Jeremiah 23:9-32

How can attractive visions be exposed as speech God never gave?

Berean Standard Bible

9 As for the prophets: My heart is broken within me, and all my bones tremble. I have become like a drunkard, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD, because of His holy words. 10 For the land is full of adulterers— because of the curse, the land mourns and the pastures of the wilderness have dried up— their course is evil and their power is misused. 11 “For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD. 12 “Therefore their path will become slick; they will be driven away into the darkness and fall into it. For I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD. 13 “Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray. 14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.” 15 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” 16 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. 17 They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’ 18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and obeyed it? 19 Behold, the storm of the LORD has gone out with fury, a whirlwind swirling down upon the heads of the wicked. 20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this clearly. 21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them back from their evil ways and deeds.” 23 “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?” 24 “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD. 25 “I have heard the sayings of the prophets who prophesy lies in My name: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the delusion of their own minds? 27 They suppose the dreams that they tell one another will make My people forget My name, just as their fathers forgot My name through the worship of Baal. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD. 29 “Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?” 30 “Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.” 31 “Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’” 32 “Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD.

What is the context?

The prophet’s shaking and broken heart introduce a charge against prophets and priests whose conduct spreads ungodliness. Jerusalem’s prophets strengthen evildoers instead of turning people back.

The visions come from their own minds while promising peace to those who despise the Lord and follow stubborn hearts. Pleasant assurance is not proof of divine origin.

The question about the Lord’s council contrasts received and obedient speech with self-appointed running. True hearing would have led the people away from evil.

The Lord’s presence fills heaven and earth, so secret invention cannot be hidden from Him. Repeated claims of dreams can instead cause people to forget His name.

Straw and grain, fire and hammer distinguish powerless inventions from the Lord’s effective word. The closing charge includes stealing words from others and attaching His authority to one’s own tongue.

The warning concerns actual falsehood and its fruit. It does not authorize a person to label every dream or every disagreement false merely because it is unfamiliar.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley contrasts the Lord’s will with the prophets’ dreams and reads the stolen words as collusion in deception. His suggestion that verse 18 voices the false prophets’ challenge differs from reading the question as the Lord’s exposure of them; either way the following verses deny that these speakers were sent.

Where does this fit in God's plan?

2 Timothy 4:1–5 develops the wider Christian charge to teach patiently and truthfully even when hearers prefer teachers who suit their desires. Paul places that task before Christ as Judge and coming King. He does not quote Jeremiah 23; the connection adds the Christian responsibility to proclaim the gospel rather than mirror an audience’s preferred assurances.

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?

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