Jeremiah 23:14

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.

Jeremiah 23:14 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:14

I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible
thing
Or "but", or "so have I seen", &c. as before observed; even in the prophets of Jerusalem, where the temple was, and where the pure worship of God was professed to be observed, and that now, at the present time; as he had formerly seen and observed what was foolish, ridiculous, and impious, in the prophets of the ten tribes, and had punished them for it; so now at this instant he sees that in the prophets of Judea which was enough to make a man's hair stand an end, as the word ^F21 signifies; or, as it may be derived from another root, what was "filthy" ^F23 and obscene; as follows: they commit adultery;
or, "in committing adultery" ^F24; with their neighbours' wives; for this rather than idolatry or spiritual adultery seems to be meant: and walk in lies;
or, "walking in lies" ^F25; constantly speaking lies in their common talk and conversation; so that they were not to be believed in anything they said; which was monstrous; and delivering out false doctrines in the name of the Lord, pretending they received them from him; which was worse than prophesying in the name of Baal: they strengthen also the hands of evil doers, that none doth return
from his wickedness;
they hardened them in sin; partly by their false doctrines, extenuating their sins, putting a false gloss upon them, and promising them peace, though they lived in sin; and partly by their own wicked examples; the people concluding that what the prophets did they might do also; so that they never thought of repentance for their sins, or amendment of their lives; but went on in sin without remorse or reformation; not thinking anything about it, and not seeing any need of it; see ( Ezekiel 13:22 ) ; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as
Gomorrah;
the prophets were all of them in God's account as the men of Sodom; who were exceeding great sinners before the Lord, daring and impudent in sinning; and the people, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that were led by them into the same wicked sentiments and practices, were like unto Gomorrah; and as they were like to them in sinning, So they would be in punishment; or a like punishment would be inflicted upon the prophets and people of Jerusalem as were upon Sodom and Gomorrah; see ( Isaiah 1:9 Isaiah 1:10 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 (hrwrev) a (rev) , "pilus".
F23 "Turpitudinem", Munster, Montanus.
F24 (Pwan) "adulterando", Junius & Tremellius, Schmidt.
F25 (rqvb Klhw) "et eundo in mendacio", Schmidt; "et ambulando in falsitate", Junius & Tremellius.

Jeremiah 23:14 In-Context

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.)