Jeremiah 23 27

Jeremiah 23:27 kjv

Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

Jeremiah 23:27 nkjv

who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.

Jeremiah 23:27 niv

They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship.

Jeremiah 23:27 esv

who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal?

Jeremiah 23:27 nlt

By telling these false dreams, they are trying to get my people to forget me, just as their ancestors did by worshiping the idols of Baal.

Jeremiah 23 verses

Jeremiah 23 27 Meaning

The verse condemns the prophets who mislead the people by speaking false visions, lies, and claims of divine authorization when God has not spoken. It highlights the severe consequences of their deception.

Jeremiah 23 27 Context

Jeremiah 23 is a chapter where the prophet confronts the false prophets of Jerusalem who were misleading the people. They were giving messages of peace and prosperity, directly contradicting God's warnings of impending judgment due to the people's sin and idolatry. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet during a time of severe moral and spiritual decay in Judah. This particular verse is part of a condemnation of these false spiritual leaders who were stealing God's words, presenting false visions, and causing the people to forget God's true message and His covenant. The historical context involves the Babylonian exile looming over Judah. The false prophets offered a false hope that prevented repentance and preparation for the consequences of their actions.

Jeremiah 23 27 Word Analysis

• כֹּה (koh) - Thus; so. Emphasizes the authoritative statement that follows.
• אָמַר (amar) - to say, to tell, to speak. This verb is used frequently, highlighting the act of communication.
• יְהוָה (YHWH) - The LORD. The personal, covenantal name of God, emphasizing His direct involvement and authority.
• לָהֶם (lahem) - to them. Refers back to the false prophets.
• הַנְּבִיאִים (ha-nevi'im) - the prophets. Denotes the recipients of the divine message or those claiming prophetic status.
• נְבֻאוֹת (nevua'ot) - prophecies. The utterances or visions attributed to prophets.
• שֶׁקֶר (sheqer) - a lie, falsehood, deceit. Central to the denunciation; their prophecies are not true.
• אִישׁ (ish) - a man. Personalizes the action; each individual prophet.
• אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ (et-re'ehu) - his neighbor, his fellow. Indicates internal deception within the prophetic community, or that prophets are speaking to their peers and influencing each other.
• יִגְנוֹבוּ (yignovu) - they steal. A powerful image suggesting illicit acquisition and misrepresentation of what truly belongs to God. It implies taking God's messages and twisting them or fabricating new ones under His name.
• וּלְשׁוֹן (ul'shon) - and tongue. Connects the stealing of words with the perversion of speech itself.
• חָזָה (chazah) - to see (visionary sight), to behold. Relates to the visions the false prophets claim to receive.
• יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrael) - Israel. Refers to the people of God.
• נַפְשׁוֹ (naffsho) - his soul. Indicates a profound impact on the inner being of the people.
• יַעֲלֶה (ya'aleh) - caused to go up; to lift up; to bring upon. Implies causing something to ascend, here specifically affecting the "soul" or "spirit" of the people in a wrong way.
• מִשְׁמַעַת (mishma'at) - hearing. Refers to obedience or what is heard.
• יִשְׁמְעוּ (yishma'u) - they hear. Highlights the receptive action of the people.
• דְּבָרַי (devarai) - my words. The direct, authoritative speech of God.
• שְׁמִי (shmi) - my name. The essence and reputation of God.
• יִשְׁכָּחוּ (yishkachu) - they forget. The devastating consequence of false prophecy—leading people away from God's truth, causing them to forget His identity and His message.

Words-Group Analysis

• "the prophets prophesy lies" (נְבִיאִים נְבֻאוֹת שֶׁקֶר) - This is a direct indictment, defining their prophetic activity as inherently deceitful. It's not merely a mistake, but a consistent pattern of falsehood.
• "every one steals his neighbor's word" (אִישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ יִגְנוֹבוּ דְּבַר) - This signifies a corruption of divine communication, where prophets don't rely on direct revelation from God but borrow, twist, and misappropriate messages, leading to a distorted understanding of God's will. It suggests a network of deception rather than isolated incidents.
• "say, ‘The LORD has spoken’" (אָמַר לָהֶם, כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה) - The audacious claim to divine authority, "Thus says the LORD," is used to legitimize their fabricated messages. This highlights the grave offense of presuming to speak for God when He has not commissioned them, thereby potentially misrepresenting His character and intentions to His people.
• "by their falsehoods" (בְּשִׁקְרֵי) - Emphasizes that the means by which they operate and mislead the people is through lies.
• "cause my people to forget my name" (יַעֲלוּ אֶת־עַמִּי לִשְׁכֹּחַ אֶת־שְׁמִי) - The ultimate consequence described. Forgetting God's name means forgetting His attributes, His promises, His actions, and His covenant relationship with them. This loss of divine remembrance leads to apostasy and judgment.

Jeremiah 23 27 Bonus Section

The deception described in this verse directly opposes the prophetic call to remembrance and faithfulness. God repeatedly commanded His people to remember His works, His laws, and His covenant (Deuteronomy 8:2; Psalm 105:5). The false prophets' primary damage was their success in obscuring God from His people's memory, making them vulnerable to deeper sin and judgment. This also relates to the concept of "a lying spirit" found in other biblical passages, indicating supernatural influence behind the false prophetic activity (1 Kings 22:22). The emphasis on forgetting "my name" signifies forgetting God's character – His holiness, His justice, His mercy, and His power. It's not just a loss of facts, but a disconnect from the very essence of who God is.

Jeremiah 23 27 Commentary

Jeremiah 23:27 is a pivotal verse in the ongoing critique of false prophets. It exposes their method: a deliberate fabrication and theft of divine discourse. They do not seek God's true word but plagiarize and distort messages to create an appealing narrative of peace, contrary to the reality of God's judgment that was due to the sinfulness of Israel. The phrase "steal his neighbor's word" suggests that these prophets are not independent innovators of falsehood, but rather contribute to a shared deception, building upon each other's lies. Their intent is clearly manipulative, aiming to lead God's people astray. The most profound aspect is the ultimate outcome: "cause my people to forget my name." This speaks to a spiritual amnesia, where the people no longer remember God's true nature, His commands, and His covenant love, because the false prophets are effectively replacing the true revelation with a fabricated one. This is the gravest of spiritual dangers. The prophets falsely attribute their "visions" and "words" to God, claiming "Thus says the LORD," a declaration that, when untruthful, is a blasphemous presumption. This verse highlights the responsibility of prophets to accurately represent God, and the severe consequence of leading people into a spiritual darkness that results in their estrangement from God's true identity and relationship. It underscores that true prophecy builds up remembrance of God, while false prophecy induces forgetting.