Jeremiah 29:11 (YLT)

Passage

For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you--an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope.

Nearby Context

Jeremiah 29:9 For with falsehood they are prophesying to you in My name; I have not sent them, an affirmation of Jehovah.

Jeremiah 29:10 `For thus said Jehovah, Surely at the fulness of Babylon--seventy years--I inspect you, and have established towards you My good word, to bring you back unto this place.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you--an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope.

Jeremiah 29:12 `And ye have called Me, and have gone, and have prayed unto Me, and I have hearkened unto you,

Jeremiah 29:13 And ye have sought Me, and have found, for ye seek Me with all your heart;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "known", "thoughts", "thinking", "towards", "you--an", "affirmation", and "jehovah". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "known" and "thoughts", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "For thus said Jehovah Surely at the..." into verse 12's "And ye have called Me and have...", so "known" and "thoughts" belong inside that flow. In Jeremiah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "known" and "thoughts" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.