Jeremiah 23 – Oracles Condemning the False Prophets

Hammer Rock Smash CrushHebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Yahweh laments the false prophets and vows to punish them.

II. Photo

The prophets are false but Yahweh’s word is truth: “Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (v. 29)

III. Select Verses

5-6: The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.”

13: In the prophets of Samaria I saw a repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal And led My people Israel astray.

14: But what I see in the prophets of Jerusalem Is something horrifying: Adultery and false dealing. They encourage evildoers, So that no one turns back from his wickedness. To Me they are all like Sodom, And [all] its inhabitants like Gomorrah.

25: I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed!”

29: Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

31: See, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their own tongues and say, “Says the LORD.”

IV. Outline

1-4. Yahweh will gather the “flock” and replace its “shepherds”

5-6. Yahweh will raise a Davidic leader named “Yahweh Zidqeinu” (Zedekiah?)

7-8. The ingathering will define Israel more than the exodus

9-12. Yahweh laments and pronounces doom for his prophets and priests

13. Samaria’s prophets follow Baal

14. Jerusalem’s prophets do evil

15. Future punishment; rationale

16-18. Do not follow the false prophets

19-20. Future punishment for the wicked

21-22. The prophets are false

23-24. Yahweh is not easy to reach

25-27. The prophets are liars

28-29. Yahweh’s word is true and powerful

30-32. Yahweh opposes the false prophets

33-38. The “Masa of Yahweh” prophecies are false

39-40. Future punishment: exile and shame

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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