Jeremiah 23:13-40

13 et in prophetis Samariae vidi fatuitatem prophetabant in Baal et decipiebant populum meum Israhel

14 et in prophetis Hierusalem vidi similitudinem adulterium et iter mendacii et confortaverunt manus pessimorum ut non converteretur unusquisque a malitia sua facti sunt mihi omnes Sodoma et habitatores eius quasi Gomorr

15 propterea haec dicit Dominus exercituum ad prophetas ecce ego cibabo eos absinthio et potabo eos felle a prophetis enim Hierusalem est egressa pollutio super omnem terram

16 haec dicit Dominus exercituum nolite audire verba prophetarum qui prophetant vobis et decipiunt vos visionem cordis sui loquuntur non de ore Domini

17 dicunt his qui blasphemant me locutus est Dominus pax erit vobis et omni qui ambulat in pravitate cordis sui dixerunt non veniet super vos malum

18 quis enim adfuit in consilio Domini et vidit et audivit sermonem eius quis consideravit verbum illius et audivit

19 ecce turbo dominicae indignationis egredietur et tempestas erumpens super caput impiorum venie

20 non revertetur furor Domini usque dum faciat et usque dum conpleat cogitationem cordis sui in novissimis diebus intellegetis consilium eius

21 non mittebam prophetas et ipsi currebant non loquebar ad eos et ipsi prophetaban

22 si stetissent in consilio meo et nota fecissent verba mea populo meo avertissem utique eos a via sua mala et a pessimis cogitationibus suis

23 putasne Deus e vicino ego sum dicit Dominus et non Deus de longe

24 si occultabitur vir in absconditis et ego non videbo eum dicit Dominus numquid non caelum et terram ego impleo ait Dominus

25 audivi quae dixerunt prophetae prophetantes in nomine meo mendacium atque dicentes somniavi somniavi

26 usquequo istud in corde est prophetarum vaticinantium mendacium et prophetantium seductiones cordis sui

27 qui volunt facere ut obliviscatur populus meus nominis mei propter somnia eorum quae narrant unusquisque ad proximum suum sicut obliti sunt patres eorum nominis mei propter Baal

28 propheta qui habet somnium narret somnium et qui habet sermonem meum loquatur sermonem meum vere quid paleis ad triticum dicit Dominus

29 numquid non verba mea sunt quasi ignis ait Dominus et quasi malleus conterens petram

30 propterea ecce ego ad prophetas ait Dominus qui furantur verba mea unusquisque a proximo suo

31 ecce ego ad prophetas ait Dominus qui adsumunt linguas suas et aiunt dicit Dominus

32 ecce ego ad prophetas somniantes mendacium ait Dominus qui narraverunt ea et seduxerunt populum meum in mendacio suo et in miraculis suis cum ego non misissem eos nec mandassem eis qui nihil profuerunt populo huic dicit Dominus

33 si igitur interrogaverit te populus iste vel propheta aut sacerdos dicens quod est onus Domini dices ad eos ut quid vobis onus proiciam quippe vos dicit Dominus

34 et prophetes et sacerdos et populus qui dicit onus Domini visitabo super virum illum et super domum eius

35 haec dicetis unusquisque ad proximum et ad fratrem suum quid respondit Dominus et quid locutus est Dominus

36 et onus Domini ultra non memorabitur quia onus erit unicuique sermo suus et pervertitis verba Dei viventis Domini exercituum Dei nostr

37 haec dices ad prophetam quid respondit tibi Dominus et quid locutus est Dominus

38 si autem onus Domini dixeritis propter hoc haec dicit Dominus quia dixistis sermonem istum onus Domini et misi ad vos dicens nolite dicere onus Domin

39 propterea ecce ego tollam vos portans et derelinquam vos et civitatem quam dedi vobis et patribus vestris a facie mea

40 et dabo vos in obprobrium sempiternum et in ignominiam aeternam quae numquam oblivione delebitur

Jeremiah 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.