Jeremiah 23:32

32 "Behold, I am against those who have prophesied 1false dreams," declares the LORD, "and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and 2reckless boasting; yet 3I did not send them or command them, nor do they 4furnish this people the slightest benefit," declares the LORD.

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 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.'
34 "Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, 'The oracle of the LORD ,' I will bring punishment upon that man and his household.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Deuteronomy 13:1, 2; Jeremiah 23:25
  • 2. Zephaniah 3:4
  • 3. Jeremiah 23:21; Lamentations 3:37
  • 4. Jeremiah 7:8; Lamentations 2:14
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