Jeremiah 23:30 kjv
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
Jeremiah 23:30 nkjv
"Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.
Jeremiah 23:30 niv
"Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.
Jeremiah 23:30 esv
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another.
Jeremiah 23:30 nlt
"Therefore," says the LORD, "I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me.
Jeremiah 23 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 23:30 | "Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord. | Direct opposition statement |
| Jer 23:31 | “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and say, ‘He declares.’" | Specific action of false prophets |
| Jer 23:32 | “Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. | Another form of deceptive prophecy |
| Deut 18:20 | “But the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak...that prophet shall die." | Command regarding false prophecy |
| Ezek 13:3 | "Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Woe to you prophets who…follow their own spirit…’" | Similar woe pronounced against false prophets |
| Zech 11:17 | “Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be wholly withered, his right eye blinded.” | Judgment on those who neglect God's flock |
| Matt 7:15 | “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” | Warning against false prophets |
| Acts 20:30 | “And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw the disciples after themselves.” | Similar internal threat in the church |
| 2 Peter 2:1 | “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you…” | Parallel occurrence of false prophets |
| 1 John 4:1 | “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…” | Admonition to discern true prophecy |
| Rev 22:18-19 | "I warn everyone who hears the words of this prophecy: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this scroll..." | Warning against altering prophetic words |
| Jer 14:14 | "The LORD said to me, 'The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoken to them.'" | God’s denial of sending prophets |
| Jer 29:8-9 | "...for they are prophesying falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them, declares the LORD." | Continuation of God's stance against false prophets |
| Ps 35:1 | "Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me." | Plea for God’s intervention against adversaries |
| Isa 30:10 | "...They say to the seers, 'See nothing,' and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us what is right, but speak to us smooth things, give illusions.'" | Demand for pleasing prophecies |
| Mic 3:5 | "Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry, 'Peace,' when they have something to eat, but declare war on anyone who does not put something in their mouths..." | Critique of self-serving prophets |
| John 10:10 | "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance." | Contrast with the true shepherd |
| Acts 5:3-4 | “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…?” | Lie against God's Spirit |
| Rom 8:31 | "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" | God's ultimate support for His people |
| Jer 27:14-15 | "...I have not sent them," declares the LORD, "and they are prophesying falsely in my name. I have hidden them, and they shall not have this dream. I will cause them to be gone." | Divine action of hiding/removing prophets |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 30 Meaning
This verse highlights God's strong opposition to the false prophets. It signifies His intentional disapproval and rejection of their prophetic messages, which they have deceitfully fabricated and delivered as if they were His own pronouncements. This divine judgment is on those who use the divine name to mislead others.
Jeremiah 23 30 Context
Jeremiah chapter 23 addresses the failure of the shepherds (leaders and prophets) of Israel. The immediate context for verse 30 is God's pronouncement of judgment against the false prophets who were deceitfully prophesying in His name. These prophets were giving messages of peace and prosperity, misleading the people during a time of impending Babylonian invasion and exile. They claimed divine authority for their fabricated prophecies, seeking to gain favor and sustenance from the people rather than conveying God’s true word. Jeremiah’s ministry was characterized by confronting these false oracles who undermined faith and preparedness for God’s judgment. The broader historical context is the southern kingdom of Judah in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a period marked by spiritual apostasy and political instability leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.
Jeremiah 23 30 Word Analysis
"Therefore" (Lamed-chai/ Lachin): Conjunction indicating a logical consequence. It links God’s pronouncement of opposition to the preceding description of the false prophets’ actions and their effect.
"behold" (Hineh): Interjection used for emphasis, drawing attention to a significant declaration. It introduces a direct, impactful statement from God.
"I" (Ani): Emphatic first-person pronoun. God is making a personal and direct declaration of His intent.
"am" (Hayah): The verb "to be." Indicates a state of being or existence.
"against" (Bamid): Preposition indicating opposition, conflict, or being positioned directly opposing someone or something. It conveys a hostile stance.
"the prophets" (Hanabiyim): Article "ha" meaning "the," followed by the plural noun "nabi" (prophet). Refers to those who claim to speak for God. The definite article signifies specific, identifiable individuals within the prophetic community.
"the prophets who steal each man's neighbor's word" (Mesolchei haroshamim davar re'ehu): This phrase is not present in Jeremiah 23:30. The verse states: "Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord." The description "steal each man's neighbor's word" is more akin to verses 23:25 and 23:30 later in the chapter which is about uttering their own words as prophecy. The original Hebrew for the phrase in verse 25/30 is closer to "stealing words" or "robbing each other's words," implying plagiarism or misrepresentation of messages. This captures the essence of false prophets taking messages (perhaps divine, perhaps from other prophets) and presenting them as their own authoritative pronouncements without true divine mandate.
"and say, 'He says.'" (Ve'omarim N'um Yahweh): The present participle "omarim" (saying) indicating ongoing action. This signifies the consistent repetition of their claims to divine authority. "N'um Yahweh" (declares the Lord) is a formal prophetic formula that they falsely use to authenticate their own pronouncements.
Jeremiah 23 30 Bonus Section
The prophetic formula "Thus says the Lord" (N'um Yahweh) was a sacred marker of authentic prophecy. False prophets hijacked this divine stamp of approval, thereby deceiving God's people into believing their self-generated messages were divine commands. This act of appropriation and perversion is a central theme in God’s condemnation of these individuals in Jeremiah 23. The entire chapter underscores the contrast between genuine prophets like Jeremiah, who faithfully conveyed God’s unvarnished message even when it was unpopular, and the false prophets who pandered to popular desires and offered empty promises of security. This distinction is crucial for understanding the spiritual warfare involved in maintaining theological integrity within the community of faith.
Jeremiah 23 30 Commentary
God declares His direct opposition to those who falsely claim to be prophets. This opposition is not passive but an active stance against their deception. They misuse God's name, claiming their own ideas or fabricated messages as divine pronouncements. This misrepresentation corrupts the prophetic office and misleads the people. God's judgment is a clear warning against those who seek personal gain by perverting divine truth. The emphasis is on authenticity; true prophecy originates from God and is delivered in His authority. False prophecy is characterized by its reliance on human fabrication and self-serving motives, a direct affront to God's nature and will.