Jeremiah 23:31

"“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says the LORD, “who each steal my words from his neighbor."

Key Reflection

The verse Jeremiah 23:31 criticizes false prophets who appropriate and misappropriate God’s messages for their own gain. This act of "stealing" God's words not only undermines the integrity of divine revelation but also highlights the hypocrisy of those who claim to speak on behalf of the Lord while distorting or misrepresenting His true message. In this context, God asserts His authority by declaring that He will punish these false prophets and their households, emphasizing the serious nature of misusing His words for personal gain.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

That use their tongues -literally, that take their tongues. Their second characteristic. They have no message from God, but they take their tongues, their only implement, and say, He saith, using the solemn formula by which Yahweh affirms the truth of His words. Solemn asseverations seemed to give reality to their emptiness.

More from Jeremiah 23

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