Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’
- 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 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.
- 2 Chr 18:5Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.
- Isa 30:10Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
- 2 Chr 18:10–12And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.
- 2 Chr 18:19–21And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
- Mic 2:11If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.