Jeremiah · Chapter 29 · Prayer
Jeremiah 29:12 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
KJV · King James Version
"Then shall ye call7121 upon me, and ye shall go1980 and pray6419 unto me, and I will hearken8085 unto you."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses then, upon, unto, hearken, while the WEB renders these as listen. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Jeremiah 29:12 in Jeremiah 29
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Jeremiah 29:12 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Jeremiah 29. Read the full chapter →
- v.10 For Yahweh says, “After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
- v.11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says Yahweh, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.
- v.12 You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
- v.13 You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.
- v.14 I will be found by you,” says Yahweh, “and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says Yahweh; and I will bring you again to the place from where I caused you to be carried away captive.”
Book background
About the Book of Jeremiah
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Genre
- Major prophet
- Author
- Jeremiah, dictated to Baruch
- Date written
- c. 627–586 BC
- Audience
- Judah on the brink of exile
- Chapters
- 52
Jeremiah ministered for 40 years to a nation that would not listen, watching Jerusalem's slide to destruction by Babylon. Called "the weeping prophet," he wept over his people while pronouncing inevitable judgment. Yet his book contains the promise of the New Covenant (31:31-34) — God's law written on the heart — fulfilled in Christ.
Setting: Jerusalem during the last 40 years before its destruction by Babylon.
Key themes: judgment · covenant unfaithfulness · new covenant · hope · lament
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Jeremiah 29:12
Jeremiah 29:12 contains 19 words in 3 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
You shall call on me
YSCOM
- 2
and you shall go and pray to me
AYSGAP
- 3
and I will listen to you.
AIWLTY
Frequently asked
FAQ about Jeremiah 29:12
What does Jeremiah 29:12 say?
Jeremiah 29:12 reads: "You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you." — from the Old Testament, Jeremiah (Major prophet). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Jeremiah 29:12 in?
Jeremiah 29:12 is in the book of Jeremiah, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, dictated to Baruch and written around c. 627–586 BC. Jeremiah is major prophet in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Judah on the brink of exile. Best known for Jeremiah 29:11 ("plans to prosper you") and the New Covenant.
What is Jeremiah 29:12 about?
Jeremiah 29:12 is primarily a Bible verse about Prayer. Within Jeremiah, Jeremiah ministered for 40 years to a nation that would not listen, watching Jerusalem's slide to destruction by Babylon. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Jeremiah 29:12 in WEB and KJV?
Jeremiah 29:12 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Then shall ye call7121 upon me, and ye shall go1980 and pray6419 unto me, and I will hearken8085 unto you.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Jeremiah 29:12?
Jeremiah 29:12 is 19 words in the WEB translation (80 characters), broken into 3 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 6 seconds.
How can I memorise Jeremiah 29:12?
To memorise Jeremiah 29:12, split it into its 3 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Jeremiah 29:12 matter in Jeremiah?
Jeremiah ministered for 40 years to a nation that would not listen, watching Jerusalem's slide to destruction by Babylon. Called "the weeping prophet," he wept over his people while pronouncing inevitable judgment. Yet his book contains the promise of the New Covenant (31:31-34) — God's law written on the heart — fulfilled in Christ. Jeremiah 29:12 sits within this larger story — Jeremiah as a whole emphasises judgment, covenant unfaithfulness, new covenant.
How can I apply Jeremiah 29:12 today?
Many readers use Jeremiah 29:12 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Jeremiah 29:12 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
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Philippians 4:6-7
“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which sur…”
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-
Matthew 7:7
““Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.”
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-
2 Chronicles 7:14
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, will fo…”
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Matthew 6:9
“Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.”
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James 5:16
“Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.”
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James 5:14-15
“Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the pra…”
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-
Psalms 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.”
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-
Psalms 34:4
“I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
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Psalms 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.”
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-
Jeremiah 33:3
“‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don’t know.’”
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More featured verses in Jeremiah 29
Read full chapter →More featured verses in Jeremiah
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Jeremiah 17:14
“Heal me, O Yahweh, and I shall be healed. Save me, and I shall be saved; for you are my praise.”
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Jeremiah 17:7
““Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose confidence is in Yahweh.”
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Jeremiah 31:3
“Yahweh appeared of old to me, saying, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.”
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Jeremiah 33:3
“‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don’t know.’”
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