Jeremiah 23:26 kjv
How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Jeremiah 23:26 nkjv
How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart,
Jeremiah 23:26 niv
How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?
Jeremiah 23:26 esv
How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,
Jeremiah 23:26 nlt
How long will this go on? If they are prophets, they are prophets of deceit, inventing everything they say.
Jeremiah 23 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 23:25 | I have heard what the prophets have prophesied who prophesy falsely in my name. They say, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.' | Strong denunciation of false prophecy |
| Jeremiah 14:14 | The LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying falsely in my name. I have not sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds." | Echoes the theme of false messages |
| Ezekiel 13:6 | They have seen false visions and practiced lying divination. They claim, 'The LORD declares,' though the LORD did not send them; yet they are eager to give their prophecy to others. | Parallels the self-reliance of false prophets |
| Deuteronomy 18:20-22 | But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?' — when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or return, that shall the word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. | Sets the criteria for distinguishing true from false prophecy |
| Galatians 1:8 | But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. | Reinforces the absolute authority of God's word |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. | Urges discernment against deceptive spiritual claims |
| Matthew 24:24 | For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. | Warns of future deceptive prophetic figures |
| 1 Timothy 4:1-2 | Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will desert the faith by… teaching falsehoods through the hypocrisy of liars, whose own conscience is seared. | Describes characteristics of those who deviate from truth |
| Romans 1:25 | Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. | Highlights the spiritual danger of embracing falsehood |
| 2 Timothy 4:3-4 | For there will come a time when people will not endure sound teaching, but, having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. | Explains the human inclination towards palatable but false teachings |
| Jeremiah 27:10 | For these prophets are prophesying to you falsely in my name. I have not sent them, declares the LORD.' | Consistent condemnation of false prophets in Jeremiah's time |
| Jeremiah 29:8 | For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to their dreams that they dream, | Directly addresses the danger of relying on personal dreams for prophecy |
| Isaiah 44:25 | …the one who foils the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns the wise backward and makes their knowledge foolish. | God's power to expose false prophecies |
| Proverbs 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | True wisdom starts with reverence for God |
| Jeremiah 5:31 | My people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end of it comes? | Describes people’s preference for pleasing lies over truth |
| John 8:44 | You are of your father the devil, and your heart’s desire is to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has been no liar, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of lies. | Identifies the ultimate source of lies |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 | The coming of the one works with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth, so that they might be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be judged who did not believe the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness. | Depicts divine judgment on those who reject truth |
| Zechariah 10:2 | For the teraphim speak iniquity, and the diviners give false visions; they tell dreams that are false, and they offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. | Similar imagery of deceit leading to spiritual ruin |
| Psalm 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Contrasts the steadfastness of God's word with deceptive dreams |
| Acts 20:30 | and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw the disciples after them. | Warns of internal deception within the church |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 26 Meaning
This verse speaks about the consequences of false prophets who rely on their own made-up dreams and messages rather than divine revelation. Their deception leads to people being misled and turning away from God's truth.
Jeremiah 23 26 Context
Jeremiah 23 addresses the failure of the shepherds (leaders and prophets) of Israel, particularly during the Babylonian exile. These leaders were not faithfully guiding the people but were instead misleading them with false promises and prophecies. The immediate context of verse 26 is within a broader indictment against the prophets who, instead of speaking God's pure word, were fabricating their own messages based on personal dreams and visions, often for their own gain and to please the people with comforting lies. This had led the nation astray, making them vulnerable to divine judgment. The overarching theme is the vital importance of authentic prophetic utterance derived solely from God, contrasted with the destructive nature of human invention and deception in matters of faith.
Jeremiah 23 26 Word Analysis
“How long shall this plan be in the heart of the prophets prophesying lies?”
- How long (ma ‘od) : Implies duration and a questioning of the persistence of this problematic behavior. It expresses a degree of exasperation at the continued deception.
- Shall this plan (yiqre' nadhav): Literally "shall this plan happen" or "shall this counsel occur." It points to the intended outcome or intent behind the prophets' messages. It suggests a predetermined design in their deceptive speech.
- Be in the heart (belib): 'Lib' (heart) signifies the inner core of a person's being, including their thoughts, emotions, intentions, and will. It means their schemes originate from within themselves.
- Of the prophets (lannebi'im): Refers to those who claimed to speak for God. Here, it's used pejoratively for false prophets. The term 'nabi' signifies someone who is an out-spoker or one moved by God.
- Prophesying lies (hanebe'im sheqer):
- Prophesying (hanebe'im): Speaking forth or proclaiming. The active participle indicates ongoing action.
- Lies (sheqer): Falsehood, deceit, untruthfulness. This is the core accusation. The lies are not accidental but intentional.
“Yes, it is the prophets of fraud who prophesy falsehood (Sheqer).
- Yes (ken): Affirmation, emphasizing the truth of the statement made about them.
- It is the prophets of fraud (nebiyyey shaqer hum): A stronger, more emphatic statement. 'Shaqer' (fraud, deceit, falsehood) is linked directly to the identity of the prophets, making them "prophets of falsehood" or "false prophets" in essence.
- Who prophesy falsehood (hanebe'im sheqer): Repetition for emphasis, reinforcing that their very act of prophesying is characterized by deceit. The redundancy underscores the pervasive nature of their deception.
Jeremiah 23 26 Bonus Section
The emphasis on "heart" (lib) indicates that the source of the problem was internal – their own desires and imaginations rather than external divine command. The repeated use of "sheqer" (lies/falsehood) highlights the malicious intent and deliberate nature of their communication. The practice of relying on dreams for prophetic confirmation is directly contrasted with true prophecy, which flows from direct communication from God Himself. This verse strongly advocates for a discernment that tests the origin and content of spiritual messages, prioritizing divine authority over human speculation.
Jeremiah 23 26 Commentary
This verse serves as a powerful indictment of spiritual leaders who abandon the pure word of God in favor of self-generated messages. The question "How long?" reveals God's displeasure with the persistent deception by these false prophets. They are accused of harboring lies in their hearts and proclaiming them as divine truth. The term "prophets of fraud" clearly labels them not merely as mistaken individuals, but as active purveyors of deceit. Their messages are described as "sheqer" (lies, falsehoods), which ultimately leads God's people astray and into spiritual peril. The essence of their sin is the substitution of human invention for divine revelation, a dangerous deviation that carries severe consequences for both the prophets and those who follow them. This is a timeless warning against any form of ministry or teaching that prioritizes human preference over the truth of God’s Word.