Jeremiah 23:17

"The LORD of Armies says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD."

Key Reflection

The verse from Jeremiah 23:17 emphasizes the importance of genuine prophecy rooted in divine authority. The Lord declares that those who teach false visions and vain words—prophecies arising merely from their own hearts rather than being spoken by God—are misleading His people. This context highlights a critical distinction between true and false prophets, a theme also evident in other prophetic books like Ezekiel 13:1, where the author notes that similar phrases suggest Jeremiah's prophecy was widely recognized and adapted to address contemporary issues among the exiles.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Still - “Continually.” This verse gives the chief test by which the false prophet is to be detected, namely, that his predictions violate the laws of morality.

More from Jeremiah 23

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