I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
Parallel translations
- WEB I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they prophesied.
- BSB I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
- NKJV “Ihave not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
- NASB “I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied.
- NLT “I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God did not send these prophets, yet they ran and prophesied on their own. They speak presumptuously without any divine commission.
Overview
The LORD plainly disowns the false prophets: He neither sent nor spoke to them, yet they eagerly ran to deliver their own messages as if from Him. This self-appointed ministry is the essence of false prophecy. The verse underscores that true authority to speak for God comes only by His sending, a principle that guards the church against those who claim divine sanction for their own words.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Jer 14:14Then 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.
- Jer 27:15For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.
- Jer 23:32Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
- Jer 29:31Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:
- Jer 28:15Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
- Jer 29:9For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
- Isa 6:8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
- John 20:21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
- Acts 13:4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
- Rom 10:15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 23:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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