Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The pronouncement of the Lord,’ I will bring punishment upon that person and his household.
Parallel translations
- WEB As for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, who say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ I will even punish that man and his household.
- KJV And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.
- BSB As for the prophet or priest or anyone who claims, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ I will punish that man and his household.
- NKJV “And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’ I will even punish that man and his house.
- NLT “If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, ‘I have a prophecy from the Lord,’ I will punish that person along with his entire family.
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
Anyone who keeps glibly speaking of 'the burden of the LORD' will be punished, along with his household. Misusing the phrase to mock genuine prophecy brings personal judgment.
Overview
God warns that those who persist in the irreverent catchphrase 'the burden of the LORD' will face punishment extending to their families. The flippant misuse of sacred language treats revelation with contempt. The verse calls for reverence toward how God's word is spoken of and handled.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Zech 13:3It will happen that, when anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who bore him will tell him, ‘You must die, because you speak lies in Yahweh’s name;’ and his father and his mother who bore him will stab him when he prophesies.
- Lam 2:14Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captivity, but have seen for you false revelations and causes of banishment.
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 23:34 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.