Jeremiah 29:31

31 “Send a message telling all the exiles what the LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you—though I did not send him—and has made you trust in a lie,

Jeremiah 29:31 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 29:31

Send to all them of the captivity
Another letter; not to Shemaiah, but to the people, that they might all know that he was a false prophet; and how his lies were resented by the Lord; and what punishment should be inflicted on him and his, on account of them: saying, thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite;
the letter, though written by the prophet, must be sent in the name of the Lord, declaring what he would do with the person mentioned, and the reason of it; which follows: because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not,
and he caused you to trust in a lie;
that they should in a very little time return from their captivity to Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 29:31 In-Context

29 (Zephaniah the priest, however, had read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet.)

30 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:

31 “Send a message telling all the exiles what the LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you—though I did not send him—and has made you trust in a lie,

32 this is what the LORD says: ‘I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good that I will bring to My people, declares the LORD, for he has preached rebellion against the LORD.’”