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 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 23:36 | "You will surely ask, 'What is the oracle of the LORD?'" | Jeremiah 23:36 |
| Jeremiah 23:32 | "...those who prophesy lies, declares the LORD. I did not send them or command them; yet they do not profit these people at all, declares the LORD." | Jeremiah 23:32 (Fulfillment) |
| Deuteronomy 18:20-22 | "But that prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, 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 prove true, that is the word which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not fear him." | Deut 18:20-22 (Test of true prophecy) |
| Matthew 7:15-20 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. You will recognize them by their fruits." | Matthew 7:15-20 (Recognizing false prophets) |
| 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." | 1 John 4:1 (Discernment of spirits) |
| Acts 5:38-39 | "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be fighting against God." | Acts 5:38-39 (Discernment by outcome) |
| Hebrews 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." | Hebrews 4:12 (Power of God's Word) |
| Romans 3:3-4 | "What then? If some were unfaithful, will their faithlessness nullify the faith of God? By no means! Let God be true, though every man be a liar, as it is written, 'That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.'" | Romans 3:3-4 (God's faithfulness) |
| Revelation 22:18-19 | "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life, in the holy city, and in the things that are written in this book." | Rev 22:18-19 (Integrity of Scripture) |
| Psalm 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | Psalm 119:105 (Guidance of God's Word) |
| 1 Corinthians 14:32 | "and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets." | 1 Cor 14:32 (Control of prophecy) |
| Jeremiah 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. They are prophesying to you false visions, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.'" | Jeremiah 14:14 (Similar denouncement) |
| Ezekiel 13:6 | "'They have visions that are false and divinations that lie. They are proclaiming, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them. Yet they expect their word to hold true.'" | Ezekiel 13:6 (False prophets) |
| Zechariah 8:17 | "and let none of you devise evil in your heart against his neighbor, nor love a false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.'" | Zechariah 8:17 (Holiness of speech) |
| 1 Samuel 15:23 | "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you." | 1 Samuel 15:23 (Consequences of rejecting God's word) |
| Proverbs 30:5-6 | "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar." | Proverbs 30:5-6 (Truthfulness of God's word) |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" | John 14:6 (Jesus as Truth) |
| John 17:17 | "'Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.'" | John 17:17 (Word as Truth) |
| Acts 20:32 | "And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." | Acts 20:32 (Power of the Word) |
| Galatians 1:8 | "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." | Galatians 1:8 (Gospel purity) |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 36 Meaning
This verse emphatically states that any prophecy or utterance claiming to be from the Lord, but which is not truly His word, will ultimately be proven false and discarded. It signifies divine rejection of inauthentic messages, highlighting God's faithfulness to His true word.
Jeremiah 23 36 Context
Jeremiah chapter 23 addresses the dire state of leadership and prophecy in Judah. The nation had been repeatedly warned by God through Jeremiah, yet many false prophets continued to spread comforting lies, promising peace when disaster was imminent. These prophets were self-appointed, speaking their own imaginations and distorting God's message for their own gain and popularity. They preyed on the people's desire for good news, leading them further astray. This verse specifically highlights the deceptive practice of false prophets using God's name, and God's determined response to expose and invalidate their messages. The historical context is the period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile, a time of great spiritual and political crisis for Judah.
Jeremiah 23 36 Word Analysis
And: (Hebrew: וְ - wə) Connects clauses, indicating sequence or continuation.
you shall surely say: (Hebrew: הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי עַל־ וְאָמַרְתֶּם / hinneh anochi al- wə'amartem) The phrase "hinneh anochi al" literally translates to "Behold, I am against." However, in the context of this verse, the structure shifts slightly in translation and meaning, focusing on the question the people will ask of the prophets, who themselves are falsely claiming divine authority. The people's question ("What is the oracle of the LORD?") reflects their eventual doubt of those who claim to speak for God due to the ongoing deception.
What is the oracle: (Hebrew: מַשָּׂא יְהוָה / massa YHWH) "Massa" translates to "burden," "oracle," or "utterance," often signifying a pronouncement or message from God. The term itself carries weight, implying a message of significance, possibly a pronouncement of judgment or revelation.
of the LORD?: (Hebrew: יְהוָה / YHWH) The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His divine authority and source.
word-group analysis: The phrase "oracle of the LORD" is central here. False prophets claimed to have this divine pronouncement, but God declares His intention to disown any such claims made without genuine divine backing. The repetition and interrogation around "oracle of the LORD" emphasize the authority being usurped and then invalidated.
Jeremiah 23 36 Bonus Section
The phrase "oracle of the LORD" carries a distinct prophetic weight in the Old Testament, indicating a message of divine origin. This term (מַשָּׂא - massa) often foreshadowed significant events or pronouncements. In this specific instance, Jeremiah is conveying God's response to a generation confused by a cacophony of prophetic voices, many of which were not from God. The Lord’s preemptive strike is to discredit these false messages and to ensure that when true prophecy is spoken, it can be recognized and trusted. This verse serves as a reminder that discernment is crucial for believers, particularly when confronted with messages that claim divine authority but do not align with God's established word and truth. The reliability of God's word is contrasted with the fleeting and ultimately empty pronouncements of false prophets.
Jeremiah 23 36 Commentary
This verse is a powerful indictment of spiritual deception. It underscores the certainty of God's judgment against those who counterfeit His message. The people of Israel, having been saturated with false prophecies that promised prosperity and peace instead of repentance, would eventually become bewildered and question the very nature of divine pronouncements. God assures them that He will distinguish His true word from the falsehoods propagated by presumptuous prophets. This emphasizes the immutability of God's truth and His ultimate vindication of His own faithful messengers, even in times of widespread error. The true "oracle of the LORD" is always consistent with His revealed will and character, and its ultimate outcome validates its divine source.