Jeremiah 23:35 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 23:35 kjv
Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?
Jeremiah 23:35 nkjv
Thus every one of you shall say to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, 'What has the LORD answered?' and, 'What has the LORD spoken?'
Jeremiah 23:35 niv
This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: 'What is the LORD's answer?' or 'What has the LORD spoken?'
Jeremiah 23:35 esv
Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother, 'What has the LORD answered?' or 'What has the LORD spoken?'
Jeremiah 23:35 nlt
You should keep asking each other, 'What is the LORD's answer?' or 'What is the LORD saying?'
Jeremiah 23 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 23:33 | When these people or a prophet or a priest ask you, ‘What is the... | The immediate context; God forbids "burden." |
| Jer 23:36 | And the burden of the LORD you shall mention no more, for every... | Reiterates the prohibition of "burden." |
| Deut 4:2 | You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take... | Reverence for God's complete word. |
| Deut 12:32 | Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do... | Do not add or take away. |
| Prov 30:5-6 | Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who... | Sanctity and purity of divine revelation. |
| Psa 119:160 | The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous... | God's word is entirely truthful. |
| Isa 66:2 | But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and... | God's regard for humility and reverence. |
| Exo 20:7 | You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain... | Holiness of God's name and associated terms. |
| Lev 19:12 | You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name... | Respect for God's authority and character. |
| Matt 5:33-37 | But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all... Let what you... | Emphasizes honesty and reverence in speech. |
| Jer 14:14 | The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent... | False prophets speaking lies. |
| Jer 23:16 | Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you... | Rejecting messages not from God. |
| Jer 23:21 | I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak... | False prophets lacking divine commission. |
| Jer 28:15 | Listen, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, and you have... | Example of a specific false prophet. |
| Ezek 13:6-9 | They have seen false visions and uttered lying divinations... | Warning against deceitful prophecies. |
| Zech 13:2-5 | And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off... | Prophecy of the end of false prophecy. |
| Matt 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing... | Identifying and warning against false teachers. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there... | NT warning against false teachings. |
| 1 Tim 4:1-2 | Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will... | Departure from faith due to deceit. |
| Isa 30:9-10 | who say to the seers, “Do not see!” and to the prophets, “Do not... | People's desire for comforting lies. |
| Deut 18:18-22 | A prophet like you will I raise up... hear him. If anyone... | Standard for a true prophet. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets at many... | God's various forms of communication. |
| Isa 65:24 | Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking... | God's readiness to answer the sincere. |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 35 meaning
Jeremiah 23:35 conveys a direct command from God, delivered through Jeremiah, instructing the people of Judah on the proper, reverent manner of inquiring about a divine message. This verse specifically offers alternatives to the disrespectful and sarcastic phrase "the burden of the Lord," which God forbids them from using in verse 33. Instead, they are to ask, "What has the Lord answered?" or "What has the Lord spoken?" This re-phrasing is not merely a change of words but mandates a profound shift in attitude, fostering genuine reverence, sincerity, and an earnest desire to receive God's true word, rather than treating His pronouncements with levity or mockery.
Jeremiah 23 35 Context
Jeremiah 23:35 is part of a longer prophetic discourse (Jer 23:9-40) focused on the condemnation of false prophets and the pervasive spiritual decay within Judah during Jeremiah's ministry, amidst the impending Babylonian exile. The preceding verses in this chapter vigorously denounce negligent leaders and prophets who, instead of faithfully proclaiming God's word, speak from their own imaginations or prophesy pleasant lies. Specifically, verses 33-40 tackle the populace's irreverent and sarcastic use of the phrase "מַשָּׂא יְהוָה" (massa' Yahweh), commonly rendered "the burden of the Lord." This term originally designated a profound, often weighty, prophetic oracle, frequently containing pronouncements of judgment. However, the people, perhaps fueled by cynicism or the influence of false teachers, began to use it derisively, treating God's solemn messages as a tiresome joke. In response, God, speaking through Jeremiah, unequivocally forbids the use of this term and, in verse 35, prescribes how they should reverently inquire: by earnestly seeking God's "answer" or what He "has spoken," reflecting a genuine desire for divine truth.
