Jeremiah 5:13 kjv
And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
Jeremiah 5:13 nkjv
And the prophets become wind, For the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them."
Jeremiah 5:13 niv
The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them."
Jeremiah 5:13 esv
The prophets will become wind; the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!'"
Jeremiah 5:13 nlt
God's prophets are all windbags
who don't really speak for him.
Let their predictions of disaster fall on themselves!'"
Jeremiah 5 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 5:13 | The prophets speak lies; the priests... | fulfilled by false teachers (2 Pet. 2:1-3) |
| Jeremiah 6:13 | "For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness..." | Echoes greed in prophets (Micah 3:5) |
| Jeremiah 8:10 | "...for all of them, from the least to the greatest, are given to covetousness..." | Similar judgment on greed (Prov. 28:25) |
| Isaiah 9:15 | "...the elders and the honored man are the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail." | Condemnation of false prophecy (Ezek. 13:6) |
| Micah 3:11 | "Her heads count out for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets practice divination..." | Priests and prophets corrupted (Hos. 9:7) |
| Ezekiel 13:22 | "With lies you have saddened the heart of the righteous, when I have not saddened it, and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that they have turned from their way..." | Impact of false prophecy (Zechariah 7:10) |
| Matthew 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." | Warning against false prophets (Acts 20:30) |
| 2 Peter 2:14 | "...with eyes full of adultery, they never cease from sin, luring unstable souls. They have hearts trained in greed..." | Characteristics of false teachers (Jude 1:11) |
| 1 John 4:1 | "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God..." | Discernment of spirits (1 Tim. 4:1) |
| Romans 10:14 | "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?" | The necessity of true preaching (Phil. 1:15) |
| 2 Corinthians 4:2 | "...but renounce secret and shameful ways. We do not wield the word of God deceitfully..." | Integrity in ministry (Jer. 23:28) |
| Acts 17:11 | "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all readiness of mind, searching the scriptures daily..." | Bereans examining the Word (John 5:39) |
| Revelation 2:2 | "I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil..." | Testing of ministries (Rev. 3:9) |
| Proverbs 14:12 | "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." | Deception in ways (Matt. 7:13) |
| Jeremiah 23:16 | "But do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hope." | Empty hope from false prophets (Isa. 30:10) |
| Ezekiel 34:2 | "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel..." | Judgment on corrupt leaders (Nahum 3:1) |
| Psalm 36:2 | "For he flatters himself in his own iniquity, until the iniquity is found to be hateful." | Self-deception (Prov. 26:25) |
| Galatians 1:7 | "...though there are others who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ." | Distorting truth (2 Cor. 2:17) |
| Acts 8:10 | "and all from the least to the greatest, they all gave attention to him, saying, 'This man is the Power of God that is called Great.'" | Deception by sorcery (Rev. 18:23) |
| John 10:5 | "A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." | Not knowing the true shepherd's voice (Jer. 29:8) |
| 1 John 2:27 | "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true, and is not a lie..." | True teaching from the Spirit (Acts 4:31) |
Jeremiah 5 verses
Jeremiah 5 13 Meaning
The verse states that the prophets' words are like wind, and the truth is not in them. God has rejected them, indicating their message is devoid of divine substance and lacking in genuine prophetic utterance.
Jeremiah 5 13 Context
In Jeremiah chapter 5, God is lamenting the widespread corruption and sin within Judah. He observes that from the highest officials to the lowest citizens, people are turning away from Him, embracing idolatry, injustice, and falsehood. The prophets are particularly singled out as having a critical role in this spiritual decay. They are described as not only prophesying falsely but also reinforcing the people's delusion and resistance to God's truth, leading them away from repentance and turning them towards judgment. This chapter is part of God's ongoing indictment against Judah for its covenant unfaithfulness.
Jeremiah 5 13 Word Analysis
- כִּי (kî): A common Hebrew conjunction meaning "for," "because," "that," introducing a reason or explanation. Here, it links the accusation of lying prophets to the pronouncement of God's rejection.
- הַנְּבִאִים (han·nə·ḇî·îm): "the prophets." This plural form indicates multiple individuals holding this title, but their collective function is deemed illegitimate.
- יְחָזָה (yə·ḥā·zāh): "visions" or "prophetic utterances." The word itself denotes seeing or beholding, often divinely inspired insight.
