New Living Translation
Jeremiah 5:31
31the 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?
Jeremiah 5:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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?
- 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?
Context of Jeremiah 5:31
29Should I not punish them for this?” says the Lord. “Should I not avenge myself against such a nation? 30A horrible and shocking thing has happened in this land— 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?
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- 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, “These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts.
- Jeremiah 23:25“I have heard these prophets say, ‘Listen to the dream I had from God last night.’ And then they proceed to tell lies in my name.
- Lamentations 2:14Your prophets have said so many foolish things, false to the core. They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope.
- Ezekiel 13:6Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ even though the Lord never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies!
- Micah 3:11You rulers make decisions based on bribes; you priests teach God’s laws only for a price; you prophets won’t prophesy unless you are paid. Yet all of you claim to depend on the Lord. “No harm can come to us,” you say, “for the Lord is here among us.”
- Matthew 7:15“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.
- 2 Peter 2:1But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.
- Isaiah 30:10They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies.
- Micah 2:6“Don’t say such things,” the people respond. “Don’t prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!”
- John 3:19And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
- 2 Timothy 4:3For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
- Jeremiah 4:30What are you doing, you who have been plundered? Why do you dress up in beautiful clothing and put on gold jewelry? Why do you brighten your eyes with mascara? Your primping will do you no good! The allies who were your lovers despise you and seek to kill you.
- Jeremiah 22:22And now the wind will blow away your allies. All your friends will be taken away as captives. Surely then you will see your wickedness and be ashamed.
- Deuteronomy 32:29Oh, that they were wise and could understand this! Oh, that they might know their fate!
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
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
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