Jeremiah 29:11 (In Context)

(Jeremiah 29:11) "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  (ESV)

Jeremiah 29:11 is a favorite verse for many evangelicals who often quote it.  Unfortunately it is usually quoted out of context.  We must always look at a verse as part of a passage, and the passage as part of a book.  We must take into consideration what comes before the verse and what comes after it.  We should also look at the background of the passage and to whom it was written.  

The historical background of this passage is the Babylonian exile of the Israelites (Judah).  They were sent into exile because of their disobedience and idolatry.  

In Jeremiah 29:5-7 God tells the Israelites to build houses, have families, seek the welfare of the city, and to pray to the LORD for the city.  They are going to be there in Babylon for a long time.  In Jeremiah 29:8-9 God tells them not to listen to the false prophets who are telling them they will return to the land shortly.  In Jeremiah 29:10 they are told that after seventy years they will return to their land.  

Then comes Jeremiah 29:11, the verse that is so often quoted.  
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (ESV) 

In Jeremiah 29:11, God's plan for the exiles is for their welfare or peace (the Hebrew word shalom) and not for evil.  They will have a future and a hope in their homeland.  

In Jeremiah 29:12-14, God says he will hear their prayers and they will find God when they seek him with all their heart.  The LORD will restore them and bring them back to the land after 70 years.  

As we can see Jeremiah 29:11 applied to the Israelites (Judah) who were exiled to Babylon.  It applied to a certain people in a certain historical circumstance.  We must remember that this verse does not apply to everyone in every situation.