Jeremiah 23 34

Jeremiah 23:34 kjv

And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.

Jeremiah 23:34 nkjv

"And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, 'The oracle of the LORD!' I will even punish that man and his house.

Jeremiah 23:34 niv

If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, 'This is a message from the LORD,' I will punish them and their household.

Jeremiah 23:34 esv

And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, 'The burden of the LORD,' I will punish that man and his household.

Jeremiah 23:34 nlt

"If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, 'I have a prophecy from the LORD,' I will punish that person along with his entire family.

Jeremiah 23 verses

Jeremiah 23 34 Meaning

This verse signifies the ultimate consequence of disbelieving or ignoring God's prophetic pronouncements, specifically the words spoken through His messengers. It declares that despite any attempts to dismiss or forget these divine messages, God will remember and execute them. The verse emphasizes God's faithfulness to His word, even when His people fail to acknowledge or act upon it. It conveys a message of both judgment for disregard and a promise of eventual fulfillment, assuring that what God has declared will not pass away unnoticed.

Jeremiah 23 34 Context

Jeremiah 23 is situated within Jeremiah's larger prophetic ministry during a tumultuous period for Judah, preceding the Babylonian exile. The chapter heavily criticizes the false prophets who mislead the people with deceptive promises of peace and prosperity. These false prophets did not receive their messages from God but fabricated them, undermining true faith and leading the nation further into sin.

In this specific context, the message in verse 34 addresses the persistent unbelief and the attempt by the people and perhaps some remaining leaders to dismiss God's word as if it were of no consequence. The imagery of the "barrel of wine" and "choice wines" represents God's divine provisions, blessings, and indeed His judgments, all of which are His to dispense and reserve. The verse highlights the ultimate accountability for those who disregard God's pronouncements and attempt to reclaim or deny them. It speaks to the stubborn refusal of Judah to heed Jeremiah's warnings about impending judgment.

Jeremiah 23 34 Word Analysis

• But (וְאַתֶּם, ve'attem): "And you," connecting the current statement to the previous discourse on prophets. Introduces a direct address and contrast.

• you: Refers to the people of Judah or those responsible for propagating false hope.

• shall say (תּאמְרוּ, te'mru): Future tense, indicating what the prophetic message should be, or a declaration to be made.

• to them (אֹתָם, otam): The audience of the prophet's declaration, likely the same people or those influenced by false prophecy.

• The LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His unchanging faithfulness and relationship with Israel.

• your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, Eloheykhem): Reinforces God's personal relationship with His people.

• the God of Israel (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, Elohey Yisrael): Further specifies God's covenant identity and His role as deliverer and sustainer for the nation.

• declares (נְאֻם יְהוָה, ne'um YHWH): "Oracle of Yahweh," a solemn pronouncement confirming the divine origin and authority of the following statement.

• Every (כֹּל, kol): All; emphasizing the totality and comprehensive nature of God's awareness and His pronouncements.

• barrel (חֲמַת, chamat): Container for wine. Metaphorical for God's blessings or judgments, held in reserve.

• of wine (יַיִן, yayin): Represents provision, joy, or divine decrees.

• is known (יִוָּדַע, yivvada'): "Is made known," implying awareness, recognition, or perhaps even record. God is aware of His own provisions and pronouncements.

• and the choice wine (וְבֹסֶר, uveyser): Unripe grapes; also referring to the choicest, sweetest wine. Denotes preciousness and special reserves.

• that I have reserved (אֲשֶׁר-שַׂמְתִּיו, asher-samtiy): "Which I have placed," God's intentional act of setting aside.

• for myself (לִי, liy): Belonging to God, a testament to His ownership and plan.

• and my people (וּלְעַמִּי, ul'ammiy): Indicates God's provision for those in covenant with Him.

• will not be brought up again (לֹא-יָרִם עוֹד, lo-yarim 'od): "Will not again lift up," signifying that they will not be brought back into use, remembrance, or claimed by others.

• by My people (עַמִּי, ammiy): Refers back to Israel, highlighting their attempt to either claim what is not theirs or to dismiss God's pronouncements as irrelevant. The verb conjugation implies that the "bringing up again" is initiated by "My people." This implies a specific transgression of falsely claiming God's blessings or denying His judgments.

• Group Analysis: "Every barrel of wine is known, and the choice wines that I have reserved for myself and my people": This phrase underscores God's meticulous awareness and possession of all that is within His control – His blessings, His covenant promises, and His judgment decrees. The "choice wines" represent something particularly valuable and intentionally set aside by God for His own purposes and for those who remain in His covenant. It suggests that God's reserves, whether of grace or judgment, are precisely managed and accounted for by Him.

• Group Analysis: "will not be brought up again by My people": This segment points to a cessation. The "my people" are specifically identified as those who have distanced themselves from true faithfulness, or who are actively rejecting or distorting God's word. The "bringing up again" implies an active recall, a repurposing, or a claim to ownership by those who have no right, or perhaps an attempt to erase or nullify what God has decreed or set aside. It is a statement against presumptuousness or willful ignorance on the part of God’s covenant people.

Jeremiah 23 34 Bonus Section

The imagery of wine being "brought up" might allude to the practice of remembering and celebrating, but in this context, it's a negative recall, as in bringing back the days of what God has decisively set aside. This verse can be seen as a counter-statement to the false prophets' messages of perpetual prosperity. Jeremiah, by divine command, pronounces that the specific provisions or the status that the people have erroneously associated with their present actions, and which God has already reserved or determined for them (or taken away), will not be restored to them in the way they falsely imagine. Their attempt to "bring up again" God's previously set-aside blessings or to dismiss His judgments is futile, as God's final pronouncement will prevail. This resonates with the broader biblical theme that God’s covenants have conditions and that His faithfulness is exercised in alignment with His justice.

Jeremiah 23 34 Commentary

Jeremiah 23:34 delivers a potent message about divine accountability. God, in His sovereignty, ensures that His pronouncements, whether blessings or judgments, are not forgotten or dismissed by His people. The "wine" and "choice wines" symbolize God's exclusive control over His provisions and His reserves, meant for His own glory and for the faithful remnant. When people, especially those in covenant relationship with God, attempt to ignore, manipulate, or claim what is God's exclusively, or to erase the memory of His decrees, they are engaging in a serious act of spiritual rebellion. This verse confirms that God's word and His plans will ultimately be vindicated, despite human wilful disregard. It's a reminder that all actions and attitudes towards God's word have consequences.