Jeremiah 23:11 kjv
For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:11 nkjv
"For both prophet and priest are profane; Yes, in My house I have found their wickedness," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:11 niv
"Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:11 esv
"Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their evil, declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:11 nlt
"Even the priests and prophets
are ungodly, wicked men.
I have seen their despicable acts
right here in my own Temple,"
says the LORD.
Jeremiah 23 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 23:11 | For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD. | Theme: Widespread Corruption |
| Jeremiah 2:8 | The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that feed on me knew me not: the prophets also prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. | Theme: Corruption of Priests & Prophets |
| Ezekiel 22:26 | Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between that which was unclean and clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. | Theme: Violation of God's Law by Priests |
| Micah 3:11 | The 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. | Theme: Self-serving Leadership |
| Isaiah 9:16 | For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. | Theme: Leaders Leading Astray |
| Amos 7:14 | Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdsman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: | Theme: True vs. False Prophets |
| Jeremiah 14:14 | Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake I unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart shall they speak. | Theme: False Prophecy |
| Ezekiel 8:10-12 | So I went in and saw; and behold every abomination of the likeness of creeping things, and abomination of beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon all the wall round about. And there were seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. | Theme: Idolatry within the Temple |
| Jeremiah 5:30-31 | A 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? | Theme: Societal Complicity in Sin |
| Zephaniah 3:4 | Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. | Theme: Polluted Sanctuary |
| Malachi 1:6-7 | A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The altar of the LORD is contemptible. | Theme: Priests Despising God's Name |
| John 2:14-16 | And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overturned the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. | Fulfillment: Jesus Cleansing the Temple |
| Matthew 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. | Theme: Warning Against False Prophets |
| 1 Peter 2:5 | Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. | Theme: New Testament Priesthood |
| Romans 12:1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. | Theme: Spiritual Sacrifice |
| Revelation 18:4 | And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. | Theme: Call to Separate from Sin |
| 2 Timothy 3:5 | Having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. | Theme: Hypocrisy and False Piety |
| Acts 20:30 | Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. | Theme: Internal Deception |
| Hebrews 13:7 | Remember them which have the rule over you, who spake unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. | Theme: Leaders Who Spoke God's Word |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 11 Meaning
Both prophet and priest have become godless. The prophets have falsely claimed to receive messages from God and used these messages to deceive the people. Similarly, the priests have corrupted the true worship of God and promoted wickedness within the temple. This spiritual corruption extends even to the sanctuaries and places where God's name is honored, highlighting the pervasive nature of their sin.
Jeremiah 23 11 Context
Jeremiah chapter 23 continues the prophet's pronouncements against false prophets and the corrupt leadership of Judah. The preceding verses detail how these false prophets distort God's message for their own gain, offering false hope of peace and security when disaster is imminent. They operate with a boldness that stems not from divine truth but from the deceitfulness of their own hearts. This specific verse, Jeremiah 23:11, serves as a stark indictment against both the prophetic and priestly classes, declaring them morally compromised and responsible for leading the nation astray. The historical context is one of national spiritual decay, just prior to the Babylonian exile. The temple, the very dwelling place of God's presence on earth, has become a place where wickedness flourishes, mirroring the deeper spiritual corruption that permeates all levels of society and leadership. This corruption makes the people vulnerable to the pronouncements of the false prophets and contributes to their ultimate downfall.
Jeremiah 23 11 Word Analysis
- "For": Indicates a reason or explanation for the preceding statement or condemnation.
- "both": Emphasizes the inclusion of two distinct groups, highlighting a comprehensive problem.
- "prophet": Refers to those who claimed to speak for God. In this context, it refers to the false prophets denounced in the preceding verses. They claimed divine inspiration but were driven by self-interest and deceit.
- "and": Connects the two mentioned groups, indicating their shared responsibility and fallen state.
- "priest": Refers to those officially designated to serve God in the temple, to offer sacrifices, and to teach the law. Here, they are portrayed as having abandoned their sacred duties and moral integrity.
- "are": A state of being, indicating their present condition.
- "profane":
- Hebrew: חָלָל (chalal). This word can mean to profane, pollute, defile, wound, pierce, or begin.
- Meaning here: To violate something sacred, to treat something holy with contempt, or to make something common and unclean. It signifies a spiritual defilement and a perversion of their divine calling. The priests and prophets have treated what is holy with irreverence.
- "yea": An affirmation, strengthening the statement that follows, emphasizing the depth of the corruption.
- "in my house": Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, God's dwelling place. This phrase dramatically highlights the extent of the sin: it has infiltrated the most sacred space.
- "have I found": God as the omniscient observer, revealing His discovery of their sin.
- "their wickedness":
- Hebrew: רָעָה (ra'ah). This term signifies evil, wickedness, harm, or injury.
- Meaning here: Their specific evil deeds and the general state of their depravity.
- "saith the LORD": Asserts that this statement comes directly from God, carrying divine authority and judgment.
Grouped Word Analysis:
- "both prophet and priest are profane": This phrase encapsulates the dual failure of leadership. The spiritual guides of the nation—those responsible for communicating God's word and representing God's people before Him—have become corrupted. Their role was to mediate between God and man, but they have failed catastrophically, becoming instruments of spiritual pollution instead of conduits of holiness.
- "yea, in my house have I found their wickedness": This intensified declaration points to the sanctified place itself being compromised. God’s dwelling is meant to be a place of worship and purity, but it has become the site where their pervasive evil has been discovered. This emphasizes that their sin is not hidden but has become so brazen it has tainted even the most sacred environment. The accusation is that the corruption is so deep it has permeated the very structure of divine worship.
Jeremiah 23 11 Bonus Section
The concept of "profanity" here goes beyond mere irreverence; it signifies a contamination and violation of sacred things and duties. This mirrors the Old Testament prohibition against offering "profane fire" or mixed things. The corruption identified in the Temple highlights a fulfillment of earlier warnings and a foreshadowing of future judgment. The parallel between the actions of the priests and prophets and the corrupting influences Jesus addressed when He cleansed the Temple demonstrates a consistent pattern of religious decay throughout biblical history. The spiritual house described in the New Testament, consisting of believers, is called to offer "spiritual sacrifices," which contrasts sharply with the defiled earthly sacrifices and practices prevalent in Jeremiah's time. This verse underscores God’s intolerance for spiritual compromise, especially when it occurs within His own professed community.
Jeremiah 23 11 Commentary
This verse pronounces judgment on the religious leadership of Judah, labeling both prophets and priests as morally defiled. The corruption is so widespread that it has permeated even the Temple, God's dwelling place. This is a severe indictment, as these were the individuals appointed to uphold holiness and guide the people toward God. Their sin is not merely personal but systemic, affecting the spiritual health of the entire nation. The prophets spewed falsehoods, and the priests facilitated unholy practices within the very walls where God’s presence was acknowledged. Their actions demonstrate a complete abandonment of their divine calling and a deep-seated perversion of true worship. God's discovery of their wickedness in His house signifies His awareness of and disapproval of such blatant sacrilege and rebellion. This verse serves as a strong warning about the consequences of religious corruption and the importance of integrity in leadership, both then and now.