Jeremiah 23:38 kjv
But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;
Jeremiah 23:38 nkjv
But since you say, 'The oracle of the LORD!' therefore thus says the LORD: 'Because you say this word, "The oracle of the LORD!" and I have sent to you, saying, "Do not say, 'The oracle of the LORD!' "
Jeremiah 23:38 niv
Although you claim, 'This is a message from the LORD,' this is what the LORD says: You used the words, 'This is a message from the LORD,' even though I told you that you must not claim, 'This is a message from the LORD.'
Jeremiah 23:38 esv
But if you say, 'The burden of the LORD,' thus says the LORD, 'Because you have said these words, "The burden of the LORD," when I sent to you, saying, "You shall not say, 'The burden of the LORD,'"
Jeremiah 23:38 nlt
But suppose they respond, 'This is a prophecy from the LORD!' Then you should say, 'This is what the LORD says: Because you have used this phrase, "prophecy from the LORD," even though I warned you not to use it,
Jeremiah 23 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 23:38 | But if you say, ‘The oracle of the LORD!’ then thus says the LORD: Because you said this word, ‘The oracle of the LORD!’ and because I have sent to you saying, ‘You shall not say, “The oracle of the LORD!”’ | God's authority; Divine pronouncements verified |
| Jer 23:30-32 | Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal My words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their own tongues and say, “He says!” ...Thus says the LORD of hosts: Regarding the prophets... | False prophets; Divine message |
| Isa 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,” | God's sovereignty and purpose |
| Matt 24:35 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. | Perpetuity of God's Word |
| John 10:35 | If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), | Infallibility of Scripture |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? | God's faithfulness |
| Ps 33:9 | For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. | Creation by divine word |
| Tit 1:2 | in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, | God's truthfulness; Eternal promise |
| Heb 6:18 | that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. | Immutability of God's promises; Impossibility of lying |
| 1 Sam 15:29 | And the strength of Israel will not lie or have regret, for He is not a man that He should regret.” | God's unchanging nature |
| Deut 18:22 | When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word or deed does not occur or come to pass, that is the word which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not show fear toward him. | Discernment of true prophets |
| Jer 14:14 | Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy falsely in My name. I have not sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.” | False prophecy |
| Jer 23:16 | Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the LORD. | Falsehood of false prophets |
| Ezek 13:6 | They have seen falsehood and lying divination. They say, ‘The LORD says,’ but the LORD did not send them; Still they hope that He will confirm their word. | Deceptive prophecies |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. | Efficacy of God's Word |
| Gen 1:3 | Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. | Divine fiat |
| Psa 119:89 | Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. | Permanence of God's Word |
| Josh 21:45 | Not a single word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. | Fulfillment of God's promises |
| Matt 5:18 | For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. | Unfailing nature of God's Law |
| Luke 21:33 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. | Enduring nature of Jesus' words |
| 1 Pet 1:24-25 | For “All flesh is as grass, And all its glory as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. | Transience of the flesh vs. permanence of God's Word |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 38 Meaning
This verse powerfully declares that the pronouncements of God are utterly trustworthy and inviolable. It states that whatever God has spoken will certainly come to pass, and His words have absolute authority. The phrase "whether it be grass, or whether it be the earth, or whether it be any riches" emphasizes the totality of God's sovereignty over all creation and possession, indicating that nothing is beyond His decree.
Jeremiah 23 38 Context
Jeremiah 23:38 is part of a larger prophecy addressing the unfaithfulness of Judah, particularly the false prophets who were misleading the people. In the preceding verses, God expresses His strong disapproval of these prophets who utter oracles in His name without His authority. They claim, "The oracle of the LORD!" but their message is based on their own deluded imaginations and deceitful hearts. This verse serves as a divine rebuttal, reinforcing God's absolute truthfulness and the grave consequence of attributing false messages to Him. The entire chapter highlights the contrast between true and false prophets, emphasizing that God's words, unlike the pronouncements of the false prophets, will invariably be fulfilled. The historical context is one of impending Babylonian exile, a consequence of Judah's continued disobedience, with false prophets offering hollow assurances of peace and prosperity.
