Jeremias 23:30

30 Behold, I am therefore against the prophets, saith the Lord God, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

Jeremias 23:30 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:30

Therefore, behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the
Lord
The false prophets, with whom the Lord was displeased; he set himself against them, and was determined to bring wrath and ruin on them. So the Targum,

``therefore, behold, I send my fury against the false prophets;''

that steal my word,
or "words" ^F17, everyone from his neighbour;
either from the true prophets; beginning their prophecies as they did, with a "thus saith the Lord"; and mingling some words and phrases used by them, the better to ingratiate themselves among the people, and that they might be taken for the prophets of the Lord; as Pelagius, Austin says, used the word "grace", the better to hide his sentiments, and cause them the more easily to be received by the people: or from the false prophets; they privately meeting, and consulting, and agreeing together what they should say to the people, as if they were the words of the Lord: or else from the people themselves; lessening their esteem for the words of the Lord; making them negligent of them and indifferent to them; and causing them to forget what they had heard and received.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (yrbd) "verba mea", Munster, Pagniuus, Montanus, Schmidt.

Jeremias 23:30 In-Context

28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell his dream; and in whom is my word to him, let him tell my word truly: what is the chaff to the corn? so are my words, saith the Lord.

29 Behold, are not my words as fire? saith the Lord; and as an axe cutting the rock?

30 Behold, I am therefore against the prophets, saith the Lord God, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

31 Behold, I am against the prophets that put forth prophecies of mere words, and slumber their sleep.

32 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets that prophesy false dreams, and have not told them , and have caused my people to err by their lies, and by their errors; yet I sent them not, and commanded them not; therefore, they shall not profit this people at all.