Jeremiah 23:40 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 23:40 kjv
And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
Jeremiah 23:40 nkjv
And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.' "
Jeremiah 23:40 niv
I will bring on you everlasting disgrace?everlasting shame that will not be forgotten."
Jeremiah 23:40 esv
And I will bring upon you everlasting reproach and perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.'"
Jeremiah 23:40 nlt
And I will make you an object of ridicule, and your name will be infamous throughout the ages.'"
Jeremiah 23 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 12:2 | "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake...some to shame and everlasting contempt." | Everlasting contempt and shame for the wicked. |
| Zeph 2:9 | "Moab will become like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a land of thistles...a perpetual reproach and a shame..." | Perpetual reproach for nations defying God. |
| Is 66:24 | "And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me...they will be a loathsome sight to all mankind." | Abhorrence and shame for rebels. |
| Ps 79:4 | "We have become a reproach to our neighbors, mocked and scorned by those around us." | National shame due to unfaithfulness. |
| Is 1:28 | "But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish." | Divine judgment and destruction of the unrighteous. |
| Rom 1:18 | "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who suppress the truth by their wickedness." | God's wrath against unrighteousness. |
| Heb 10:26-31 | "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth...how much more severely should anyone be punished...!" | Severe judgment for intentional rebellion. |
| 2 Thess 1:9 | "They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." | Everlasting destruction for those who reject God. |
| Mt 25:46 | "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." | Eternal punishment as an enduring consequence. |
| Jer 14:14 | "Then the Lord said to me, 'The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them...'" | God condemns false prophets. |
| Jer 27:15 | "I have not sent them,' declares the Lord, 'but they are prophesying lies in my name in order to drive you out...'" | False prophecy leads to destruction. |
| Eze 13:3-7 | "Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!... they mislead my people..." | Condemnation of prophets who follow their own ideas. |
| Mic 3:5-7 | "This is what the Lord says: 'As for the prophets who lead my people astray... they will have no answer from God.'" | Judgment and shame on misleading prophets. |
| Mt 7:15-20 | "Watch out for false prophets...by their fruit you will recognize them." | New Testament warning against false prophets. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you... will secretly introduce destructive heresies." | Warning against false teachers and their doom. |
| Ps 112:6 | "Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever." | Contrast: The righteous are remembered for good, not shame. |
| Ex 12:14 | "This day is to be for you a memorial; you are to celebrate it as a festival to the Lord..." | God commands to remember significant acts. |
| Mal 3:16 | "...a scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who honored the Lord..." | God remembers those who revere Him. |
| Is 60:15 | "Although you have been forsaken and hated...I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations." | Contrast: Everlasting glory instead of reproach. |
| Ps 9:5-6 | "You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name forever. Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy; you have uprooted their cities, and even the memory of them has perished." | Memory of the wicked can perish, but here their shame remains. |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 40 meaning
Jeremiah 23:40 declares God's stern judgment upon the false prophets and those who mock His word. It prophesies that He will bring an everlasting reproach and perpetual shame upon them, consequences that will be indelibly etched into memory and never forgotten. This signifies a lasting public disgrace and dishonor for their deception and defiance against the divine message.
Jeremiah 23 40 Context
Jeremiah 23 focuses heavily on the Lord's condemnation of the false prophets and corrupt leaders in Judah. These prophets offered misleading messages of peace and prosperity, contrasting sharply with Jeremiah's dire warnings of impending judgment and exile. They abused their position and trivialized God's sacred word. Verses 33-40 specifically address the "burden of the Lord" (massa YHWH), a prophetic term for a solemn divine oracle, often carrying heavy tidings. The false prophets and people mockingly asked, "What is the burden of the Lord?" as if it were a joke. God turns their mockery back on them, declaring that they will become the burden, and He will cast them, their city, and the temple out of His sight. Verse 40 delivers the final, irreversible judgment for their irreverence and deception: an indelible, enduring shame.
Jeremiah 23 40 Word analysis
- And I will bring (וְנָתַתִּי - ve-natati): From the root נָתַן (natan), "to give, place, set." Here, the active causative sense means to inflict or impose. It indicates God's direct and deliberate agency in bringing about this consequence.
