Jeremiah 23:32

32 I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the LORD, have spoken!

Jeremiah 23:32 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:32

Behold, I [am] against them that prophesy false dreams, saith
the Lord
And not true ones, such as the Lord spoke in to his prophets, and which they communicated from him to his people; see ( Numbers 12:6 ) ; and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by
their lightness;
by the false doctrines and prophecies which they delivered, and by their loose and disorderly lives which they led; so that they debauched the principles of the people by the former, and their practices by the latter. Kimchi interprets the word translated "lightness" of lightness of their knowledge; as if it was through the shallowness of their judgments, and want of capacity in teaching, that the people were made to err by their false doctrines. The Targum interprets it of their temerity or rashness; and Schultens F19, from the use of the word in the Arabic language, explains it of their pride and false glorying; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them;
wherefore they lied, and acted a vainglorious part, when they pretended they were sent by him, and had their orders from him what they should say; see ( Jeremiah 23:21 ) ; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord;
so far from it, that they did them a great deal of hurt by their lies and flatteries; seducing them from the ways and worship of God, and leading them on in such as would issue in their destruction, and did.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 Animadv. in Job. p. 144.

Jeremiah 23:32 In-Context

30 “Therefore,” says the LORD, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me.
31 I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the LORD !’
32 I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the LORD, have spoken!
33 “Suppose one of the people or one of the prophets or priests asks you, ‘What prophecy has the LORD burdened you with now?’ You must reply, ‘You are the burden! The LORD says he will abandon you!’
34 “If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, ‘I have a prophecy from the LORD,’ I will punish that person along with his entire family.
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