Jeremiah 23:30

30 “Therefore,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.

Jeremiah 23:30 in Other Translations

30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another.

30 “Therefore,” says the LORD, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me.

30 "I've had it with the 'prophets' who get all their sermons secondhand from each other.

30 Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets"-the Lord's declaration-"who steal My words from each other.

Jeremiah 23:30 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:30

Therefore, behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the
Lord
The false prophets, with whom the Lord was displeased; he set himself against them, and was determined to bring wrath and ruin on them. So the Targum,

``therefore, behold, I send my fury against the false prophets;''

that steal my word,
or "words" ^F17, everyone from his neighbour;
either from the true prophets; beginning their prophecies as they did, with a "thus saith the Lord"; and mingling some words and phrases used by them, the better to ingratiate themselves among the people, and that they might be taken for the prophets of the Lord; as Pelagius, Austin says, used the word "grace", the better to hide his sentiments, and cause them the more easily to be received by the people: or from the false prophets; they privately meeting, and consulting, and agreeing together what they should say to the people, as if they were the words of the Lord: or else from the people themselves; lessening their esteem for the words of the Lord; making them negligent of them and indifferent to them; and causing them to forget what they had heard and received.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (yrbd) "verba mea", Munster, Pagniuus, Montanus, Schmidt.

Jeremiah 23:30 In-Context

28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD.

29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

30 “Therefore,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.

31 Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’

32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD.

Cross References

• 1. S Psalms 34:16
• 2. ver 2; Deuteronomy 18:20; Jeremiah 14:15; S Jeremiah 21:13