Jeremiah 14 15

Jeremiah 14:15 kjv

Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.

Jeremiah 14:15 nkjv

Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'?'By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!

Jeremiah 14:15 niv

Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, 'No sword or famine will touch this land.' Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine.

Jeremiah 14:15 esv

Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not come upon this land': By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.

Jeremiah 14:15 nlt

Therefore, this is what the LORD says: I will punish these lying prophets, for they have spoken in my name even though I never sent them. They say that no war or famine will come, but they themselves will die by war and famine!

Jeremiah 14 verses

Jeremiah 14 15 Meaning

Jeremiah 14:15 states that because of the sins of the prophets and priests, Jerusalem will face destruction and famine. The people will be scattered and receive no sustenance, both spiritually and physically, from these false leaders. The prophecy indicates that neither the prophets nor the people will receive divine guidance or prophetic assurance; instead, they will face the consequences of their unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 14 15 Context

Jeremiah 14 is set during a severe drought in Judah, a time of great crisis for the nation. The people of Judah are suffering from thirst and hunger, and they are looking for answers. Jeremiah, the prophet, has been sent by God to declare the reason for this devastation: the sinfulness of the people, particularly their idolatry and disobedience. In this specific verse, Jeremiah is addressing the false prophets and priests who are offering misleading pronouncements of peace and well-being, directly contradicting God's message of judgment through Jeremiah. This false prophecy further exacerbates the people's spiritual and physical distress by preventing them from repenting. The historical context is crucial as Judah is under threat from Babylon, and these false prophets are promoting a false sense of security.

Jeremiah 14 15 Word Analysis

• כִּי (ki): "for," "because." Establishes a cause-and-effect relationship.
• עַל (al): "upon," "against." Indicates the target of the action.
• הַנְּבִיאִים (ha-nev'im): "the prophets." Refers to those who claimed to speak for God.
• וְעַל (v'al): "and upon," "and against." Continues the enumeration of those targeted.
• הַכֹּהֲנִים (ha-kohanim): "the priests." The religious leaders responsible for mediating between God and the people.
• בַּכְּרַם (ba-kerem): This phrase is typically translated as "in the vineyard." However, in this context, and with a more precise examination of manuscripts and scholarly understanding, the Hebrew may have been a variant spelling or a scribal error, or it is a deliberate wordplay. Some scholars suggest it might refer to the city's prosperity that was now withering, or possibly even the "vineyard of the Lord" referring to Israel. A more commonly accepted understanding based on surrounding context and other instances of prophetic critique suggests a misinterpretation or textual corruption where "בְּכָל־מְקוֹם" (bəḵol-məqōm) meaning "in every place" or similar is more thematically aligned. However, staying strictly with the given text, "in the vineyard" could symbolize Israel, the place where God's produce was expected.
• נְבִיאִים (nev'im): "prophets." Repeating the term emphasizes their pervasive influence.
• שֶׁקֶר (sheker): "lying," "falsehood." Highlights the deceptive nature of their messages.
• אֶנְכִי (enokhi): "I" (emphatic). God's direct affirmation of the action.
• לֹא (lo): "not." Absolute negation.
• שְׁלַחְתִּים (shlachteim): "I sent them." God clarifies that these prophets were not divinely commissioned.
• וְלֹא (v'lo): "and not." Further emphasizes God's disassociation.
• צוִּוִּיתִם (tzivvitem): "I commanded them." Denies any divine instruction given to them.
• וְלֹא (v'lo): "and not." Another negation to reinforce the point.
• דִּבַּרְתִּי (dibarti): "I spoke." Confirms they did not receive God's direct communication.
• לָהֶם (lahem): "to them." Directly linking the lack of divine communication to these prophets.
• חַיֵּי (chaiyei): "the life of." A solemn oath, calling on their own life or the life of the community as witness.
• הַמָּקוֹם (ha-makom): This often refers to Jerusalem, the holy city, or even a reference to God's dwelling place. In the context of judgment, it signifies that the very sustenance and divine favor associated with "the place" will be withheld.

Jeremiah 14 15 Bonus Section

The "vineyard" imagery in this verse (if accurately transmitted and understood as "bakerem") echoes the extensive vineyard parables and descriptions found throughout Scripture, particularly in Isaiah 5 and Jeremiah 5:10. In these contexts, the vineyard represents Israel, entrusted to God's care to produce fruit, but failing to do so. The presence of false prophets "in the vineyard" suggests they are corrupting the spiritual harvest and misleading God's own people from within the very community that should be bearing His righteousness. The oath "As the LORD liveth" is a standard prophetic formula to attest to the truth and gravity of the message. God’s denial of sending, commanding, or speaking through these prophets is a critical distinction, separating His true servants from imposters who operate in the name of the Lord but without His authority or message. This emphasis on divine authorization for prophetic speech is a recurring theme.

Jeremiah 14 15 Commentary

Jeremiah 14:15 pronounces God's severe judgment on the prophets and priests in Judah. These religious leaders were delivering deceptive messages of peace and prosperity, despite the nation's dire condition and impending judgment. God explicitly states He did not send or command these prophets, nor did He speak through them. Their words were lies ("sheker"). Consequently, both they and the people would face the consequences. The mention of "the vineyard" (if indeed the Hebrew reflects this, though textual variations are noted) may symbolize Judah, which was supposed to bear fruit for God but was instead producing corruption due to the false prophets. The condemnation underscores the critical role of authentic prophetic ministry, which must align with God's truth, even when that truth involves judgment. The people’s suffering would be amplified because their spiritual guides misled them, leading them further into sin rather than repentance. This verse highlights God's demand for faithfulness and truthfulness in His messengers and the severe consequences for those who pervert His message.