Jeremiah 23:36

36 But you shall not mention the burden of Yahweh, for the burden is to each one his word, and so you twist the words of [the] living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God

Jeremiah 23:36 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:36

And the burden of the Lord shall be mentioned no more
Or the word of the Lord under that name, speaking of it in a ludicrous and scoffing manner: for every man's word shall be his burden;
every flout, scoff, and jeer of his, at the word of God, shall fall heavily upon him, with weight upon his conscience, and press him with guilt to the lowest hell; or, however, a heavy punishment for his sin shall light upon him: or, as the words may be rendered, "for his word is a burden to everyone" ^F21; that is, the word of the Lord is reckoned by everyone a burden; and with them a burden and the word of the Lord are synonymous terms; which ought not to be, and was offensive to the Lord; and therefore he forbids the use of such a phrase, and threatens to punish for it; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of
hosts, our God;
derided them, and put a wrong sense upon them; and which is aggravated by their being the words of "the living God", who is the true God and his words true; and he lives and is able to resent and punish any ill usage of him, and ill treatment of his words; and not the oracles of lifeless idols: and they are the words of "the Lord of hosts", of all armies above and below, and so was able to make them good: and besides, they were the words of "our God", the God of Israel; who had in all ages kept his covenant with them, performed his promises to them, and had done great and good things for them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 (wrbd vyal hyhy avmh yk) "quia onus erit unicuique verbum suum", Schmidt; "[vel] verbum ejus, nempe, Dei", Dieu.

Jeremiah 23:36 In-Context

34 "And the prophet, and the priest, and the people who say, 'The burden of Yahweh,' I will punish that man and his house.

35 Thus you shall say, each one to his neighbor and each one to his brother: 'What has Yahweh answered?' or, 'What has Yahweh spoken?'

36 But you shall not mention the burden of Yahweh, for the burden is to each one his word, and so you twist the words of [the] living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God

37 Thus you shall say to that prophet, 'What has Yahweh answered you?' or, 'What has Yahweh spoken?'

38 But if you say, 'The burden of Yahweh,' {therefore} thus says Yahweh, 'because of your saying these words, "The burden of Yahweh," then I will send to you, {saying}, "You shall not say, 'The burden of Yahweh.'"

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "oracle"
• [b]. Or "oracle"