Jeremiah 27:16

16 And I spake to the priests, and to this people, and I said, The Lord God saith these things, Do not ye hear the words of your prophets, that prophesy to you, and say, Lo! the vessels of the (house of the) Lord shall turn again now soon from Babylon; for they prophesy a leasing to you. (And I spoke to the priests, and to this people, and I said, The Lord God saith these things, Do not ye listen to the words of your prophets, who prophesy to you, and say, Lo! the vessels of the House of the Lord shall soon be brought back from Babylon; for they prophesy a lie to you.)

Jeremiah 27:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 27:16

Also I spake to the priests, and to all this people, saying,
&c.] From the court he went to the temple, and spoke to the priests that were ministering there, and to all the people that were assembled for divine worship; either at the ordinary time of it, or at some one of the solemn feasts: this was a proper time and place to meet with the people and the priests; which latter especially had a concern in what he had to say concerning the vessels of the temple: thus saith the Lord, hearken not to the words of your prophets that
prophesy unto you:
your false prophets, as the Targum: saying;
as follows: behold, the vessels of the Lord's house shall now shortly be brought
again from Babylon;
which were carried thither, both in the times of Jehoiakim, and of Jeconiah, ( 2 Chronicles 36:7 2 Chronicles 36:10 ) ; these the false prophets gave out would in a short time be returned; that the king of Babylon, either willingly and of his own accord, or being pressed or forced to it, would send them back; so little reason had they to fear an invasion from him, or captivity by him: for they prophesy a lie unto you;
that which is false, and will never be accomplished, at least in any short time.

Jeremiah 27:16 In-Context

14 Do not ye hear the words of prophets saying to you, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon; for they speak leasing to you (for they say lies to you),

15 for I sent not them, saith the Lord; and they prophesy falsely in my name, that they cast out you, and that ye perish, both ye and the prophets that prophesy to you. (for I did not send them, saith the Lord; and they prophesy falsely in my name, and so I shall cast you out, and ye shall perish, both ye and the prophets who prophesy to you.)

16 And I spake to the priests, and to this people, and I said, The Lord God saith these things, Do not ye hear the words of your prophets, that prophesy to you, and say, Lo! the vessels of the (house of the) Lord shall turn again now soon from Babylon; for they prophesy a leasing to you. (And I spoke to the priests, and to this people, and I said, The Lord God saith these things, Do not ye listen to the words of your prophets, who prophesy to you, and say, Lo! the vessels of the House of the Lord shall soon be brought back from Babylon; for they prophesy a lie to you.)

17 Therefore do not ye hear them, but serve ye the king of Babylon, that ye live; why is this city given into wilderness? (And so do not ye listen to them, but serve ye the king of Babylon, so that ye can live; why should this city be turned into a wilderness?)

18 And if they be prophets, and if the word of God is in them, run they (now) to the Lord of hosts, (and plead) that the vessels, which were left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem, come not into Babylon (be not taken away to Babylon).