EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Jeremiah 23:31
31They say, “This message is from the Lord,” but it is their own words that they speak.
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
29A message from me is like a fire that burns things. It is like a hammer that breaks a rock into pieces.’ That is what the Lord says. 30‘I tell you that I am against those prophets! They say that they speak messages from me. But they are using each other's ideas. They say, “This message is from the Lord,” but it is their own words that they speak. 32Yes, I am against those who have dreams and use them to deceive people. They are using cruel lies to lead the people away from me. I did not send those prophets to speak on my behalf. They do nothing to help my people.’ That is what the Lord says. 33The Lord said, ‘Jeremiah, someone may ask you a question. He may be one of these people or a prophet or a priest. He may ask you, “What message of trouble is the Lord telling us now?” Then you must say to him, “You are the trouble! The Lord says that he will go away from you.”
Read all of Jeremiah 23Jeremiah 23:31 word by word
הִנְנִ֥י עַל־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה הַלֹּקְחִ֣ים לְשׁוֹנָ֔ם וַֽיִּנְאֲמ֖וּ נְאֻֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Jeremiah 23:31
- Isaiah 30:10They say to the seers, ‘Do not see any more visions!’ They say to the prophets, ‘Do not tell us messages about what is right! Tell us nice things, even if they are not true.
- Micah 2:11When a person speaks false messages to you, then you believe them. They might say that you would have plenty of wine and strong drink. That is the message that you would like!’
- Jeremiah 23:17When people refuse to listen to me, the prophets still encourage them. They say to them, “The Lord will give you peace.” When people refuse to change their wicked way of life, the prophets tell them, “Nothing bad will happen to you.”
- 2 Chronicles 18:5So the king of Israel brought together 400 prophets. He asked them, ‘Should we attack Ramoth Gilead, or not?’ They answered, ‘Yes, go and attack it, because the God will give it to you, our 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
In the dictionaries
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
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