Jeremiah 23:16

Truth and honesty Spiritual warfare

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.”

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?

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
WEB: The LORD of Armies says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
ASV: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Jehovah.
DARBY: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they lead you to vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, not out of the mouth of Jehovah.
BLB: Thus says YHWH of Hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you⁺. They make you⁺ vain; they speak a vision of their own heart, [and] not from the mouth of YHWH.

ÅB: Så sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud: Hør ikke på de profeters ord som profeterer for dere! De fyller dere med tomme innbilninger; de bærer fram sitt eget hjertes syner, ikke ord av Herrens munn.
OTB: Dette sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud: "Hør ikke på ordene fra profetene som profeterer for dere; de fyller dere med falske håp. De taler syner fra sitt eget sinn, ikke fra Herrens munn.
B1930: Så sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud: Hør ikke på de profeters ord som profeterer for eder! De fyller eder med tomme innbilninger; de bærer frem sitt eget hjertes syner, ikke ord av Herrens munn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.
Read in context
Ezekiel 13:6
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 11:13–15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
Read in context
Galatians 1:8–9
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!
Read in context
Jeremiah 27:9–10
But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’
Read in context
Ezekiel 13:3
This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, yet have seen nothing.
Read in context
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Read in context
Jeremiah 23:21
I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
Read in context