Jeremiah 23:32 kjv
Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:32 nkjv
Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:32 niv
Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:32 esv
Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:32 nlt
I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the LORD, have spoken!
Jeremiah 23 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 23:32 | "Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their falsehoods and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them nor did I command them. They do not profit these people at all, declares the LORD." | |
| Ezekiel 13:6 | "They see falsehood and lying divination for them who say, ‘The LORD says,’ but the LORD did not send them, and they expect him to confirm their word." | Rebuke against false prophets |
| Zechariah 10:2 | "For the teraphim utter iniquity, and the diviners see lies; they tell dreams of vanity; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd." | Deception through divination |
| Matthew 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." | Warning against false prophets |
| 2 Peter 2:1-3 | "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destruction by which the way of truth will be reviled." | Warning against false teachers |
| 1 John 4:1 | "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." | Testing the spirits |
| Revelation 19:20 | "And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who worked signs on its behalf by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur." | Final judgment of the false prophet |
| Acts 15:24 | "Since we have heard that some persons have gone from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no common." | Troubling words from deceivers |
| Galatians 1:8-9 | "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." | Gospel contrary to truth |
| 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 verify itself, that is the word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you need not fear him.” | Condition for identifying false prophets |
| Jeremiah 29:8-9 | "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for they are falsely prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD." | Deception by false prophets |
| Jeremiah 14:14 | "Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them: neither have I commanded them nor spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own hearts.”" | False prophecy in God's name |
| Jeremiah 23:21 | "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran: I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied." | Unsent prophets |
| Micah 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 those who do not put something in their mouths." | Prophets crying "Peace" |
| Isaiah 30:10 | "who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right, but flatter us with smooth things, prophesy illusions." | Seeking pleasant lies |
| Isaiah 58:1 | "Shout aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins." | True prophets speak truth |
| Hosea 9:7 | "The days of punishment have come; the days of reckoning have come. Israel shall know it. The prophet is a fool; the man of the spirit is mad, because of your great iniquity and great hostility." | Prophet as a fool |
| Leviticus 19:36 | "You shall have honest scales and honest weights, a honest ephah and a honest hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." | Honesty and truth |
| Proverbs 19:5 | "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape." | Consequences of lying |
| Proverbs 12:22 | "Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight." | God's view on lying |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 32 Meaning
This verse condemns the deceptive practices of prophets who fabricate prophecies. It highlights the divine judgment they face for misleading God's people with falsehoods presented as divine revelations, specifically by telling dreams or visions that are not from God. The consequence is being cut off for their lies and deception.
Jeremiah 23 32 Context
Jeremiah chapter 23 is situated within a broader prophecy of judgment against Judah and its leadership, particularly the kings and false prophets, during the late monarchial period. The surrounding verses address the unfaithfulness of the kings and the people, and specifically condemn the false prophets who provided deceptive messages of peace and prosperity when God’s judgment was imminent due to sin. This particular verse, Jeremiah 23:32, directly targets those who claim to speak for God through dreams and visions but are fabricating their messages. They are leading the people away from God’s truth, offering false hope instead of a call to repentance. The historical backdrop is crucial: Judah was facing threats from Babylon, and instead of urging the people towards reliance on God and repentance, these false prophets offered soothing lies, ultimately exacerbating the nation's downfall. Jeremiah himself was often at odds with these prophets, a prophet of doom to them, while they spoke of comfort.
Jeremiah 23 32 Word Analysis
- Behold (hineh - הִנֵּה): An interjection commanding attention. It serves to draw the audience into the immediate message, emphasizing its importance and imminence.
- I am against (ani be'qorov - אֲנִי בְּקִרְבָם): Indicates divine opposition and judgment. The Lord actively stands against these individuals and their actions.
- Those who prophesy (hannebi'im hannevi'im - הַנְּבִיאִים הַנִּבְּאִים): Refers to individuals who claim to speak divine messages. The repetition emphasizes their prophetic role and the perversion of that role.
- False dreams (halomot shaqer - חֲלֹמֹת שֶׁקֶר): Dreams that are not divinely inspired, but are instead fabrications, illusions, or misleading visions.
- And who tell them (vinashbe'em - וּמְשַׁקְּרִים אוֹתָם): "Meshiim" implies twisting, falsifying, or lying about the content of these fabricated dreams. It suggests an active propagation of falsehood.
- And lead my people astray (umeshotetim et 'ammi - וּמְשׁוֹטְטִים אֶת־עַמִּי): The phrase implies causing the people to wander, to err, or to be scattered by false teachings. They are diverting them from the true path of God.
- By their falsehoods (bishneqer - בְּשֶׁקֶר): Attributing the straying to the very nature of their untrue messages.
- And by their recklessness (uzehodah - וּבְזֵדוֹן): "Zedah" can imply presumption, boldness, or even insolence. It highlights a willful defiance in their actions, a proud continuation of their lies despite clear warnings or absence of divine command. It is not just error, but intentional error.
- Yet I did not send them (velo shelathtem - וְלֹא שְׁלַחְתִּים): A clear declaration of divine non-commissioning. These prophets acted entirely without God’s authority or mandate.
- Nor did I command them (velo tzivitiham - וְלֹא צִוִּיתִים): Reinforces the lack of divine authorization. They had no instructions or directives from the Lord.
- They do not profit these people at all (lo yogi'un le'am hazeh ho'il - לֹא־יֹעִילוּ לָעָם הַזֶּה מוֹעִיל): Emphasizes the absolute lack of benefit. Their messages are not only false but entirely unhelpful, offering no true spiritual or practical advantage to the people, and instead causing harm by misdirection.
Group Analysis:
- "prophesy false dreams, and who tell them": This pairing highlights the process of creation (prophesying) and dissemination (telling) of lies. It’s not just an internal delusion but an outward deceit.
- "lead my people astray by their falsehoods and by their recklessness": This links the cause (falsehoods and recklessness) with the effect (leading astray), underscoring the harmful consequences of their actions. The "recklessness" implies a hardened heart and a deliberate choice to deceive, going beyond mere error.
- "Yet I did not send them nor did I command them": This is a critical statement establishing God’s direct disavowal of these prophets. It separates true prophetic ministry, which flows from God’s commission, from this illegitimate claim.
Jeremiah 23 32 Bonus Section
The concept of "dreams" as a vehicle for prophecy was acknowledged in the Old Testament (Num 12:6). However, Jeremiah distinguishes between God-sent dreams and fabricated ones. The false prophets’ error wasn't in using dreams, but in manipulating them and attributing them to God when they originated from their own minds or deceitful spirits. This condemnation is part of God's ongoing effort to uphold the integrity of His word and to protect His people from spiritual deception. The contrast with true prophets like Jeremiah, who endured hardship for speaking God’s truth, is implicit. The Lord's affirmation "Yet I did not send them" is paramount, establishing that divine authority is non-transferable and any prophetic claim without divine origin is invalid and subject to judgment.
Jeremiah 23 32 Commentary
This verse serves as a direct condemnation of false prophets in ancient Israel, specifically those who relied on fabricated dreams as a means of divination and divine communication. The Lord declares His opposition to these individuals, noting that their message is characterized by untruth and presumption ("recklessness"). They are not acting on divine commission; God explicitly states He did not send or command them. Consequently, their influence on the people is entirely detrimental, offering no benefit whatsoever. This serves as a powerful reminder that true prophecy must align with God's known word, originate from His commission, and aim for the edification and guidance of His people, not their deception and ruin.