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Jeremiah 23:22

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 23:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Jeremiah 23:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19Behold, the tempest of Jehovah, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, yea, a whirling tempest: it shall burst upon the head of the wicked.
20The anger of Jehovah shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it perfectly.
21I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied.
22But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
23Am I a God at hand, saith Jehovah, and not a God afar off?
24Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.
25I have heard what the prophets have said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
← Jeremiah 23:21Jeremiah 23:23 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But if they had stood in my counsel, etc.] As they boasted they did; or, as they reproached the true prophets, and charged them with vanity and arrogance, in talking as if they had; had this been truly their case, as it was that of the prophets of the Lord: and had caused my people to hear my words; or, “then they would have caused my people to hear my words”; had it been so, they would have heard first the words of the Lord themselves in secret and privately, and then they would have caused the people to have heard them; they would not have gone to them with their own lies; they would not have dared to have done that; they would have delivered nothing but what they had heard from the Lord:…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“stood in . . . counsel-- (Jer 23:18). they should have turned them from their evil way--They would have given such counsels to the people as would have turned them from their sins (Jer 25:5; Isa 55:11), and so would have averted punishment. Their not teaching the law in which God's counsel is set forth proves they are not His prophets, though they boast of being so (Mat 7:15-20).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They should have turned them ... - The work of the true prophet, which is to turn men from evil unto good. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:22 The messages of the false prophets would have been quite different if they had actually come from the Lord. God wanted the people to reject their evil ways (such as Baal worship) and turn to the one true God.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“if: Jer 23:18; Eze 2:7, Eze 3:17; Act 20:27 then: Jer 25:5, Jer 35:15, Jer 36:3; Eze 13:22, Eze 18:30; Zac 1:4; Act 26:18-20; Th1 1:9, Th1 1:10, Th1 5:6 Jeremiah 23:23”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification