Jeremiah 29:25

25 "This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You^[a] in your own name have sent out letters to all the people of Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah^[b] son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests, saying:

Jeremiah 29:25 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 29:25

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying,
&c.] (See Gill on Jeremiah 29:4); because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that
[are] at Jerusalem;
not in the name of the captives, whom he consulted not; nor with Ezekiel the prophet of the Lord, who was of the captivity; but in his own name, taking upon him to direct and order what should be done in Jerusalem. These letters were sent, very probably, by the hands of the king's messengers, when they returned, whose names are mentioned, ( Jeremiah 29:3 ) ; some of them were sent to the people, to set them against the prophet of the Lord, Jeremiah, that they might not give any heed and credit to him; and others to the priests, as follows: and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest;
not the high, priest, but his sagan or deputy; the second priest, as he is called, ( Jeremiah 52:24 ) ; for Seraiah was high priest, unless he was now become high priest in his room. This Maaseiah was either his immediate parent, or else the head of that course to which Zephaniah belonged, as a common priest, which was the twenty fourth in order, ( 1 Chronicles 24:18 ) ; saying:
as follows:

Jeremiah 29:25 In-Context

23 because they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with their neighbors' wives and have spoken a lie in My name, which I did not command them. I am He who knows, and I am a witness." [This is] the Lord's declaration.

24 To Shemaiah the Nehelamite you are to say,

25 "This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You in your own name have sent out letters to all the people of Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests, saying:

26 The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada the priest to be the chief officer in the temple of the Lord, responsible for every madman who acts like a prophet. You must confine him in stocks and an iron collar.

27 So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who has been acting like a prophet among you?

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit Because you
• [b]. Jr 21:1; 37:3; 52:24-27