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You asked

how does this command to seek peace for a foreign city compare with other calls for justice in the bible?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Jeremiah 29:7

Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

This verse is part of a letter from the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish exiles living in Babylon, around the early 6th century BCE. They had been forcibly removed from their homeland in Judah and were living as captives in a foreign land. Jeremiah's message offered a surprising directive for their situation.

What does 'seeking the peace' of a community look like when that community has been a source of pain or injustice?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Romans 12:18

    Encourages living peaceably with all people, if possible, reflecting a similar spirit.

  • Matthew 5:44

    Jesus teaches to love enemies and pray for those who persecute, expanding on the principle of seeking good even for adversaries.

  • Psalm 137:8-9

    Represents a contrasting sentiment of vengeance against Babylon, highlighting the unique nature of Jeremiah's command.

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