- an everlasting (עוֹלָם - ʿolam): Refers to eternity, perpetuity, or an indefinitely long duration. In this context, it emphasizes the permanent, enduring nature of the disgrace. It signifies not merely a long time, but a state or quality that lasts throughout generations, never fading into insignificance.
- reproach (חֶרְפָּה - ḥerpa): Means "reproach, scorn, disgrace, insult, shame." It denotes a public humiliation or verbal abuse, often implying a loss of honor and public standing. It's a wound to reputation and a mark of social ignominy.
- upon you (עֲלֵיכֶם - ʿalekhem): The plural form specifically addresses the false prophets and all who partook in mocking God's word and misleading the people. The judgment is corporate, affecting those implicated in the deception.
- and a perpetual (וּבִקְלוֹן עוֹלָם - u-viqəlôn ʿolam): U-viqəlôn is "and a shame/disgrace" from קָלוֹן (qalôn). ʿolam again denotes "everlasting, perpetual." This phrase serves as a parallel to "everlasting reproach," intensifying the meaning.
- shame (קָלוֹן - qalôn): Similar to ḥerpa but often carries a connotation of deeper public humiliation, extreme degradation, or ignominy. It suggests something that is publicly exposed and causes severe disgrace, possibly even revulsion.
- which shall not be forgotten (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יִשָּׁכַח - ʾasher lo-yishakhach): From the verb שָׁכַח (shakach), "to forget." The passive voice emphasizes that the disgrace itself will not be allowed to fade from memory. This phrase powerfully stresses the indelible nature of the judgment, ensuring that their ignominy will serve as a lasting warning and an enduring stain on history. It contrasts with instances where the wicked's name might be blotted out, indicating here that their reproach and shame specifically will remain remembered.
Words-Group Analysis:
- An everlasting reproach and a perpetual shame: This hendiadys, using two distinct terms (reproach and shame) linked by "and" to express a single, intensified concept, emphasizes the totality and profundity of the disgrace. Both "everlasting" (ʿolam) underscore the enduring, permanent nature, ensuring the dishonor will not dissipate with time.
- Which shall not be forgotten: This phrase acts as a solemn conclusion and a definitive seal on the judgment. It transcends temporary disgrace, cementing their fate as an object lesson across generations. The judgment isn't merely personal, but becomes a historical marker of divine justice against those who profaned sacred things.
Jeremiah 23 40 Bonus section
The specific choice of the term ʿolam (everlasting/perpetual) highlights the enduring quality not just of the punishment itself, but of its remembrance and impact on subsequent generations. It implies that their disgraceful actions and God's corresponding judgment will become a permanent part of the collective memory of God's people, serving as a powerful deterrent and a demonstration of divine justice. This contrasts sharply with God's everlasting covenant promises (e.g., Gen 17:7), where ʿolam speaks of enduring blessings, revealing that this word can carry either immense blessing or immense curse depending on the covenant faithfulness. The declaration in Jeremiah 23:40 resonates with a solemn warning that actions against God's truth have consequences that echo into eternity, fundamentally altering one's legacy and standing.
Jeremiah 23 40 Commentary
Jeremiah 23:40 powerfully concludes God's pronouncement against the false prophets, articulating an uncompromising, final judgment. Their transgression was not merely theological error but a profound mocking and profanation of divine truth, twisting the "burden of the Lord" into a jest. God declares that, in an act of divine irony, they will become the very burden—an object of everlasting public reproach and perpetual, unforgettable shame. This is not a fleeting humiliation but an indelible mark of dishonor that will endure through history. The phrase "which shall not be forgotten" signifies the profound and lasting impact of their rebellion; their names and deeds will remain a perpetual testimony to God's unwavering justice against spiritual deception. This verse serves as a sober warning of the severe and permanent consequences for those who presume to speak in God's name without His authority or who trivialise His sacred word. It establishes an unchanging principle: abusing spiritual authority leads to profound and lasting ignominy in the eyes of God and man.