Jeremiah 23:31

31 "Behold, I am against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who use their tongues and declare, 'The Lord declares.'

Jeremiah 23:31 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:31

Behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the Lord
Not another sort of prophets distinct from the former, or those that follow; but the same under another character, and against whom he was, and set his face on another occasion; that use their tongues;
at their pleasure, their lips being their own. So the Targum,

``who prophesy according to the will of their own hearts;''
talk in a haughty and insolent manner, speaking bold and daring things of the divine Being; or in a boasting bragging manner, extolling themselves, and speaking highly in their own commendations; or rather in a flattering way to the people: so some read it, by a transposition of a radical letter F18, "that smooth their tongues", as Kimchi; or speak smooth things with their tongues, to please the people: and say, he saith;
that is, "the Lord", as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions express it; that so they, night be the more easily believed by the people; but this was highly provoking to God, to father their lies and falsehoods upon him.
FOOTNOTES:

F18 (Myxqwlh) "hic pro" (Myqylxmh) "qui lenificant linguam suam", Pagninus, Gataker; "sumentes blandam linguan suam", Schmidt.

Jeremiah 23:31 In-Context

29 "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD , "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
30 "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," declares the LORD , "who steal My words from each other.
31 "Behold, I am against the prophets," declares the LORD , "who use their tongues and declare, 'The Lord declares.'
32 "Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams," declares the LORD , "and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit," declares the LORD .
33 "Now when this people or the prophet or a priest asks you saying, 'What is the oracle of the LORD ?' then you shall say to them, 'What oracle?' The LORD declares, 'I will abandon you.'
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