Jeremiah 23:27

27 who think to make my people forget my name 1by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their 2fathers forgot my name for Baal?

Jeremiah 23:27 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:27

Which think to cause my people to forget my name
The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "my law". The word and worship of God; from which men are drawn off by false teachers, and are in a fair way to be brought to atheism, and to forget that there is a God; for when once men are turned from the word of God to believe lies, and from the pure worship of God to a false religion, there is no knowing where things will end; and, indeed, it was the design of these false prophets, a scheme and device of theirs, in which they hoped to succeed by their dreams; which,
says the Lord, they tell every man to his neighbour;
privately from house to house, as well as publicly, to take off the people from all thoughts of God and his worship: as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal:
or, by Baal F11; by means of Baal's prophets in Samaria before mentioned; who seduced Israel from the pure worship of God, and made them forget him; having the name of Baal more in their minds and mouths than the name of God. The Syriac version is, "as their fathers forgot my name, and worshipped Baal"; and so the Targum,

``as their fathers forsook the worship of my name, and swore by the name of idols.''

FOOTNOTES:

F11 (lebb) "per Baalem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schmidt.

Jeremiah 23:27 In-Context

25 I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed!'
26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,
27 who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal?
28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD.
29 Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Cross References 2

  • 1. [See ver. 25 above]
  • 2. Judges 3:7; Judges 8:33, 34
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.