Behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’
Parallel translations
- KJV Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
- BSB “Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’”
- NKJV Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’
- NASB Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares!’
- NLT I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the Lord!’
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 opposes prophets who use their own tongues yet claim, 'He says,' falsely attributing their words to the LORD. Misusing His name to authorize human speech invites judgment.
Overview
The second 'I am against' indictment targets prophets who pass off their own utterances as oracles of God. By prefacing their words with a false 'He says,' they presume on divine authority. Taking the LORD's name in vain in this way (Ex 20:7) makes them His adversaries rather than His messengers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Jer 23:17They say continually to those who despise me, ‘Yahweh has said, “You shall have peace;”’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, ‘No evil shall come on you.’
- 2 Chr 18:5Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” They said, “Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
- Isa 30:10who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and to the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.
- 2 Chr 18:10–12Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, “Yahweh says, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.’”
- 2 Chr 18:19–21Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One spoke saying in this way, and another saying in that way.
- Mic 2:11If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies: “I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink”; he would be the prophet of this people.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 23:31 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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