New International Version
Jeremiah 29:23
23For 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For these men have done terrible things among my people. They have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have lied in my name, saying things I did not command. I am a witness to this. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Context of Jeremiah 29:23
21This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies to you in my name: “I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes. 22Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned in the fire.’ 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. 24Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite, 25“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah,
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 7:9“ ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known,
- Jeremiah 23:14And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that not one of them turns from their wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
- Psalms 50:16But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?
- Zephaniah 3:4Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.
- 2 Peter 2:10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;
- Jude 1:8In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
- Jeremiah 29:8Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.
- Jeremiah 13:27your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution! I have seen your detestable acts on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will you be unclean?”
- Jeremiah 16:17My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.
- Jeremiah 23:23“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away?
- Proverbs 5:21For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.
- Malachi 2:14You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
- Malachi 3:5“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.
- Hebrews 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
- Revelation 1:5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
- Revelation 3:14“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
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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