Jeremiah 23:16

Truth and honesty Spiritual warfare

¹⁴ I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

¹⁵ Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

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.

¹⁷ They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

¹⁸ For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard 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
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Read in context
Ezekiel 13:6
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 11:13–15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Read in context
Galatians 1:8–9
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Read in context
Jeremiah 27:9–10
Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:
Read in context
Ezekiel 13:3
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
Read in context
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Read in context
Jeremiah 23:21
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
Read in context