Jeremías 23:30-40

30 »Por lo tanto —dice el Señor
—, estoy en contra de estos profetas que se roban mensajes el uno al otro y alegan que provienen de mí.

31 Estoy en contra de estos profetas que con mucha labia dicen: “¡Esta profecía es del Señor
!”.

32 Yo estoy contra estos falsos profetas. Sus sueños imaginarios son mentiras descaradas que llevan a mi pueblo a pecar. Yo no los envié ni los nombré, y no tienen ningún mensaje para mi pueblo. ¡Yo, el Señor
, he hablado!

33 Falsas profecías y falsos profetas
»Supongamos que alguien del pueblo o uno de los profetas o sacerdotes te pregunta: “Y ahora, ¿qué profecía te ha encargado el Señor
?”. Debes responder: “¡Ustedes son la carga!
¡El Señor
dice que los abandonará!”.

34 »Si algún profeta, sacerdote o alguien más dice: “Tengo una profecía del Señor
”, castigaré a tal persona junto con toda su familia.

35 Ustedes deberán preguntarse el uno al otro: “¿Cuál es la respuesta del Señor
?” o “¿Qué dice el Señor
?”.

36 Ya dejen de usar esta frase: “Una profecía del Señor
”. La gente la usa para darle importancia a sus propias ideas, tergiversando las palabras de nuestro Dios, el Dios viviente, el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales.

37 »Esto deberás decir a los profetas: “¿Cuál es la respuesta del Señor
?” o “¿Qué dice el Señor
?”.

38 Pero supongamos que responden: “¡Esta es una profecía del Señor
!”. Entonces deberás decir: “Esto dice el Señor
: ‘Debido a que han usado la frase “una profecía del Señor
”, aun cuando les advertí que no la usaran,

39 me olvidaré de ustedes por completo.
Los expulsaré de mi presencia, junto con esta ciudad que les di a ustedes y a sus antepasados.

40 Los haré objeto de burla y su nombre será infame a lo largo de los siglos’”».

Jeremías 23:30-40 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.