Jeremiah 28:9 kjv
The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.
Jeremiah 28:9 nkjv
As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent."
Jeremiah 28:9 niv
But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true."
Jeremiah 28:9 esv
As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet."
Jeremiah 28:9 nlt
So a prophet who predicts peace must show he is right. Only when his predictions come true can we know that he is really from the LORD."
Jeremiah 28 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 28 | The LORD did not send this prophet... | Jeremiah 28:15 |
| Deuteronomy | If a prophet arises... and gives you a sign or a wonder... | Deuteronomy 18:22 |
| Ezekiel 13 | Because they have misled my people... | Ezekiel 13:10 |
| Isaiah 9 | For a ruler will rise... and they shall be given into his hand. | Isaiah 9:6 |
| Jeremiah 14 | The prophets prophesy lies... my prophets have not stood in my ranks. | Jeremiah 14:14 |
| Jeremiah 23 | My heart is broken within me... I am like a drunken man... | Jeremiah 23:9 |
| Zechariah 8 | Thus says the LORD of hosts: ... you shall again hear the voice... | Zechariah 8:20 |
| Acts 5 | But Peter said, ... How is it that you have agreed together... | Acts 5:3 |
| 1 John 4 | Many false prophets have gone out into the world. | 1 John 4:1 |
| Matthew 7 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing... | Matthew 7:15 |
| Revelation | And I heard a voice from heaven saying... | Revelation 14:13 |
| 1 Kings 18 | Elijah went near to all the people and said... If the LORD is God... | 1 Kings 18:21 |
| Jeremiah 6 | They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, “Peace,... | Jeremiah 6:14 |
| Jeremiah 5 | My people are fools; they know not me; they are sottish children... | Jeremiah 5:4 |
| Hebrews 12 | For you are to be disciplined. God is treating you as sons... | Hebrews 12:7 |
| 1 Corinthians | Test everything; hold fast what is good. | 1 Thessalonians 5:21 |
| Jeremiah 20 | O LORD, you have persuaded me... | Jeremiah 20:7 |
| Isaiah 43 | For I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth... | Isaiah 43:19 |
| John 14 | If you love me, you will keep my commandments. | John 14:15 |
| Psalm 119 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Psalm 119:105 |
Jeremiah 28 verses
Jeremiah 28 9 Meaning
When a prophet enters a land, he must speak the word of the LORD. If the prophet speaks a word that does not come to pass, or if he prophesies falsely, then the LORD has not sent him. The prophecy is false, and the prophet bears the guilt of his false prophecy.
Jeremiah 28 9 Context
Jeremiah 28 is set during the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. It records a confrontation between the prophet Jeremiah and a false prophet named Hananiah. Hananiah publicly declared that the exile of Judah would be short, and that all the temple vessels taken by the Babylonians would soon be returned. Jeremiah, however, had been sent by the LORD to declare a longer period of exile and submission to Babylon. This verse articulates the principle by which true prophecy can be discerned from false prophecy. The historical context is one of great anxiety and political instability, where people were desperate for hopeful messages.
Jeremiah 28 9 Word Analysis
- "A prophet": (Hebrew: nabi) - One who speaks forth for another, often conveying a message from God. It implies a spokesperson or a seer.
- "when he": Refers to the prophet as an individual agent.
- "shall come to pass": (Hebrew: hophshi) - The occurrence or happening of an event; that it should materialize as predicted.
- "then": Indicates a consequence or outcome based on the preceding condition.
- "the LORD": (Hebrew: Yahweh) - The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship and faithfulness to His people.
- "hath not sent him": (Hebrew: lo shalach-hu) - Directly states that divine authorization is absent. God is the source of true prophecy.
- "and he that": Continues the delineation of false prophecy.
- "prophesieth": (Hebrew: naba) - To prophesy, to speak forth, to foretell. It is the verbal act of prophetic utterance.
- "a thing": A specific prediction or statement made by the prophet.
- "it shall not come to pass": (Hebrew: lo yiqqoreh) - It will not happen; the prophecy is revealed as empty or false.
Words Group Analysis
- "When a prophet shall come to pass... then the LORD hath not sent him.": This is the core diagnostic principle. A prophet's authority and authenticity are validated by the fulfillment of their prophecies. The divine mandate (God sent him) is intrinsically linked to the divine power (making the prophecy come to pass).
- "and he that prophesieth a thing, it shall not come to pass": This part reinforces the negative test. The non-fulfillment of a prophecy is definitive proof that the speaker was not sent by God.
- "then he that prophesieth hath prophesied falsely": This identifies the nature of the utterance. A failed prophecy is a "lying prophecy." The intent or the source of the prophecy is ultimately false if it does not align with God's revealed will and sovereign plan. The emphasis is on the falsehood of the utterance.
Jeremiah 28 9 Bonus Section
The principle here extends beyond mere prediction. It involves discerning the source of the message. While God's word will ultimately be fulfilled, the immediate failure of a prophecy casts doubt on its divine provenance. This concept is mirrored in the New Testament with warnings about false prophets (Matt. 7:15-20) whose lives and messages should be scrutinized for fruit and consistency with apostolic teaching. The test isn't just for dramatic pronouncements but also for teachings that subtly deviate from God's established truth or promote personal agendas over His revealed will. False prophecies can be appealing because they offer comfort or immediate solutions, but true prophecy aligns with God's character and His long-term redemptive plan.
Jeremiah 28 9 Commentary
This verse establishes a crucial test for prophecy: verifiable fulfillment. If a proclaimed word from God does not materialize as stated, it indicates a lack of divine origin. True prophets speak God's words, which are inherently true and will come to pass according to His timing and purpose. Hananiah's confident pronouncement about the imminent return of temple vessels was a direct contradiction to Jeremiah's divinely given message of prolonged exile. The verse emphasizes that a prophecy that fails is not merely inaccurate; it is a "false prophecy," implying both error and a deception from the one who delivered it. The consequence is that the prophet is recognized as someone God has not sent.