Yirmeyah 23:13-40

13 And I have seen a repulsive thing in the nevi’im of Shomron; they prophesied by Ba’al, and caused My people Yisroel to err.

14 I have seen also in the nevi’im of Yerushalayim a horrible thing; they commit ni’uf and walk in sheker; they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth turn back from his wickedness; they are all of them unto Me as Sodom and the inhabitants thereof as Amora (Gomorrah).

15 Therefore thus saith Hashem Tzva’os concerning the nevi’im; Hineni, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the bitter water of gall; for from the nevi’im of Yerushalayim is chanupah (profaneness) gone forth into kol ha’aretz.

16 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os, Pay no heed unto the devarim of the nevi’im that prophesy unto you; they are deluding you; they speak a chazon (vision) of their own lev, and not out of the mouth of Hashem.

17 They say continually unto them that despise Me, Hashem hath said, Ye shall have shalom; and they say unto everyone that walketh after the sherirut (stubbornness) of his own lev, No ra’ah shall come upon you.

18 For who hath stood in the sod (council) of Hashem, and hath perceived and heard His Devar? Who hath marked His word, and heard it?

19 Hinei, a whirlwind of Hashem is gone forth in fury, even a violent whirlwind; it shall fall grievously upon the rosh of the resha’im.

20 The anger of Hashem shall not turn back, until He have executed, and until He have performed, the mezimmot (designs) of His lev; in the acharit hayamim ye shall understand it perfectly.

21 I have not sent these nevi’im, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

22 But if they had stood in My sod (council), and had caused My people to hear My Devarim, then they should have turned them from their derech harah, and from the ra’ah of their doings.

23 Am I Elohei mikarov, saith Hashem, and not Elohei merachok?

24 Can any ish hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith Hashem. Do not I fill Shomayim and Ha’Aretz? saith Hashem.

25 I have heard what the nevi’im said, that prophesy sheker (lies) biShmi (in My Name), saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

26 How long shall this be in the lev of the nevi’im that prophesy sheker? Indeed, they are nevi’im of the delusion of their own lev;

27 Which think to cause My people to forget My Shem by their chalomot (dreams) which they tell every ish to his neighbor, as their avot have forgotten My Shem through Ba’al [worship].

28 The navi that hath a chalom, let him tell a chalom; and he that hath My Devar, let him speak My Devar emes (faithfully). What is the chaff to the wheat? saith Hashem.

29 Is not My Devar like an eish? saith Hashem. And like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

30 Therefore, hineni, I am against the nevi’im, saith Hashem, that steal My devarim every ish from his neighbor.

31 Hineni, I am against the nevi’im, saith Hashem, that use their [own] lashon, and say, He saith.

32 Hineni, I am against them that prophesy chalomot sheker, saith Hashem, and do tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies, and by their recklessness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith Hashem.

33 And when this people, or the navi, or a kohen, shall ask thee, saying, What is the massa (burden, prophecy) of Hashem? Thou shalt then say unto them, What massa burden)? I will even forsake you, saith Hashem.

34 And as for the navi, and the kohen, and HaAm, that shall say, The massa (burden) of Hashem, I will even punish that ish and his bais.

35 Thus shall ye say every ish to his neighbor, and every ish to his brother, What hath Hashem answered? And, What hath Hashem spoken?

36 And the massa (burden) of Hashem shall ye mention no more; for every man’s word shall be his massa (burden); for ye have perverted the Devarim of the Elohim Chayyim, of Hashem Tzva’os Eloheinu.

37 Thus shalt thou say to the navi, What hath Hashem answered thee? And, What hath Hashem spoken?

38 But since ye say, The massa (burden) of Hashem; therefore thus saith Hashem, Because ye say this word, The massa (burden) of Hashem, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The massa (burden) of Hashem;

39 Therefore, hineni, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the Ir that I gave you and avoteichem, and cast you out of My presence;

40 And I will bring a cherpat olam (everlasting disgrace) upon you, and a kelimut olam (perpetual dishonor), which shall not be forgotten.

Yirmeyah 23:13-40 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 23

This chapter contains threatenings to the Jewish governors, and to their priests and prophets, on account of their manifold sins; intermixed with gracious promises to the Lord's people, and particularly with a famous promise of the Messiah. The pastors or governors of Israel are charged with scattering and driving away the Lord's flock, for which they are threatened, Jer 23:1,2; and a promise is made of the gathering of the remnant of them, and of setting up other shepherds over them, under whom they should increase, and be comfortable, Jer 23:3,4; particularly the Messiah is promised; as David's righteous Branch; as a prosperous and righteous King; as the author of righteousness to his people, under whom they should have salvation and safety, Jer 23:5,6; so that in comparison of this salvation, the deliverance out of Egypt should not be spoken of, Jer 23:7,8; and then follows a sad complaint of the priests and prophets; of their profaneness, their adultery, swearing, lying, hypocrisy, and deception of the people; for all which they are severely threatened, Jer 23:9-15; wherefore the people are exhorted not to hearken to them, promising them peace and safety; whereas, by attending to the word of God, it might easily be seen that a storm of wrath was gone forth, and was ready to break, and would fall upon the head of the wicked, to the executing of the thoughts and purposes of God's heart, Jer 23:16-20; and the Lord declares he had not sent these prophets, as might be known from their not turning the people from their evil ways, Jer 23:21,22; whose conduct and behaviour could not be hid from the sight of the Lord, nor their prophecies from his ears, which were no other than dreams, and the deceits of their own hearts; and there was as great a difference between them and the word of the Lord, as between chaff and wheat; seeing his word in his hand is of great virtue and efficacy, whereas there was none in theirs, Jer 23:23-29; wherefore the Lord declares himself to be against these prophets, for stealing his word from their neighbour; for making use of his name, when they were not sent by him; and for causing the people to err by their lies, Jer 23:30-32; and both people, priest, and prophet, are severely threatened for jeering and scoffing at the word of the Lord, calling it the burden of the Lord; which phrase they are forbid to use in a sneering way; and should they persist in it, they are told that God would forsake and forget them, and cast them out, and everlastingly punish them, Jer 23:39,40.