Jeremiah 23:31

Jeremiah 23:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
• New International Version (NIV)Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who use their tongues and declare, 'declares the Lord.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’

Context of Jeremiah 23:31

29“Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?” 30“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.” “Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’” 32“Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD. 33“Now when this people or a prophet or priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the LORD?’ you are to say to them, ‘What burden? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’

Jeremiah 23:31 word by word

הִנְנִ֥י עַל־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה הַלֹּקְחִ֣ים לְשׁוֹנָ֔ם וַֽיִּנְאֲמ֖וּ נְאֻֽם׃Read the interlinear

• Yesהֵןhên · look!H2005
• declaresנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
• the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• I am againstעַל‛al · uponH5921
• the prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
• who wagלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• their own tonguesלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• and proclaimנָאַםnâ'am · to prophesyH5001

Cross-references for Jeremiah 23:31

• Isaiah 30:10They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
• Micah 2:11If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!
• Jeremiah 23:17They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’
• 2 Chronicles 18:5So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

Commentaries on Jeremiah 23:31

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31That use their tongues - literally, that take their tongues. Their second characteristic. They have no message from God, but they take their tongues, their only implement, and say, He saith, using the solemn formula by which Yahweh affirms the truth of His words. Solemn asseverations seemed to give reality to their emptiness.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-32Verses 23-32 Men cannot be hidden from God's all-seeing eye. Will they never see what judgments they prepare for themselves? Let them consider what a vast difference there is between these prophecies and those delivered by the true prophets of the Lord. Let them not call their foolish dreams Divine oracles. The promises of peace these prophets make are no more to be compared to God's promises than chaff to wheat. The unhumbled heart of man is like a rock…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 30-32The Lord criticized and opposed the prophets who lied in his name.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. use--rather, "take" their tongue: a second class (compare Jr 23:30) require, in order to bring forth a revelation, nothing more than their tongues, wherewith they say, He (Jehovah) saith: they bungle in the very formula instead of the usual "Jehovah saith," being only able to say "(He) saith."Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 23:31

• Dream
• Minister, Christian
• Prophets

In the dictionaries

• Adulterer
• Course
• Righteousness
• Send
• Crime; Crimes
• Micaiah
• Prophesyings, False
• Uriah; Uruah

Commentaries on Jeremiah 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings