Jeremiah 23:38

38 But if you insist on saying, "This is the LORD's message," the LORD says to you: Because you have made this claim—this is the LORD's message—when I told you not to proclaim the LORD's message

Jeremiah 23:38 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:38

But since ye say, the burden of the Lord
Seeing, notwithstanding all prohibitions of it, and directions to the contrary, they still persisted to call prophecy by this name, and that in a jocose and bantering way, and asked for it, and what it was, in a scoffing manner: therefore thus saith the Lord, because you say this word, the burden
of the Lord;
will continue to use it, though so displeasing to me: and I have sent unto you, saying, ye shall not say, the burden of the
Lord;
and therefore could not plead ignorance of his will, or excuse themselves, by saying they would have avoided it, had they known it was disagreeable to him: this was an aggravation of their impiety, that they should obstinately persist in it, after he had remonstrated against it by his messages to them.

Jeremiah 23:38 In-Context

36 But you are no longer to mention the LORD's message, because everyone thinks they have received a message from the LORD. You destroy the very word of the living God, the LORD of heavenly forces, our God

37 So this is what you should say to the prophet: "What has the LORD said to you?""What has the LORD declared?"

38 But if you insist on saying, "This is the LORD's message," the LORD says to you: Because you have made this claim—this is the LORD's message—when I told you not to proclaim the LORD's message

39 I will lift you up and cast you out of my presence, together with the city that I gave to your ancestors.

40 I will make you an object of disgrace and enduring shame that no one will ever forget.