God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 23:12
12“That is why their own way will become like slippery paths in the dark. They will be chased away, and they will fall down in the dark. I will bring disaster on them. It is time for them to be punished,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)“Therefore their path will become slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished,” declares the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, declares the Lord.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Therefore their way shall be to them Like slippery ways; In the darkness they shall be driven on And fall in them; For I will bring disaster on them, The year of their punishment,” says the Lord.
Context of Jeremiah 23:12
10The land is filled with adulterers. The land mourns because of the curse. Pastures in the wilderness have dried up. The people are evil, and they use their strength to do the wrong things. 11The prophets and priests are godless. Even in my temple I’ve found them doing evil,” declares the Lord. “That is why their own way will become like slippery paths in the dark. They will be chased away, and they will fall down in the dark. I will bring disaster on them. It is time for them to be punished,” declares the Lord. 13“⌞Say this⌟ about the prophets of Samaria: I saw something disgusting. The prophets of Samaria prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. 14“⌞Say this⌟ about the prophets of Jerusalem: I see something horrible. The prophets of Jerusalem commit adultery and live a lie. They support those who do evil so that no one turns back from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me, and those who live in Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
Read all of Jeremiah 23Jeremiah 23:12 word by word
לָכֵן֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה דַרְכָּ֜ם לָהֶ֗ם כַּחֲלַקְלַקּוֹת֙ בָּֽאֲפֵלָ֔ה יִדַּ֖חוּ וְנָ֣פְלוּ בָ֑הּ כִּֽי־אָבִ֨יא עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם רָעָ֛ה שְׁנַ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Wherefore their wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- shall be unto them as slipperyחֲלַקְלַקּוֹתchălaqlaqqâh · smoothnessH2519
- in the darknessאֲפֵלָה'ăphêlâh · darknessH653
- they shall be driven onדָּחַחdâchâh dâchach · to thrustH1760
- and fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- therein: for I will bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
- the yearשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- of their visitationפְּקֻדָּהpeqûddâh · punishmentH6486
- saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for Jeremiah 23:12
- Jeremiah 13:16Honor the Lord your God before it gets dark, before your feet stumble on the mountains in the twilight. You will look for light, but the Lord will turn it into the shadow of death and change it into deep darkness.
- Psalms 35:6Let their path be dark and slippery as the Messenger of the Lord pursues them.
- Psalms 73:18You put them in slippery places and make them fall into ruin.
- Proverbs 4:19The way of wicked people is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble.
- Job 18:18He will be driven from the light into the dark and chased out of the world.
- Isaiah 8:22They will look at the earth and see only distress and gloom. They will go in anguish and be forced into darkness.
- John 12:35Jesus answered the crowd, “The light will still be with you for a little while. Walk while you have light so that darkness won’t defeat you. Those who walk in the dark don’t know where they’re going.
- 1 John 2:11Those who hate other believers are in the dark and live in the dark. They don’t know where they’re going, because they can’t see in the dark.
- Jude 1:13Their shame is like the foam on the wild waves of the sea. They are wandering stars for whom gloomy darkness is kept forever.
- Jeremiah 11:23I will bring a disaster on the people of Anathoth. It will be a year of punishment. There will be no survivors.
- Jeremiah 48:44“Whoever flees from a disaster will fall into a pit. Whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a trap. I will bring a year of punishment to Moab,” declares the Lord.
- Jeremiah 50:27Kill all their young bulls. Let them go to be slaughtered. How horrible it will be for them when their time has come, the time for them to be punished.
- Exodus 32:34Now, go! Lead the people to the place I told you about. My Messenger will go ahead of you. But when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.”
- Micah 7:4The best of them is like a briar. The most decent person is sharper than thornbushes. The day you thought you would be punished has come. Now is the time you will be confused.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 23:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Every word denotes the certainty of their fall. “Their path is like slippery places in darkness:” and on this path “they are pushed with violence.” External circumstances assist in urging on to ruin those who choose the path of vice.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-22Verses 9-22 The false prophets of Samaria had deluded the Israelites into idolatries; yet the Lord considered the false prophets of Jerusalem as guilty of more horrible wickedness, by which the people were made bold in sin. These false teachers would be compelled to suffer the most bitter part of the Lord's indignation. They made themselves believe that there was no harm in sin, and practised accordingly; then they made others believe so. Those who are…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Because of their wickedness, these priests and prophets would have unstable lives; danger would fill every moment.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. slippery ways in ... darkness--Their "way" is their false doctrine which proves fatal to them (Jr 13:16; Psa 35:6; Pr 4:19). I will bring evil ... visitation--still more calamities than those already inflicted. See on Jr 11:23; "visitation," namely, in wrath.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 23:12
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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