God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 29:23
23They have done shameful things in Israel. They committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and spoke lies in my name. I didn’t command them to do this. I know what they have done. I’m a witness, declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 29:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know it and am a witness to it,” declares the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. I am the one who knows, and I am witness, declares the Lord.'"
- New King James Version (NKJV)because they have done disgraceful things in Israel, have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken lying words in My name, which I have not commanded them. Indeed I know, and am a witness, says the Lord.
Context of Jeremiah 29:23
21This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says about Kolaiah’s son Ahab and about Maaseiah’s son Zedekiah, who prophesy lies to you in my name: I’m going to hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will kill them as you watch. 22Because of them, all the captives from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: May the Lord curse you as he cursed Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned to death. They have done shameful things in Israel. They committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and spoke lies in my name. I didn’t command them to do this. I know what they have done. I’m a witness, declares the Lord. 24⌞The Lord says,⌟ “Say to Shemaiah from Nehelam, 25‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests. These letters said:
Read all of Jeremiah 29Jeremiah 29:23 word by word
יַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁר֩ עָשׂ֨וּ נְבָלָ֜ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיְנַֽאֲפוּ֙ אֶת־נְשֵׁ֣י רֵֽעֵיהֶ֔ם וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ דָבָ֤ר בִּשְׁמִי֙ שֶׁ֔קֶר אֲשֶׁ֖ר ל֣וֹא צִוִּיתִ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֛י הַיּוֹדֵ֥עַ וָעֵ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Because they have committedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- villanyנְבָלָהnebâlâh · follyH5039
- in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- adulteryנָאַףnâ'aph · to commit adulteryH5003
- with their neighbours’רֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
- wivesאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
- and have spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- lyingשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
- wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- in my nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- which I have not commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- them; even I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- a witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
- saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for Jeremiah 29:23
- Jeremiah 7:9You steal, murder, commit adultery, lie when you take oaths, burn incense as an offering to Baal, and run after other gods that you do not know.
- Jeremiah 23:14“⌞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.”
- Psalms 50:16But God says to wicked people, “How dare you quote my decrees and mouth my promises!
- Zephaniah 3:4Its prophets are reckless and unfaithful. Its priests contaminate what is holy. They violate the teachings.
- 2 Peter 2:10This is especially true of those who follow their corrupt nature along the path of impure desires and who despise the Lord’s authority. These false teachers are bold and arrogant. They aren’t afraid to insult the ⌞Lord’s⌟ glory.
- Jude 1:8Yet, in a similar way, the people who slipped in among you are dreamers. They contaminate their bodies with sin, reject the Lord’s authority, and insult his glory.
- Jeremiah 29:8This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Don’t let the prophets or the mediums who are among you trick you. Don’t even listen to your own dreams.
- Jeremiah 13:27I have seen you commit adultery and squeal with delight. I have seen you act like a shameless prostitute on the hills and in the fields. How horrible it will be for you, Jerusalem! Will you ever be clean?”
- Jeremiah 16:17I see everything that they do. They can’t hide anything from me. Their wickedness can’t be hidden; I can see it.
- Jeremiah 23:23“I am a God who is near. I am also a God who is far away,” declares the Lord.
- Proverbs 5:21Each person’s ways are clearly seen by the Lord, and he surveys all his actions.
- Malachi 2:14But you ask, “Why ⌞aren’t our offerings accepted⌟?” It is because the Lord is a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been unfaithful. Yet, she is your companion, the wife of your marriage vows.
- Malachi 3:5“I will come to judge you. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, lying witnesses, and those who cheat workers out of their wages and oppress widows and orphans. I will also testify against those who deprive foreigners of their rights. None of them fear me,” says the Lord of Armies.
- Hebrews 4:13No creature can hide from God. Everything is uncovered and exposed for him to see. We must answer to him.
- Revelation 1:5and from Jesus Christ, the witness, the trustworthy one, the first to come back to life, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. Glory and power forever and ever belong to the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
- Revelation 3:14“To the messenger of the church in Laodicea, write: The amen, the witness who is faithful and true, the source of God’s creation, says:
Commentaries on Jeremiah 29:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives - This is supposed to refer to the case of Susanna. See above.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Villany - Elsewhere folly, in the sense of lewdness Judges 20:6, unchastity.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-32Verses 20-32 Jeremiah foretells judgments upon the false prophets, who deceived the Jews in Babylon. Lying was bad; lying to the people of the Lord, to delude them into a false hope, was worse; but pretending to rest their own lies upon the God of truth, was worst of all. They flattered others in their sins, because they could not reprove them without condemning themselves. The most secret sins are known to God; and there is a day coming when he will…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-23Jeremiah sent a letter to the Hebrew exiles in Babylon. People read his letter many times in different settlements to reach all the scattered Israelites.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. villainy--literally, "sinful folly" (Is 32:6).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 29:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 29
- 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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