and don't be diminished.
The setting
Babylon, ~597 BC. Jewish families torn from homeland face extinction fears. God commands them to have children and grandchildren in enemy territory. Modern-day Iraq.
The emotion here: fierce protective love, refusing to let His people disappear
The original word
rabah (רָבָה) — to increase abundantly, become numerous
Why it matters
Babylonians often enslaved conquered peoples to extinction within one generation
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 29:6
This was about survival — grow your people or disappear forever
Common misconceptionPeople see this as general marriage advice. It was actually a survival strategy — God telling His people not to let captivity end their bloodline.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 29:6
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 29:6 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 29:6 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Yahweh. The dominant emotion in this verse is starting, with a comfort power of 80% and a tone that is tender. It belongs to the law genre of biblical literature. Key themes include hope in exile, family building. Notable phrases: Take wives; multiply and not diminish. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same starting
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
— Genesis 1:1
“God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.”
— Genesis 1:3
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
— Philippians 4:13
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and t…”
— Acts 1:8
“Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receiv…”
— Acts 2:38
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 29:6 mean to you, today?
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