- שֶׁקֶר (šeqe·er): "lie," "falsehood," "deceit." This is the core of the accusation – their pronouncements are not truth.
- וְהַכֹּהֲנִים (wə·ha·kō·ha·nîm): "and the priests." They are indicted alongside the prophets, indicating a systemic spiritual failure involving both teaching and priestly functions.
- יַצְעִירוּ (yaṣ·‘î·rū): "they rule," "they oppress," or "they lead weakly." This Hebrew root can carry connotations of ruling but also of youthful immaturity or a lack of firm guidance. Here, it suggests their spiritual leadership is either domineering in a wicked way or is so corrupt it's a weak, ineffectual form of leadership that fails the people.
- וְעַמִּי (wə·‘am·mî): "and my people." This possessive ("my people") highlights God's relationship with Israel and the deep pain caused by their corruption and the misleading words of their leaders.
- אָהְבוּ (’āh·ḇū): "loved" or "delighted in." This indicates their willing embrace and enjoyment of the status quo of deceit.
- לְכֹס (lə·ḵō·s): "thus," "so." It functions as a connector or introducer to the consequence.
- כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה (kōh ·’ā·mar ·YHWH): "Thus says the LORD." This is the quintessential prophetic formula, asserting divine authority for the following pronouncement.
- כִּי (kî): "because." Explains the reason for God's action.
- אָזְנוּ לֹא יְחֶפְצוּ (’āz·nō·w ·lō ·yə·ḥep̄·ṣū): "their ear will not have pleasure," or "they have not paid attention," "they do not incline their ear." This conveys a willful deafness or disregard for God's word and truth, reflecting a rejection of His voice.
Word-Group Analysis
- "the prophets prophesy falsehood": This phrase encapsulates the core accusation against the prophetic class. It signifies not just inaccurate predictions but deliberate deception, leading the people astray. The word "prophesy" (from the root that includes "visions") underscores that these were presented as divine insights, making the lie all the more pernicious.
- "the priests rule by their power": This highlights the abuse of authority by the religious leaders. The ambiguity in "rule" allows for interpretation of both outright oppression and a corrupted form of leadership that favors self-interest over divine mandate. It connects spiritual authority with worldly power and control.
- "and my people love it": This points to the culpability of the populace. Their embrace of the falsehood and corrupted leadership signifies a deep-seated corruption that had become palatable and even desirable to them. They had grown accustomed to sin and rejection of truth.
- "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will bring upon them calamity...": This formula signifies a direct divine pronouncement of judgment. The calamity is a consequence of their actions and God’s justice.
- "and their ear will not have pleasure": This signifies God’s utter disregard and turning away from them because they have not inclined their ear to Him. Their rejection of divine counsel results in God’s refusal to hear their future pleas or their true words.
Jeremiah 5 13 Bonus Section
The specific wording of "their ear will not have pleasure" (אָזְנוּ לֹא יְחֶפְצוּ) is crucial. It suggests not just an inability to hear, but a deliberate turning away from what God desires them to hear. This is a form of willful ignorance that seals their fate. This lack of spiritual appetite for truth contrasts sharply with the "desire" or "pleasure" they take in falsehood and the oppressive ways of their leaders. The interconnectedness of false prophets and corrupt priests underscores a societal breakdown where both spiritual discernment and moral guidance have been extinguished. This mirrors themes in the New Testament, particularly Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees and scribes (Matt. 23) who also burdened people with religious requirements while twisting God's law and rejecting divine truth.
Jeremiah 5 13 Commentary
Jeremiah 5:13 powerfully condemns the spiritual leaders of Judah – prophets and priests – for their deceit and corruption. These figures, entrusted with conveying God’s word and guiding His people, instead peddle falsehoods and manipulate the populace for their own gain. Their words are characterized as wind, empty and without substance, offering a false sense of security. This indicates a profound spiritual sickness within the nation, where even the religious establishment has been compromised, and the people have willingly embraced the lies. God’s pronouncement of judgment is not arbitrary but a just consequence for their systematic rejection of His truth. The verse serves as a stark warning against spiritual leaders who abandon their calling, betray divine truth, and lead people into ruin. It emphasizes the critical importance of discerning true prophecy from false and the dangers of a populace that finds comfort in deceptive pronouncements over divine truth.