Jeremiah 23 28

Jeremiah 23:28 kjv

The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:28 nkjv

"The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:28 niv

Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:28 esv

Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:28 nlt

"Let these false prophets tell their dreams,
but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word.
There is a difference between straw and grain!

Jeremiah 23 verses

Jeremiah 23 28 Meaning

The prophet Jeremiah emphatically states that the prophecy of a false prophet is no different from chaff blown away by the wind. The word of God is like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces, distinguishing itself from the deceptive messages of false prophets. This verse underscores the essential purity and power of God's true word, which has enduring substance, unlike the emptiness of falsehood.

Jeremiah 23 28 Context

Jeremiah 23:25-28 is part of a larger prophetic oracle delivered by Jeremiah to the people and particularly the false prophets in Jerusalem. Jeremiah's ministry occurred during a turbulent period in Judah's history, preceding and during the Babylonian exile. The false prophets were misleading the populace by offering messages of peace and prosperity, contradicting God's pronouncements of judgment due to the nation's sin and apostasy. This passage specifically addresses the internal corruption of these prophetic voices. Jeremiah is commissioned to expose their lies and their misguided reliance on their own interpretations and traditions, differentiating his message as originating solely from Yahweh.

Jeremiah 23 28 Word Analysis

• The prophet: Refers to Jeremiah, a divinely appointed messenger.
• which: Introduces the subordinate clause describing the prophetic message.
• hath / has: An older English conjugation, indicating possession or a past action with present relevance.
• a dream / dreams: Refers to visions or imaginative experiences, often claimed by prophets. However, in this context, it's associated with subjective rather than divine revelation.
• and: Connects the preceding noun with the following one.
• he that: Pronoun phrase, referring to the individual prophet.
• hath / has: (See above)
• a dream / dreams: (See above)
• he tells / tells them: Narrates or reports his vision or message.
• the people / my people: Refers to the Israelites, God's covenant people.
• and: (See above)
• that / who: Connects the clause describing the people.
• which / from their own / from the lie / after: These phrases together signify the origin of the deceptive message – it is not from God but from themselves or from a source of falsehood. "From their own heart" signifies internal fabrication.
• hath / has: (See above)
• their own / his own: Denotes something originating from oneself.
• heart / hearts: The inner core of a person's being, including thoughts, will, and emotions; here, the source of their false prophecies.
• my word / the word of the LORD / My word / words: The authoritative message directly from Yahweh.
• is like / like: Used for comparison, highlighting the contrasting nature of the two types of speech.
• chaff / straw: The light, dry husk of grain separated during threshing; it is worthless and easily blown away. It represents the emptiness and lack of substance in false prophecy.
• which / that: Connects the clause describing chaff.
• perisheth / perishes / is blown away: Signifies destruction or disappearance; something that lacks permanence or solidity.
• what / how / therefore / and: Transitional conjunctions that link the preceding comparison to the conclusion drawn.
• saith / the LORD / of the LORD / Yahweh: Affirmation of the source and authority of the message being conveyed.

Group Analysis:

• "A prophet who has a dream, and he tells them his dream": This phrase captures the essence of self-generated or uninspired prophecy. The emphasis is on the prophetic claim rooted in a personal vision ("dream") rather than divine commission.
• "let that prophet tell": A conditional imperative, challenging the false prophets to speak.
• "And he that hath a dream, let him tell his dream": This repeated phrase underscores the insignificance and untrustworthiness of such personal visions when they are presented as God's word.
• "and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully": This sets up a stark contrast. Those who truly possess God's word are enjoined to speak it with accuracy and loyalty.
• "What is the straw to the wheat?" / "What is chaff to the grain?": This rhetorical question vividly illustrates the difference in value and substance between divine revelation (wheat) and false prophecy (chaff). The grain is essential sustenance, while the chaff is refuse.
• "saith the LORD." / "Thus says the LORD.": This refrain is critical. It repeatedly anchors the distinction and the pronouncement of judgment firmly in the authority of Yahweh himself. It affirms that this discernment is God's decree.
• "Is not my word like as a fire? and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?": This potent analogy describes the transformative, powerful, and decisive nature of God's true word. It is cleansing like fire and shattering like a hammer against hard rock, representing stubborn sin and deceit.

Jeremiah 23 28 Bonus Section

The concept of distinguishing between true and false prophecy is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. False prophets in the Old Testament often preyed on people's desire for comfort, leading them away from God's covenant and righteous commands. Similarly, the New Testament warns about false teachers who may appear legitimate but ultimately lead people astray with distorted doctrine. The "fire" mentioned can also be seen in contexts of purification and testing of faith (1 Corinthians 3:12-15), while the "hammer" imagery resonates with God's power to bring down opposing powers and sinful structures (Jeremiah 1:10). The ultimate implication is that God's Word possesses intrinsic authority and a nature that cannot be equated with human opinion or deception. It is enduring and divinely authenticated, unlike the fleeting and hollow words of those who claim prophetic utterance without divine commission.

Jeremiah 23 28 Commentary

This verse delivers a strong polemic against false prophets by using potent imagery. The core message is the absolute distinction between genuine, God-breathed prophecy and the hollow pronouncements of those who speak from their own imagination or personal revelation, claiming it to be from God. The comparison of God's word to "chaff" highlights its enduring power, truth, and substance versus the worthlessness, emptiness, and transience of false prophecies. True prophecy, like the wheat in the analogy, is valuable and life-sustaining. False prophecy, like chaff, is easily dispersed and ultimately contributes nothing. The latter part of the verse employs similes to further emphasize the divine word's efficacy: it is like fire, capable of purifying and consuming error, and like a hammer that can shatter even the hardest of objects, signifying its power to break through rebellion and ingrained sin. Jeremiah is tasked with delivering this uncompromising message, differentiating the divine voice from deceptive human rhetoric.