Jeremiah 23:9-17

Lying Prophets

9 Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a strong man overcome by wine, because of the LORDand his holy words.
10 The land is full of adulterers; because of the curse[a] the land lies parched and the pastures in the wilderness are withered. The prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly.
11 “Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness,” declares the LORD.
12 “Therefore their path will become slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished,” declares the LORD.
13 “Among the prophets of Samaria I saw this repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.
14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that not one of them turns from their wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
15 Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says concerning the prophets: “I will make them eat bitter food and drink poisoned water, because from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”
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.’

Jeremiah 23:9-17 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 28

  • 1. S Jeremiah 4:19
  • 2. S Job 4:14
  • 3. Jeremiah 20:8-9
  • 4. S Jeremiah 9:2
  • 5. Deuteronomy 28:23-24
  • 6. Psalms 107:34; S Jeremiah 9:10
  • 7. S Jeremiah 4:26; S Jeremiah 12:11; Hosea 4:2-3
  • 8. Jeremiah 6:13; S Jeremiah 8:10; Zephaniah 3:4
  • 9. S 2 Kings 21:4; S Jeremiah 7:10
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 32:35; S Job 3:23; Psalms 35:6; Jeremiah 13:16
  • 11. Jeremiah 11:23
  • 12. S 1 Kings 18:22; Jeremiah 2:8
  • 13. ver 32; S Isaiah 3:12; Ezekiel 13:10
  • 14. S Jeremiah 5:30; Hosea 6:10
  • 15. Jeremiah 29:23
  • 16. ver 22; Ezekiel 13:22
  • 17. S Isaiah 5:18
  • 18. S Genesis 18:20; Matthew 11:24
  • 19. Isaiah 1:9-10; Jeremiah 20:16; Amos 4:11
  • 20. S Jeremiah 8:14; Jeremiah 9:15
  • 21. S Jeremiah 8:10
  • 22. Jer 27:9-10,14; S Matthew 7:15
  • 23. S Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 13:3
  • 24. Jeremiah 9:20
  • 25. ver 31
  • 26. S 1 Kings 22:8; S Jeremiah 4:10; Jeremiah 8:11
  • 27. S Jeremiah 13:10
  • 28. Jeremiah 5:12; Amos 9:10; Micah 3:11

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "because of these things"
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