Jeremiah 29:16
“Yahweh says concerning the king who sits on David’s throne, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your brothers who haven’t gone with you into captivity;”
What does Jeremiah 29:16 mean?
Jeremiah is speaking to the exiles in Babylon, reminding them that God hasn't forgotten about the people still back in Jerusalem either, including their king and families. This message comes during a dark time when the nation is split, with some taken away as prisoners and others remaining behind. God is saying, in effect, "I see all of you, the scattered and the stayed," which would have been both sobering and comforting to those far from home wondering what was happening to loved ones they'd left behind. The point is that God's concern and judgment extend to everyone involved in this painful moment, not just the exiles who might have felt abandoned or special in their suffering.