Jeremiah 23 36

Jeremiah 23:36 kjv

And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.

Jeremiah 23:36 nkjv

And the oracle of the LORD you shall mention no more. For every man's word will be his oracle, for you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.

Jeremiah 23:36 niv

But you must not mention 'a message from the LORD' again, because each one's word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God.

Jeremiah 23:36 esv

But 'the burden of the LORD' you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man's own word, and you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.

Jeremiah 23:36 nlt

But stop using this phrase, 'prophecy from the LORD.' For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Jeremiah 23 verses

Jeremiah 23 36 meaning

This verse is a stern divine command forbidding the people, especially the false prophets, from misusing or mocking the phrase "the burden of the LORD." It declares that from now on, any person's own word will carry its consequence and weight, implying that their own frivolous or false utterances will become a burden to them. The ultimate justification for this prohibition is their grave offense of twisting and distorting the very words of the living and all-powerful God of hosts. It underscores the profound sacredness and inviolability of divine revelation.

Jeremiah 23 36 Context

Jeremiah chapter 23 is primarily a scathing condemnation of false prophets and corrupt leaders in Judah. It juxtaposes their deceitful messages with the promise of a future righteous King (the "Branch") and the true word of God. Leading up to verse 36, Jeremiah has already rebuked those who speak their own dreams rather than God's word, likening their prophecy to worthless straw compared to nourishing grain (v. 28-32). Verses 33-40 specifically address the abuse of the phrase "the burden (מַשָּׂא, massa) of the LORD." The people and false prophets used this phrase, which traditionally referred to an oracle or prophetic utterance, especially one of judgment, in a sarcastic or cynical way. They treated God's prophetic messages as merely a heavy, unwelcome imposition, turning a sacred term into a light-hearted or even mocking inquiry. God's response through Jeremiah is a definitive command to cease this mockery and warns of severe consequences for such irreverence.

Jeremiah 23 36 Word analysis

• And the burden (מַשָּׂא - massa): Massa carries a dual meaning critical here: it can mean "a literal load/burden" (something heavy to carry) or "a prophetic utterance/oracle" (often one containing a heavy message of doom or judgment). The people and false prophets had twisted this to mean merely an oppressive word from God.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): Refers to the personal, covenant name of God, emphasizing the divine source and authority of the "burden." They were mocking His message, not just any message.
• you shall mention no more (לֹא־תִזְכְּרוּ־עוֹד - lo' tizk'ru-'od): A strong, unequivocal command. From zakhar ("to remember, to mention"), implying not only cessation of speaking the phrase but also a disassociation with its misuse, ceasing to give it heed in that disrespectful way.
• for every man’s word (כִּי מַשָּׂא אִישׁ - ki massa ish): The conjunction "for" or "because" introduces the reason. It explicitly states the consequence: each individual's own self-generated "word" or pronouncement, especially the flippant ones, will now become their own literal "burden." This draws a stark contrast between God's authoritative word and man's trivial words, the latter now having adverse personal consequences.
• shall be his burden: His own words, perhaps trivial or false, will become heavy, responsible, and a source of judgment upon himself, replacing the misapplied divine "burden."
• for ye have perverted (כִּי הֲפַכְתֶּם - ki hap̄achtem): This is the core accusation, justifying the severe command. Hap̄achtem means "to overturn, to twist, to pervert, to turn upside down, to change." It denotes a deliberate and severe distortion or corruption of the divine message. They didn't just misunderstand; they intentionally twisted.
• the words (דִּבְרֵי - divrei): Refers specifically to the pronouncements, utterances, or revelation of God, not just any general word. It highlights the divine content that has been corrupted.
• of the living God (אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים - Elohim Chayyim): Emphasizes God's active presence, vitality, truthfulness, and power, contrasting with the inertness of idols or dead ideas. He is not a passive deity whose words can be twisted with impunity; He is active and will respond.
• of the LORD of hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת - YHWH Ts'va'ot): This title stresses God's absolute sovereignty, His control over all heavenly and earthly armies ("hosts"), and His immense power. It underscores the ultimate authority and gravity behind the words they perverted, implying severe consequences for disrespecting such a God.
• our God (אֱלֹהֵינוּ - Eloheinu): The possessive suffix ("our") points to their covenant relationship with this God. Their offense is not just against any deity but against their own covenant Lord, intensifying the breach of faithfulness and the gravity of their sin.

• "And the burden of the LORD you shall mention no more": This phrase functions as an immediate divine prohibition. It commands a complete cessation of the sarcastic and dismissive use of the sacred term massa YHWH. The seriousness of the command indicates the extent of irreverence that had permeated the people's discourse regarding prophecy.
• "for every man’s word shall be his burden": This clause provides the reason and the consequence for the prohibition. It's a legal and spiritual pronouncement. What was formerly a mockery of God's heavy message now reverses: man's own utterances will become a heavy consequence for him. This implies that their irresponsible words, especially false prophecies, will no longer pass without effect, but will lead to their own downfall.
• "for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts, our God": This tripartite declaration identifies the root cause and emphasizes the enormity of their sin. "Perverting" implies active corruption. The series of divine titles – "living God," "LORD of hosts," "our God" – progressively magnifies the being whose words they have twisted, highlighting His vitality, His absolute power, and His personal covenant relationship with them, thus aggravating their offense.

Jeremiah 23 36 Bonus section

The rhetorical force of this verse is exceptionally powerful due to the play on the word massa. The irony is sharp: the people, by deeming God's messages a "burden," demonstrate a profound lack of spiritual perception. God's response is to turn their own irreverence back upon them, declaring that their own empty, self-generated words will now carry the weight they imposed on God's revelation. This isn't just a linguistic correction; it's a spiritual judgment. The repeated use of powerful divine titles ("living God," "LORD of hosts," "our God") serves to emphasize not only the identity of the insulted party but also His unchallenged authority to enforce such a decree. The implication for subsequent generations is clear: God's words are to be received with awe and handled with integrity, as they emanate from a personal, active, and all-powerful deity. Misrepresenting His word is an assault on His very character.

Jeremiah 23 36 Commentary

Jeremiah 23:36 issues a potent divine decree against the profanation of God's word, particularly as represented by the misuse of "the burden of the LORD." The term "burden" (massa) typically signified a weighty prophetic utterance, often a message of impending judgment, or a heavy load. The people and especially false prophets had sarcastically trivialized this, reducing God's serious pronouncements to a mere joke or an oppressive, unwanted "burden." God unequivocally commands them to cease this mockery, reversing the dynamic: henceforth, their own trivial, irresponsible words will become their true burden, signifying that their deceit will bear the painful weight of consequence upon themselves. The reason for this severe judgment is their active "perversion"—a twisting and corruption—of the revelation originating from the "living God," "the LORD of hosts," who is their very "God." This emphasis on God's living nature, omnipotent authority, and covenant relationship underscores the profound sacredness and inviolability of His word, making the act of perverting it a grave blasphemy with dire repercussions. This passage stands as a solemn warning against taking divine revelation lightly or bending it to human desires or convenience. It highlights the serious accountability associated with handling God's truth.

Examples for practical usage:

• A reminder for those who speak or teach about God's word to handle it with the utmost reverence and accuracy, not twisting it to fit personal agendas or popular opinions.
• An encouragement to discern true prophetic messages from human inventions, evaluating all words claimed to be from God against His revealed character and Scripture.
• A caution against irreverent talk or cynicism regarding spiritual truths, recognizing the solemn weight of God's active engagement in the world.