Jeremiah 23:19-29

19 "Behold, the ¹storm of the LORD has gone forth in wrath, Even a whirling tempest; It will swirl down on the head of the wicked

20 "The ²anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has ³performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; ⁴In the last days you will clearly understand it.

21 "⁵I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied

22 "But if they had ⁶stood in My council, Then they would have ⁷announced My words to My people, And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds.

23 "Am I a God who is ⁸near," declares the LORD, "And not a God far off *?

24 "Can a man ⁹hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "¹⁰Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD.

25 "I have ¹¹heard what the prophets have said who ¹²prophesy falsely in My name, saying, 'I had a ¹³dream, I had a dream!'

26 "How long *? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the ¹⁴deception of their own heart,

27 who intend to ¹⁵make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers ¹⁶forgot My name because of Baal?

28 "The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has ¹⁷My word speak My word in truth. ¹⁸What does straw have in common with grain?" declares the LORD.

29 "Is not My word like ¹⁹fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a ²⁰hammer which shatters a rock?

Jeremiah 23:19-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 23

This chapter contains threatenings to the Jewish governors, and to their priests and prophets, on account of their manifold sins; intermixed with gracious promises to the Lord's people, and particularly with a famous promise of the Messiah. The pastors or governors of Israel are charged with scattering and driving away the Lord's flock, for which they are threatened, Jer 23:1,2; and a promise is made of the gathering of the remnant of them, and of setting up other shepherds over them, under whom they should increase, and be comfortable, Jer 23:3,4; particularly the Messiah is promised; as David's righteous Branch; as a prosperous and righteous King; as the author of righteousness to his people, under whom they should have salvation and safety, Jer 23:5,6; so that in comparison of this salvation, the deliverance out of Egypt should not be spoken of, Jer 23:7,8; and then follows a sad complaint of the priests and prophets; of their profaneness, their adultery, swearing, lying, hypocrisy, and deception of the people; for all which they are severely threatened, Jer 23:9-15; wherefore the people are exhorted not to hearken to them, promising them peace and safety; whereas, by attending to the word of God, it might easily be seen that a storm of wrath was gone forth, and was ready to break, and would fall upon the head of the wicked, to the executing of the thoughts and purposes of God's heart, Jer 23:16-20; and the Lord declares he had not sent these prophets, as might be known from their not turning the people from their evil ways, Jer 23:21,22; whose conduct and behaviour could not be hid from the sight of the Lord, nor their prophecies from his ears, which were no other than dreams, and the deceits of their own hearts; and there was as great a difference between them and the word of the Lord, as between chaff and wheat; seeing his word in his hand is of great virtue and efficacy, whereas there was none in theirs, Jer 23:23-29; wherefore the Lord declares himself to be against these prophets, for stealing his word from their neighbour; for making use of his name, when they were not sent by him; and for causing the people to err by their lies, Jer 23:30-32; and both people, priest, and prophet, are severely threatened for jeering and scoffing at the word of the Lord, calling it the burden of the Lord; which phrase they are forbid to use in a sneering way; and should they persist in it, they are told that God would forsake and forget them, and cast them out, and everlastingly punish them, Jer 23:39,40.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 25:32; Jeremiah 30:23; Amos 1:14
• 2. 2 Kings 23:26, 27; Jeremiah 30:24
• 3. Isaiah 55:11; Zechariah 1:6
• 4. Genesis 49:1
• 5. Jeremiah 14:14; Jeremiah 23:32; Jeremiah 27:15
• 6. Jeremiah 9:12; Jeremiah 23:18
• 7. Jeremiah 35:15; Zechariah 1:4
• 8. Psalms 139:1-10
• 9. Job 22:13, 14; Job 34:21, 22; Psalms 139:7-12; Isaiah 29:15; Jeremiah 49:10; Hebrews 4:13
• 10. 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6; Isaiah 66:1
• 11. Jeremiah 8:6; 1 Corinthians 4:5
• 12. Jeremiah 14:14
• 13. Numbers 12:6; Jeremiah 23:28, 32; Jeremiah 29:8; Joel 2:28
• 14. 1 Timothy 4:1, 2
• 15. Deuteronomy 13:1-3; Jeremiah 29:8
• 16. Judges 3:7; Judges 8:33, 34
• 17. Jeremiah 9:12, 20
• 18. 1 Corinthians 3:12, 13
• 19. Jeremiah 5:14; Jeremiah 20:9
• 20. 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5