Jeremiah 29:13
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
This verse continues Jeremiah's letter to the exiles, completing the promise of restored relationship that follows God's assurance of a hopeful future.
What Does Jeremiah 29:13 Mean?
God promises that those who seek Him with their whole heart will find Him. The verse moves from "seek" to "find" and reveals the condition that links them: searching "with all your heart." Half-hearted, casual seeking is not in view; this is a wholehearted pursuit that engages the entire person. The promise is remarkably positive -- it does not say God might be found, but that He will be found by those who truly seek Him. God presents Himself not as hidden and aloof but as genuinely findable, responsive to sincere desire.
Spoken to exiles, this was a word of hope: their displacement did not cut them off from God if they would turn to Him in earnest. The phrase "with all your heart" guards against the idea that God can be located through ritual alone or divided attention. He responds to wholehearted devotion. This is both a promise and a gentle exposure -- it asks the reader how much of the heart is actually engaged in seeking God. The encouragement is clear: those who pursue God sincerely and fully are not chasing an empty hope; they will find the One they seek.
In the Original Language
"Seek" is baqash, to search for diligently. "Search" is darash, to inquire after or pursue. "With all your heart" uses lebab, the whole inner person -- mind, will, and desire together.
Cross References
Application
Examine how much of your heart is truly engaged in seeking God, and pursue Him with sincere, undivided devotion rather than divided or casual attention.