Jeremiah 23:14 kjv
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
Jeremiah 23:14 nkjv
Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.
Jeremiah 23:14 niv
And 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."
Jeremiah 23:14 esv
But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah."
Jeremiah 23:14 nlt
But now I see that the prophets of Jerusalem are even worse!
They commit adultery and love dishonesty.
They encourage those who are doing evil
so that no one turns away from their sins.
These prophets are as wicked
as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah once were."
Jeremiah 23 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 23:14 | I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: ... | Deut. 32:32 |
| Jeremiah 23:14 | ... they commit adultery, and walk with lying, they strengthen also | Gen. 19:1-11 |
| Jeremiah 23:14 | the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: ... | Hosea 4:2 |
| Jeremiah 23:14 | ... they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof | Gen. 18:20-21 |
| Jeremiah 23:14 | as Gomorrah. | Isa. 1:9-10 |
| Jeremiah 23:15 | Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; ... | Jer. 14:15 |
| Jeremiah 23:15 | I will feed them with wormwood, and cause them to drink the water of bit- | Prov. 5:4, 6 |
| Jeremiah 23:16 | Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the pro- | Jer. 29:8-9 |
| Jeremiah 23:17 | They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall | Isa. 28:15 |
| Jeremiah 23:18 | For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived or heard | Job 15:8 |
| Jeremiah 23:19 | Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a griev- | Jer. 30:23 |
| Jeremiah 23:20 | The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he hath executed, and till | Jer. 4:8 |
| Jeremiah 23:22 | But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my | Jer. 23:5 |
| Jeremiah 23:30 | Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that | Ezek. 13:2, 8 |
| Jeremiah 27:9 | Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, ... | Jer. 23:21 |
| Lamentations 1:3 | Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of | Lam. 1:18 |
| Micah 3:11 | The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for | Micah 6:11 |
| Matthew 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but | Matt. 7:22-23 |
| 2 Peter 2:1-3 | But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there | 2 Pet. 2:14, 17 |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are | 1 John 4:1 |
| Revelation 18:4 | And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my ... | Rev. 17:5 |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 14 Meaning
This verse condemns the false prophets in Jerusalem, accusing them of deeds so terrible, even the people of Sodom and Gomorrah would not match their wickedness and corruption. It highlights their egregious sins, especially adultery and lying, and declares God's intention to punish them by scattering them like chaff.
Jeremiah 23 14 Context
Jeremiah chapter 23 addresses the persistent issue of false prophets in Judah. These prophets undermined Jeremiah's authentic message from God, offering comforting lies to the people instead of warnings and calls to repentance. The chapter contrasts God's true message, delivered through faithful prophets, with the deceptive messages of the false prophets. This specific verse serves as a strong indictment of the moral corruption prevalent among these false prophets, directly linking their sinfulness to the destruction that will befall them and the nation. Historically, this occurred during a turbulent period in Judah's history, leading up to the Babylonian exile, a time when religious and moral integrity was critically needed.
Jeremiah 23 14 Word Analysis
Seen: (Hebrew: ראה - ra'ah) Implies not just visual perception but a profound understanding and discernment of their actions and their nature. God sees beyond outward appearances to the heart.
Also: (Hebrew: גַּם - gam) Indicates an additional observation or continuation of God's judgment upon the prophetic group.
Prophets: (Hebrew: נְבִיאִים - nevi'im) Those who claimed to speak for God, but in this context, they are charlatans and deceivers.
Jerusalem: The spiritual and political capital of Judah, signifying the deep-seated corruption at the heart of God's people.
Horrible thing: (Hebrew: שִׁעוּר - shi'ur) Often translated as "measure" or "account," here it suggests a monstrous, shocking reality or practice that fills up a measure of wickedness. The enormity of their deeds is immeasurable in its depravity.
Adultery: (Hebrew: נִאוּף - ni'uf) Literal sexual unfaithfulness, but also used metaphorically for spiritual infidelity—worshipping other gods or relying on human systems instead of God.
Walking with lying: (Hebrew: הָלוֹךְ בַּשֶּׁקֶר - halokh ba-sheqer) This phrase describes a lifestyle characterized by deceit. "Sheqer" means falsehood, deceit, or a lie. It indicates that lying was not an isolated incident but a habitual practice that defined their conduct.
Strengthen: (Hebrew: סָמַךְ - samakh) Means to support, uphold, or prop up.
Hands of evildoers: Those who perpetrate wicked deeds. The false prophets' lies and corrupted messages empowered and encouraged the wicked.
None doth return: (Hebrew: לֹא־יָשׁוּב - lo-yashuv) Emphasizes the totality of the moral decay; no one, due to their influence, was turning back from their sin.
Wickedness: (Hebrew: רִשְׁעָה - rish'ah) Evil, injustice, and sinfulness.
Unto me: (Hebrew: אֵלַי - 'elay) God's personal perspective, indicating how their actions were viewed and offensive to Him.
Sodom: A city renowned in Scripture for its extreme wickedness and divine judgment (Gen. 19).
Gomorrah: Paired with Sodom, symbolizing unparalleled depravity and destruction by fire.
Prophets...walking with lying...strengthen the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: This group epitomizes religious corruption. Their "prophecies" were not divine revelation but pronouncements that appeased sinners and enabled their continued sin. Their falsehoods prevented people from seeking repentance and reconciliation with God. This collective behavior mirrored the moral abandonment of Sodom and Gomorrah, highlighting a national spiritual sickness facilitated by religious leaders.
Jeremiah 23 14 Bonus Section
The verse strongly connects spiritual faithfulness with moral purity. When religious leaders compromise on truth, they often compromise on ethical living, and vice versa. The ultimate judgment on these prophets involves their scattering and ruin, mirroring the dispersion of those who oppose God's order. The comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah serves not only to express the severity of their sin but also as a solemn warning about God's uncompromising judgment against persistent, unrepentant wickedness, especially when it originates from those who should be guiding others towards righteousness.
Jeremiah 23 14 Commentary
The false prophets are depicted as deeply immoral, practicing adultery and promoting lies. Their influence was so pernicious that they emboldened evildoers, ensuring no one repented. God equates their wickedness with that of Sodom and Gomorrah, places destroyed for their extreme sin. This highlights that religious leaders have a unique accountability; their failures in moral and spiritual leadership are particularly grievous in God's eyes. Their deceptive words, instead of calling people to righteousness, perpetuated sin, leading to devastating consequences. Their spiritual adultery is as serious as their literal sins.