King James Version
Jeremiah 5:31
31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?1
Jeremiah 5:31 in other versions
- New International Version (NIV)The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
- English Standard Version (ESV)the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
- New King James Version (NKJV)The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?
- New Living Translation (NLT)the prophets give false prophecies, and the priests rule with an iron hand. Worse yet, my people like it that way! But what will you do when the end comes?
Context of Jeremiah 5:31
29Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? 30A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Read all of Jeremiah 5Jeremiah 5:31 word by word
הַנְּבִיאִ֞ים נִבְּא֣וּ־בַשֶּׁ֗קֶר וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ יִרְדּ֣וּ עַל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַמִּ֖י אָ֣הֲבוּ כֵ֑ן וּמַֽה־תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ לְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
- The prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
- prophesyנָבָאnâbâ' · to prophesyH5012
- falselyשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
- and the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- bear ruleרָדָהrâdâh · to scrapeH7287
- by their meansיָדyâd · hand: themselvesH3027
- and my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- loveאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
- so: and what will ye doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- in the endאַחֲרִית'achărîyth · endH319
Cross-references for Jeremiah 5:31
- Jeremiah 14:14Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
- Jeremiah 23:25I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
- Lamentations 2:14Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.
- Ezekiel 13:6They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
- Micah 3:11The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.
- Matthew 7:15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
- 2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
- Isaiah 30:10Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
- Micah 2:6Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.
- John 3:19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
- 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
- Jeremiah 4:30And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
- Jeremiah 22:22The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.
- Deuteronomy 32:29O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
Commentaries on Jeremiah 5:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31The prophets prophesy falsely - The false prophets predict favorable things, that they may please both the princes and the people. The priests bear rule by their means - The false prophets affording them all that their influence and power can procure, to enable them to keep their places, and feed on the riches of the Lord's house. And my people love to have it so - Are perfectly satisfied with this state of things, because they are permitted to continue…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20-31Verses 20-31 Against the God (1) of Creation Jeremiah 5:22, and (2) of Providence Jeremiah 5:24, They sin, not merely by apostasy, but by a general immorality extending to all classes Jeremiah 5:25-28. It is in this immorality that their idolatry has its root. Jeremiah 5:22 The sea is the symbol of restless and indomitable energy, chafing against all resistance, and dashing to pieces the works whereby man endeavors to restrain its fury. Yet God has…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-31Verses 19-31 Unhumbled hearts are ready to charge God with being unjust in their afflictions. But they may read their sin in their punishment. If men will inquire wherefore the Lord doeth hard things unto them, let them think of their sins. The restless waves obeyed the Divine decree, that they should not pass the sandy shores, which were as much a restraint as lofty mountains; but they burst all restraints of God's law, and were wholly gone into…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-31The people's sins (Jeremiah 5:26–28) fully justified the Lord's punishment, but the religious leaders committed even more wrongs. The prophets lied and claimed these lies were prophecies from the Lord (Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 13:6). The priests, who were supposed to serve the people, became tyrants and ruled harshly. Surprisingly, the people accepted their leaders' new roles, even though this left them unprepared for the disaster approaching them (Micah…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. bear rule by their means--literally, "according to their hands," that is, under their guidance (1Ch 25:3). As a sample of the priests lending themselves to the deceits of the false prophets, to gain influence over the people, see Jr 29:24-32. love to have it so--(Mi 2:11). end thereof--the fatal issue of this sinful course when divine judgments shall come.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 5:31
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. Jeremiah 5:31 bear…: or, take into their hands ↩
Commentaries on Jeremiah 5
- 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
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries