Jeremiah 23:18 kjv
For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
Jeremiah 23:18 nkjv
For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD, And has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it?
Jeremiah 23:18 niv
But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?
Jeremiah 23:18 esv
For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened?
Jeremiah 23:18 nlt
"Have any of these prophets been in the LORD's presence
to hear what he is really saying?
Has even one of them cared enough to listen?
Jeremiah 23 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 23:21 | I did not send these prophets, | Jer 23:21 (Prophetic uncommissioned speech) |
| Jer 14:14 | And the prophets prophesy falsely | Jer 14:14 (False prophecy in Judah) |
| Ezek 13:6 | They see falsehood and lying | Ezek 13:6 (Deception of prophets) |
| Zech 10:2 | spoke falsehood, and the diviners saw lies, | Zech 10:2 (False visions) |
| Matt 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, | Matt 7:15 (Warning against false prophets) |
| 2 Cor 11:13 | For such men are false apostles, | 2 Cor 11:13 (Deceitful workers) |
| 2 Thess 2:9 | the coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan | 2 Thess 2:9 (Deception by lawlessness) |
| 1 John 4:1 | many false prophets have gone out into the world. | 1 John 4:1 (Testing the spirits) |
| Rev 19:20 | this beast, and with him the false prophet | Rev 19:20 (Judgment of false prophet) |
| Jer 6:13 | Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain, | Jer 6:13 (Greed of leaders) |
| Jer 8:10 | Therefore I will give their houses to others | Jer 8:10 (Consequences of false teaching) |
| Isa 30:10 | who say to the seers, “Do not see,” | Isa 30:10 (Rejection of truth) |
| Jer 27:9-10 | "As for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers... For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you, | Jer 27:9-10 (Warning against false counsel) |
| Acts 20:30 | and from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking twisted things, to draw the disciples after them. | Acts 20:30 (Rising of false teachers) |
| Jer 5:31 | The prophets prophesy falsely, | Jer 5:31 (Societal corruption) |
| Ezek 22:28 | Her prophets have smeared them with whitewash, | Ezek 22:28 (False prophets) |
| Mal 2:8 | But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your teaching. | Mal 2:8 (Corrupt priesthood) |
| Prov 28:24 | Whoever robs his father or mother and says, “It is not a transgression,” | Prov 28:24 (Self-deception) |
| Jer 23:17 | They incessantly say to those who despise the word of the LORD, “It shall be well with you”; | Jer 23:17 (False assurances) |
| Jer 29:8-9 | Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, | Jer 29:8-9 (Warning against deception) |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 18 Meaning
This verse declares that the Lord has not sent the false prophets. Their pronouncements are self-generated, and therefore, they are not from God. Consequently, their predictions will not be fulfilled. It highlights the unreliability and deceitfulness of those who claim divine inspiration without being truly commissioned by God.
Jeremiah 23 18 Context
In Jeremiah chapter 23, the prophet addresses the people of Judah during a time of political and spiritual turmoil. The nation is facing threats from Babylon and experiencing internal corruption, with many false prophets offering comforting but misleading messages. These prophets speak of peace and prosperity, contradicting God's message of impending judgment due to their sin. Verse 18 specifically highlights that these prophets have not been sent by the Lord and, therefore, their prophecies are devoid of divine authority and truth. This is part of God's ongoing condemnation of the false prophets and a call to the people to discern true prophecy from falsehood.
Jeremiah 23 18 Word Analysis
"who are they": This phrase directly questions the identity and legitimacy of the prophets being addressed.
"that have seen": The prophets claim to have received visions or revelations. The phrase "have seen" implies a perception of truth, which the verse immediately refutes.
"a false vision": This describes the nature of their purported revelations. "False" (Hebrew: sheqer) denotes something untrue, deceptive, or lying. Their visions lack truth.
"and divination": This refers to practices of foretelling the future through supernatural means. The Hebrew word used often carries a sense of empty or vain practice.
"and the deceit": "Deceit" (Hebrew: tuaḥat) signifies delusion or emptiness, pointing to the illusory nature of their pronouncements.
"of the heart of their pride": This is a crucial phrase. The "heart" (Hebrew: lev) represents the inner being, the seat of thought and will. "Pride" (Hebrew: za‘ad) suggests arrogance or boasting. Their deceitful visions originate from their own arrogant self-will, not from God's initiative.
"they cause to prophesy unto you": This indicates their active role in broadcasting their false messages to the people.
"Therefore": This signifies a logical consequence that follows the preceding statements about the prophets.
"thus saith the LORD": This is the official, authoritative declaration of God, which these false prophets are mimicking without divine sanction.
"they shall not stand": This refers to the ultimate failure of their prophecies. They will not come to pass. It implies that their words will prove baseless and without lasting effect.
"neither shall they prosper": This reinforces the previous point, indicating that their deceptive messages and their personal efforts stemming from them will not lead to success or well-being.
"the princes": The ruling or authoritative figures.
"the kings": The highest rulers.
"the elders": Leaders and overseers of the people.
"the false visions": Visions that are untrue.
"the deceit of the heart": The delusions arising from internal pride.
"self-appointed messengers": Prophets who claim God's word but are not sent.
"empty pronouncements": Words that lack divine authority and truth.
"divine rejection": The consequence for false prophets.
"human origin": The source of their prophecies.
"inner arrogance": The root of their deceit.
Jeremiah 23 18 Bonus Section
The practice of false prophecy was particularly insidious because it offered immediate comfort and negated the need for repentance, thereby keeping the people entrenched in their sin. Scholars and commentators emphasize that the core issue with these prophets was their lack of divine commission and their dependence on internal, self-serving motivations (pride, desire for gain) rather than the authoritative voice of the Lord. This mirrors warnings in the New Testament about false teachers who prey on people’s desires and fears, speaking “from their own hearts” rather than the Spirit (Ezekiel 13:2). The verse underscores the principle that true prophecy is always subject to God’s sovereignty and revealed will, not human manipulation.
Jeremiah 23 18 Commentary
Jeremiah 23:18 strongly condemns the self-appointed prophets who, driven by their own pride and deceit, deliver false visions and pronouncements. These prophets have not been sent by the Lord, making their messages hollow and destined for failure. Their self-serving pronouncements offer a false sense of security to the people, contrasting sharply with the genuine word of God. This verse is a stern warning against those who twist divine truth for personal gain or comfort, emphasizing that any prophecy not rooted in divine commission and truth will ultimately fall short. It highlights the importance of discerning true prophets, whose messages align with God’s revealed will and bring about genuine, albeit sometimes challenging, truth.