Jeremiah 23:18

18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORDto see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?

Jeremiah 23:18 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
English Standard Version (ESV)
18 For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened?
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 “Have any of these prophets been in the LORD ’s presence to hear what he is really saying? Has even one of them cared enough to listen?
The Message Bible (MSG)
18 Have any of these prophets bothered to meet with me, the true God? bothered to take in what I have to say? listened to and then lived out my Word?
American Standard Version (ASV)
18 For who hath stood in the council of Jehovah, that he should perceive and hear his word? who hath marked my word, and heard it?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
18 Who is in the LORD's inner circle and sees and hears his word? Who pays attention and listens to his word?
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
18 For who has stood in the council of the Lord to see and hear His word? Who has paid attention to His word and obeyed?
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
18 But which of them has ever stood in my courts? Have they been there to see a vision or hear my message? Who has listened and heard my message there?

Jeremiah 23:18 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:18

For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord
These are either the words of the Prophet Jeremiah; signifying that none of the false prophets were of God's privy council, or were acquainted with his secrets, that they could tell the people they should have peace, and no evil come upon them; this they said, not from divine revelation, but from the imagination of their own hearts; for though the Lord does nothing but he reveals it to his servants, the prophets; yet not to men of such bad principles and wicked lives as they were: or rather these are the words of the false prophets; either taking this to themselves, that they were of God's privy council, and knew his secrets, and ask who were besides themselves; or else insulting the prophets of the Lord, as though they took too much upon them to threaten the people with captivity and destruction, as if they were in the secret of the most High, and his privy counsellors; but that they thought themselves in such a situation seems to be the sense, from ( Jeremiah 23:22 ) ; and hath perceived and heard his word?
or, "hath seen and heard his word?" F1 seen a vision from him, and "heard" the word from his mouth, declaring the above things? or "seen" what was in his heart, what he purposed and designed to do; and "heard" what he said he would do? who hath marked his word, and heard [it]?
listened and attended to it, and obeyed it? not the false prophets, but the true ones; as the Targum of the whole is,

``for they stood not (or rose not up) that the secret from before the Lord might be revealed to them; and they saw not, nor heard his words; nor did they hearken to his word, nor receive;''
or obey; understanding this of the false prophets.
FOOTNOTES:

F1 (aryw) "et vidit", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "qui videat", Schmidt.

Jeremiah 23:18 In-Context

16 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
17 They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’
18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORDto see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?
19 See, the storm of the LORDwill burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S 1 Kings 22:19; S Romans 11:34
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