Jeremiah 23 35 Word analysis
"Thus shall ye say": This is a direct, imperative command, underscoring the divine authority behind the instruction. It necessitates a specific, divinely prescribed manner of speech.
"every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother": This emphasizes the universal reach of the instruction within the community. It's a directive for all personal interactions regarding God's word, not just formal consultations.
"What hath the LORD answered?" (מֶה־עָנָה יְהוָה - meh-'anah Yahweh):
- מֶה (meh): An interrogative, meaning "what?"
- עָנָה ('anah): The verb "answered" or "responded." This term reorients the perception of God's communication from an unwanted "burden" to a deliberate divine response, highlighting an engaged and responsive God.
- יְהוָה (Yahweh): The sacred covenant name of God, affirming the divine source and absolute authority of the expected "answer."
"and, What hath the LORD spoken?" (וּמַה־דִּבֶּר יְהוָה - u-mah-dibber Yahweh):
- וּ (u-)*: A conjunction, "and."
- מַה (mah): Interrogative, "what?"
- דִּבֶּר (dibber): The verb "spoken" or "declared." This is a fundamental and authoritative term for divine revelation in the Old Testament, denoting a direct and impactful utterance from God.
- יְהוָה (Yahweh): Again, God's covenant name, reiterating the ultimate source of truth.
Words-group analysis
- "What hath the LORD answered? / What hath the LORD spoken?": These two parallel and synonymous phrases serve as divinely sanctioned forms of inquiry. They are presented as direct antitheses to the prohibited, sarcastic query, "What is the burden of the LORD?" (from verse 33). This word group collectively stresses the necessity of genuinely seeking a message directly from God. It commands a reverent, humble, and earnest desire to know God's truth, rather than a superficial, mocking, or cynical attitude toward prophetic utterances. This linguistic precision directs the people towards acknowledging God as the supreme, active communicator whose words deserve utmost respect and careful attention, setting a profound tone for how divine messages should be approached and valued.
Jeremiah 23 35 Bonus section
The underlying Hebrew word "מַשָּׂא" (massa') carries a dual meaning: a physical load or burden, and a prophetic oracle often of judgment. The sarcasm in Jeremiah's era stemmed from the people facetiously asking for "yet another heavy pronouncement" or "what new 'burden' God had for them," effectively trivializing God's serious warnings about their unfaithfulness and the impending exile. This illustrates a critical biblical principle: our choice of language when discussing spiritual matters reveals our inner spiritual condition. Furthermore, the commanded alternatives in verse 35 highlight the inherently personal and relational nature of God's communication; He "answers" and "speaks" directly, indicating a desire for His people to earnestly engage with Him rather than adopt a detached or cynical posture. This anticipation of God's 'spoken word' ultimately finds its complete fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is revealed as the living Word of God, bringing definitive truth and divine answers to humanity.
Jeremiah 23 35 Commentary
Jeremiah 23:35 is pivotal in contrasting true reverence for God's word with casual irreverence. God explicitly commands a linguistic shift, replacing the flippant "burden of the Lord" (massa') with the reverent inquiries "What has the Lord answered?" or "What has the Lord spoken?" This isn't merely a matter of semantics; it’s a profound correction of attitude. While massa' signifies a weighty, authoritative divine oracle, the people's sarcastic use had drained it of its sacred meaning, reflecting their unbelief and disregard for God's messages, often of impending judgment. By insisting on phrases centered on God's answering and speaking, the verse compels the people towards humility, sincerity, and a genuine yearning for truth directly from the covenant God, Yahweh. It emphasizes that a respectful approach to divine revelation begins in the heart and is expressed through reverent language, demonstrating a readiness to hear and obey, not to scoff.