Jeremiah 23:31

31 Lo! I to the prophets, saith the Lord, that take their tongues, and say, The Lord saith. (Lo! I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, who use their tongues, and say, The Lord saith.)

Jeremiah 23:31 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:31

Behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the Lord
Not another sort of prophets distinct from the former, or those that follow; but the same under another character, and against whom he was, and set his face on another occasion; that use their tongues;
at their pleasure, their lips being their own. So the Targum,

``who prophesy according to the will of their own hearts;''

talk in a haughty and insolent manner, speaking bold and daring things of the divine Being; or in a boasting bragging manner, extolling themselves, and speaking highly in their own commendations; or rather in a flattering way to the people: so some read it, by a transposition of a radical letter ^F18, "that smooth their tongues", as Kimchi; or speak smooth things with their tongues, to please the people: and say, he saith;
that is, "the Lord", as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions express it; that so they, night be the more easily believed by the people; but this was highly provoking to God, to father their lies and falsehoods upon him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (Myxqwlh) "hic pro" (Myqylxmh) "qui lenificant linguam suam", Pagninus, Gataker; "sumentes blandam linguan suam", Schmidt.

Jeremiah 23:31 In-Context

29 Whether my words be not as fire burning, saith the Lord, and as an hammer all-breaking a stone? (Be not my words like a burning fire, saith the Lord, and like a hammer breaking a stone to pieces?)

30 Therefore lo! I am ready to the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words, each man from his neighbour. (And so lo! I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, who steal my words, each one from their neighbour, for their own use.)

31 Lo! I to the prophets, saith the Lord, that take their tongues, and say, The Lord saith. (Lo! I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, who use their tongues, and say, The Lord saith.)

32 Lo! I to the prophets, dreaming leasing, saith the Lord; which told them, and deceived my people in their leasing, and in their miracles, when I had not sent them, neither had commanded to them; which profited nothing to this people, saith the Lord. (Lo! I am against the prophets, who dreamed lies, saith the Lord; and then told them out, and deceived my people with their lies, and with their miracles, when I had not sent them, nor had commanded to them; yea, which profited nothing for this people, saith the Lord.)

33 Therefore if this people, either (a) prophet, either (a) priest, asketh thee, and saith, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt say to them, Ye be the burden, for I shall cast you away, saith the Lord;