Jeremiah 23:33-40

Why does careless talk about the Lord’s burden become a burden on its speakers?

Berean Standard Bible

33 “Now when this people or a prophet or priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the LORD?’ you are to say to them, ‘What burden? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’ 34 As for the prophet or priest or anyone who claims, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ I will punish that man and his household. 35 This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother: ‘What has the LORD answered?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 36 But refer no more to the burden of the LORD, for each man’s word becomes the burden, so that you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God. 37 Thus you are to say to the prophet: ‘What has the LORD answered you?’ and ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 38 But if you claim, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ then this is what the LORD says: Because you have said, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ and I specifically told you not to make this claim, 39 therefore I will surely forget you and will cast you out of My presence, both you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers. 40 And I will bring upon you everlasting shame and perpetual humiliation that will never be forgotten.”

What is the context?

The people, prophets, and priests ask about the Lord’s burden, but are told to ask what He has answered or spoken. The issue is how His message is named and handled.

The repeated phrase has become a means of perverting the living God’s words. Their own speech now becomes the burden under which they will stand.

The warning names the deliberate persistence of using what the Lord has forbidden in this exchange. It is not a universal ban on every use of an ordinary English word.

The city and people face being cast away and enduring disgrace. The ending completes the chapter’s insistence that claiming God’s authority does not give a speaker freedom to invent what He has said.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley understands the questions as mockery of true prophetic warnings and the answer as a demand for reverent speech. The USCCB note highlights the burden-and-message wordplay. Both readings treat the issue as abuse of divine speech rather than a rule that ordinary requests for an explanation are forbidden.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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