Jeremiah 23 38 Word Analysis
- “But if you say”: (Hebrew: וְאִם־אָמַרְתֶּ֣ם, wə’im-’amartem) This introduces a hypothetical scenario, addressing the deceptive pronouncements of the false prophets directly. It signifies a direct counter-argument against their baseless claims.
- “The oracle of the LORD!”: (Hebrew: נְאֻ֤ם־יְהוָה֙, nə’um-YHVH) This is a crucial prophetic formula, a declaration by God himself. The false prophets misuse it, signifying their usurpation of divine authority. The emphasis is on the presumption of speaking for God when not commissioned.
- “then thus says the LORD”: (Hebrew: כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֖ה, kōh-’āmar YHVH) This is another common prophetic formula that establishes the divine origin of the message. God asserts His true authority in contrast to the false prophets.
- “Because you said this word”: (Hebrew: עַל־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה, ’al-hadâvār hazzeh) This directly attributes the false prophets' downfall to their specific act of claiming divine authority for their false prophecies. It underscores responsibility.
- “and because I have sent to you saying”: (Hebrew: וְעַל־אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֙חְתִּי֙ אֲלֵיכֶ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר, wə’al-’ašer-šālaḥtî ’ălêḵem le’mōr) This emphasizes God’s sovereign role as the sender of prophets and messages. The false prophets were never sent by Him, thus their pronouncements are void. It highlights divine commission as essential for true prophecy.
- “You shall not say, ‘The oracle of the LORD!’”: (Hebrew: לֹ֥א תֹאמְר֖וּ נְאֻ֣ם־יְהוָ֑ה, lō’-tōmərû nə’um-YHVH) This is a direct command and prohibition. God forbids them from using this sacred formula due to their falsehood. It’s an instruction against presumptuous speech regarding divine matters.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- “The oracle of the LORD!”: The repetition of this phrase by the false prophets ("Because you said this word, 'The oracle of the LORD!'") highlights their arrogant appropriation of divine pronouncements and the severe transgression it represents.
- “Because you said this word... and because I have sent to you saying”: This pairing contrasts the false prophets' self-authorized speech with God's authentic commissioning of His true servants. The focus is on the lack of divine mandate for their words.
- “You shall not say, ‘The oracle of the LORD!’”: This final imperative encapsulates God's judgment and condemnation on their misuse of His sacred titles and formulas, marking their prophecies as illegitimate and even dangerous.
Jeremiah 23 38 Bonus Section
The concept of "the oracle of the LORD" (ne'um YHVH) is deeply significant in Old Testament prophecy. It functions as an infallible stamp of divine origin, akin to a king’s seal on a decree. The prophets, when using this phrase correctly, were not asserting their own opinions but were channels for God's direct speech. The false prophets’ misuse of this sacred phrase underscores their spiritual bankruptcy and the grave danger they posed to God's people, potentially leading them to ignore God's true warnings and promises. This prohibition from speaking "The oracle of the LORD!" can be seen as a severing of their connection to authentic divine utterance.
Jeremiah 23 38 Commentary
Jeremiah 23:38 serves as a stern warning against religious presumption. It’s not merely about being wrong, but about falsely claiming divine authority for one's message. The verse illustrates that God holds His word and His name in highest regard. The false prophets' error was not just in the content of their prophecies, but in their sacrilegious act of attributing them to God. God declares that His true pronouncements carry an inherent weight of fulfillment. His counsel stands, and His promises and judgments are guaranteed to come to pass. This contrasts sharply with the deceptive pronouncements of those who speak out of their own minds, offering false hope or comfort, and ultimately leading people astray. True prophecy is always God-breathed and validated by divine commission and truth. The verse also implies that the absence of divine validation means the pronouncement carries no authority and will not come to pass.