Jeremiah 14 14

Jeremiah 14:14 kjv

Then 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 14:14 nkjv

And the LORD said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.

Jeremiah 14:14 niv

Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.

Jeremiah 14:14 esv

And the LORD said to me: "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.

Jeremiah 14:14 nlt

Then 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 14 verses

Jeremiah 14 14 Meaning

Jeremiah 14:14 reveals a profound denunciation by God against the prophets of Judah. These prophets are exposed as speaking lies, claiming divine authority ("in my name") for messages that originate purely from human deceit and false religious practices, rather than from God. God emphatically states that He neither commissioned them, appointed them, nor spoke to them. Their prophecies are rooted in delusive visions, pagan divinations, and the deception stemming from their own hearts, leading the people astray with promises of peace when judgment is impending.

Jeremiah 14 14 Context

Jeremiah 14:14 is situated within a significant portion of Jeremiah often referred to as "the drought chapter." The chapter begins with a vivid description of a severe drought afflicting Judah, which Jeremiah interprets as a divine judgment (Jer 14:1-6). The people lament their suffering and appeal to God, confessing their iniquity (Jer 14:7-9). However, God responds by rejecting their prayers, reaffirming His intent to judge them for their persistent apostasy and idolatry (Jer 14:10-12). In this dire situation, Jeremiah expresses confusion to God about the pronouncements of prophets who are promising peace and prosperity, saying, "You will not see a sword or suffer famine" (Jer 14:13). Jeremiah 14:14 is God's direct and forceful response to Jeremiah's concern, clearly distinguishing between Jeremiah's divinely authorized, albeit painful, message of judgment, and the widespread, popular, and deceptive messages of "peace" (shalom) being peddled by false prophets. Historically, Judah was on the brink of Babylonian exile, facing imminent destruction, yet many sought comfort in the convenient lies of these uncommissioned prophets rather than the challenging truth spoken by Jeremiah. The verse functions as a polemic against all forms of prophetic deceit, emphasizing that true prophecy originates exclusively from Yahweh.

Jeremiah 14 14 Word analysis

• Then the LORD said to me: A common introductory formula in prophetic books, establishing that the subsequent message is a direct, divinely revealed word, not Jeremiah's personal opinion. This immediately lends authority to the powerful declaration that follows.
• "The prophets" (Hebrew: hannᵉḇi’im): Refers to a specific group, likely those operating within Judah, many of whom were part of the official religious establishment or popular figures. God directly points to them as the source of the deception.
• "are prophesying lies" (Hebrew: niḇ'im shæqer - "prophesying falsehood/deceit"): This describes their activity as active and deliberate deception. The Hebrew word shæqer denotes not merely a mistake but an intentional falsehood or something that is utterly devoid of truth, manufactured and presented as true. It indicates a deep perversion of the prophetic office.
• "in my name": This is a crucial element. These prophets claim to speak with divine authorization, invoking the name of Yahweh. This constitutes a grave sin of blasphemy and spiritual fraud, misrepresenting God to His people for their own purposes, whether for popularity or personal gain.
• "I have not sent them" (Hebrew: Lo’-shəlachti): An unequivocal and emphatic denial of their commissioning. True prophets are sent by God; these were self-appointed or sent by human agenda. This negates the foundation of their prophetic claim.
• "or appointed them" (Hebrew: wə-lo’ tsivvitim): Reinforces the denial of any divine authorization or mandate. The term implies a specific instruction or official command from God that was never given to them.
• "or spoken to them" (Hebrew: wə-lo’ dibbartim): Completes God's absolute disassociation. True prophecy comes from God's revelation and communication. If God hasn't spoken to them, their words cannot be His. This directly contrasts with how God communicated with His true prophets, such as Jeremiah.
• "They are prophesying to you false visions" (Hebrew: ḥazon shav’ - "vision of emptiness/falsehood"): Describes the content of their prophecies. ḥazon (vision) is a legitimate medium of divine revelation. However, shav’ (emptiness, futility, falsehood, worthlessness) denounces the visions as counterfeit, utterly lacking substance or truth from God.
• "divinations" (Hebrew: qesem): This term carries strongly negative connotations, explicitly referring to illicit and pagan methods of fortune-telling and occult practices (e.g., necromancy, sorcery) explicitly forbidden in Deuteronomy. By linking these prophets to qesem, God highlights their departure from Yahwistic monotheism and reliance on practices associated with false gods.
• "idolatries": While the Hebrew word for this particular term is debated (see note below on "w'ein"), the general sense, often translated as "vanity" or "worthlessness" in other translations (KJV: "thing of nought," ESV: "lies" for w'ein), inherently points to the fruit of false prophecy which often leads to worshipping worthless things, or is indistinguishable from the methods of idolaters. NIV's translation of "idolatries" here is an interpretative rendering of the Hebrew w’ên (וְאֵין - "and nothing/emptiness") or a similar word, suggesting that their empty pronouncements lead people to the emptiness of idolatry or that the source itself is linked to idol worship practices. This further discredits their message as paganistic and non-Yahwistic.
• "and the delusions of their own minds" (Hebrew: wəṯarmîṯ liḇām - "and deceit of their heart"): This explicitly pinpoints the ultimate origin of their false messages: their own internal, corrupt, and self-deceived human nature. Tarmit (deceit/fraud) linked with libbām (their heart/mind) indicates a subjective, self-generated source of error, contrasting sharply with prophecy inspired by a holy God. This highlights the inherent flaw in relying on human intuition or desire over divine truth.

Jeremiah 14 14 Bonus section

The denial of God sending, appointing, or speaking to the false prophets in Jeremiah 14:14 echoes similar declarations made about false prophets in Jeremiah 23, where God directly states, "I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied" (Jer 23:21). This repeated phrase emphasizes the sovereignty of God in initiating true prophetic ministry and underscores the profound usurpation of authority by those who speak presumptuously in His name. The practice of "divination" (qesem) specifically links the false prophets to the very practices condemned throughout the Law (e.g., Deut 18:9-12). This connection would have been especially potent to the original audience, unequivocally marking these prophets as illegitimate and pagan-aligned, rather than messengers of Yahweh. The "delusions of their own minds" not only highlights internal self-deception but also suggests a form of "propaganda" crafted to appease popular sentiment and gain favor, contrasting starkly with Jeremiah's often unpopular and painful true prophecies. This verse, therefore, acts as a cornerstone for discerning between true and false spiritual authority, providing enduring principles for assessing the authenticity of prophetic or spiritual claims.

Jeremiah 14 14 Commentary

Jeremiah 14:14 stands as a chilling indictment from God, separating authentic divine communication from deceptive human contrivance. It directly confronts the prevalent issue of false prophecy in Judah, emphasizing three crucial points: the origin of true prophecy, the nature of false prophecy, and its source. True prophecy originates solely from God, by His sending, appointing, and speaking to His chosen messenger. The false prophets, however, have no such divine backing. Their messages are emphatically described as lies, demonstrating that not all religious utterances claiming God's name are divine. The verse meticulously exposes the methods of their deception: they present "false visions," mimic pagan "divinations," and propagate "delusions" springing directly from their own deceitful hearts, rather than any divine source. This was particularly dangerous in Judah, where false promises of peace contradicted God's coming judgment through Jeremiah, lulling the people into a dangerous complacency and hindering their repentance. The implications are profound, warning believers across all ages to exercise spiritual discernment and rigorously test claims made in God's name, evaluating whether they truly align with God's character and established word, or if they merely reflect human desires and spiritual corruption. This verse calls for vigilance against religious messages that appear comforting but lack divine truth.