Jeremiah 23:8-18

8 but, The Lord liveth, that led out (who led out), and brought (back) the seed of the house of Israel from the land of the north, and from all lands to which I had cast them out thither; and they shall dwell in their [own] land.

9 To the prophets; Mine heart is contrite, either all-broken for sorrow, in the midst of me, all my bones trembled together; I am made as a man drunken, and as a man wet of wine, of the face of the Lord, and of the face of the holy words of him (I am made like a drunken man, and like one who is wet with wine, because of the Lord, and because of his holy words);

10 for the land is filled with adulterers. For the earth mourned of the face of cursing; the fields of desert be made dry, the course of them is made evil, and their strength is unlike. (for the land is filled with adulterers. Because of cursing/Because of them, the earth mourned; the fields of the desert be made dry, their course is made evil, and their strength is not rightly used.)

11 For why the prophet and the priest be defouled; and in mine house, saith the Lord, I found the evil of them. (For the prophet and the priest be defiled; and I found them doing evil, even in my own House, saith the Lord.)

12 Therefore the way of them shall be as slidery thing(s) in darknesses, for they shall be hurtled, either shoved, and shall fall down therein; for I shall bring on them evils, the year of [the] visitation of them, saith the Lord. (And so their way shall be slippery in the darkness, for they shall be hurtled, or shall be shoved, and shall fall down there; for I shall bring in evil upon them, yea, the time of their punishment, saith the Lord.)

13 And in the prophets of Samaria I saw fondness, and they prophesied in Baal, and deceived my people Israel. (And I saw Samaria's prophets to be foolish, for they prophesied in Baal's name, and deceived my people Israel.)

14 And in the prophets of Jerusalem I saw, (in) likeness, adultery, and the way of leasing; and they comforted the hands of the worst men, that each man should not convert from his malice; all they be made as Sodom to me, and all the dwellers thereof be made as Gomorrah. (And in the lives of the prophets of Jerusalem, I saw adultery, and the way of lies; and they strengthened the hands of the worst people, so that no one would not turn away from their own malice; yea, they all be made like Sodom to me, and all its inhabitants be made like Gomorrah.

15 Therefore the Lord of hosts saith these things to the prophets, Lo! I shall feed them with wormwood, and I shall give drink to them with gall; for why defouling is gone out of the prophets of Jerusalem on all the land. (And so the Lord of hosts saith these things to the prophets, Lo! I shall feed them with wormwood, and I shall give them gall to drink; for defiling hath gone out from the prophets of Jerusalem upon all the land.)

16 The Lord of hosts saith these things, Do not ye hear the words of [the] prophets, that prophesy to you, and deceive you; they speak the vision of their heart, not of the mouth of the Lord. (The Lord of hosts saith these things, Do not ye listen to the words of the prophets, who prophesy to you, and deceive you; they speak the vision of their own hearts, and not from the mouth of the Lord.)

17 They say to them that blaspheme me, The Lord spake, Peace shall be to you; and they said to each man that goeth in the shrewdness of his heart, Evil shall not come [up]on you. (They say to those who blaspheme me, The Lord spoke, Peace shall be to you; and they said to each person who goeth in the depravity of his own heart, Evil shall not come upon you.)

18 For why who is present in the counsel of the Lord (For who hath stood in the council of the Lord), and saw, and heard his word? who beheld, and heard the word of him?

Jeremiah 23:8-18 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.