Jeremiah 23 16

Jeremiah 23:16 kjv

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:16 nkjv

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:16 niv

This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:16 esv

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:16 nlt

This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says to his people: "Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you,
filling you with futile hopes.
They are making up everything they say.
They do not speak for the LORD!

Jeremiah 23 verses

Jeremiah 23 16 Meaning

The prophets who spoke falsely claimed to have received visions from the Lord, but these visions were fabrications of their own minds. They told people these things were divine pronouncements, when in reality, they were invented.

Jeremiah 23 16 Context

Jeremiah 23:16 is situated within a broader message from God to the prophets of Israel who were misleading the people. This chapter is part of Jeremiah's oracle against the false prophets, who were delivering messages of peace and prosperity, directly contradicting Jeremiah's own pronouncements of impending judgment from Babylon. These false prophets presented their pronouncements as divine revelations, emboldening the people to resist God's warnings. Jeremiah was tasked by God to expose their deceit and the emptiness of their messages, highlighting the severe consequences of their false prophecy and the ultimate futility of trusting them.

Jeremiah 23 16 Word Analysis

• Thus (כֹּה - ko): Thus, so, in this way. It indicates a declaration or a presentation of a message.
• says (אָמַר - amar): He says, speaks, tells, commands. It signifies the act of vocalizing a divine message or command.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal name of God, often translated as "LORD" in all caps, emphasizing His covenantal relationship with Israel and His eternal, self-existent nature.
• of hosts (צְבָאוֹת - tzva'ot): Of armies, of hosts. This epithet for God signifies His supreme authority and power over all the celestial armies and earthly forces.
• the prophets (נְבִיאִים - nevi'im): Prophets, speakers for God, those who receive and transmit divine messages.
• of (the possessive often implied by juxtaposition in Hebrew): Connected to "hosts."
• false (שֶׁקֶר - sheqer): Lie, falsehood, deception, untruth. It describes the nature of their messages.
• prophesy (נִבְּאוּ - niv'u): They prophesied. The Hiphil (causative) or Piel (intensive) form of the root בּוא (bu') can be considered in some contexts, but here it directly refers to the act of prophesying, i.e., speaking as a prophet. The Kal form in context implies a spoken utterance.
• you (לָכֶם - lakhem): To you, for you. Addressing the people who were receiving these false messages.
• visions (חָזוֹן - chazon): Vision, sight. Refers to the imagery or prophetic revelation that a prophet supposedly received.
• of (of emptiness or vanity): Often implied or can be strengthened by context.
• emptiness (הֶבֶל - hevel): Vanity, futility, emptiness, vapor, breath. It highlights the worthlessness and lack of substance in their visions.
• a lying divination (קֶסֶם שֶׁקֶר - qesem sheqer): Divination, soothsaying, augury, a lie. A practice associated with forbidden occult arts, here coupled with falsehood, emphasizing the perversion of true prophetic gifting.
• and (וְ - ve): Conjunction, connecting the phrases.
• the neck (עֹרֶף - oref): Neck. Often used metonymically for stubbornness or a stiff, rebellious attitude towards God.
• of (the certainty/obstinacy): Implied.
• your (אַתֶּם - atem): You (plural). Referring to the people.
• own (הַּתֶּם - hattem, in some manuscript traditions related to the verb "to break," suggesting "they break/they are stubborn"): This Hebrew word can have varying textual interpretations. If from נֶתַּק (natak - to break off, sever) or perhaps relating to breaking a yoke or covenant. It emphasizes their proud or defiant bearing, reinforcing their willful deviation from truth.
• hearts (לֵבָב - levav): Heart, mind, will. The inner seat of thought, emotion, and will.
• they (הֵם - hem): They, referring to the prophets.
• shew (מַרְאֶה - mar'eh): Appearance, sight, vision, that which is seen.
• forth (not a separate word, implied by "shew"): Showing or revealing something.
• the oracle (נְאֻם - ne'um): Oracle, utterance, word. A declaration of divine speech.
• of (of the Lord): Related to the LORD.

Grouped analysis:

• "visions of emptiness" (חֲזוֹן הֶבֶל - chazon hevel): This phrase signifies prophetic utterances that lack any divine substance or true fulfillment; they are meaningless and futile.
• "a lying divination" (קֶסֶם שֶׁקֶר - qesem sheqer): This links false prophecy with pagan divination practices, indicating a perversion of God's communication system and a descent into occult arts.
• "the neck of your own hearts" (עֹרֶף לְבָבְכֶם - oref levavchem): This powerful idiom depicts the stubbornness and obstinate refusal of the people (and by extension, the prophets they followed) to heed God's true word. Their "hearts" are characterized by a stiff-necked pride that rejects divine authority.

Jeremiah 23 16 Bonus Section

The concept of "emptiness" (hevel) resonates throughout Ecclesiastes, describing the transience and futility of life lived apart from God. Here, it is applied to prophetic messages, emphasizing that without God's authority and truth, they are ultimately meaningless and lead to ruin. The pairing of "false" (sheqer) with "divination" (qesem) is significant, suggesting that when individuals abandon God's appointed means of communication (true prophets), they often turn to prohibited or corrupted methods of seeking guidance. The image of the stiff neck is a recurring motif in the Old Testament, symbolizing rebellion and a refusal to submit to God's authority (Exodus 33:5; Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 7:26). This verse demonstrates how this obstinacy makes people vulnerable to deception, as they reject genuine divine pronouncements for comforting lies.

Jeremiah 23 16 Commentary

This verse reveals a crucial characteristic of false prophets: they speak of visions they have manufactured within themselves. They claim these are divine revelations from "the LORD of hosts," but the "visions" are actually "emptiness" (hevel), meaning they are futile, baseless, and devoid of God's truth. They also engage in "lying divination" (qesem sheqer), corrupting the true prophetic function with pagan, occult practices. This highlights that their communication is not from God but from their own desires and potentially darker influences.

The "neck of your own hearts" (levavchem) refers to the deep-seated, willful stubbornness and pride within the people, which made them susceptible to these lies. Their own hearts were hardened, refusing to acknowledge the truth. The prophets manufactured these visions to serve their own agenda, flattering the people and masking the reality of coming judgment. This was not just a misunderstanding; it was a deliberate deception rooted in internal corruption.

True prophecy serves to reveal God's will, call to repentance, and convey His truth, even when that truth is difficult. False prophecy seeks to deceive, comfort with lies, and maintain the status quo, often for the prophet's personal gain or to avoid confronting sin. This verse serves as a stark warning to always test prophetic claims against Scripture and the overarching character of God, discerning between messages that bring true spiritual life and those that are mere "emptiness."