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Jeremiah 23:31

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 23:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
Jeremiah 23:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
28The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? saith Jehovah.
29Is not my word like fire? saith Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
30Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.
31Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
32Behold, I am against them that prophesy lying dreams, saith Jehovah, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting: yet I sent them not, nor commanded them; neither do they profit this people at all, saith Jehovah.
33And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of Jehovah? then shalt thou say unto them, What burden! I will cast you off, saith Jehovah.
34And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of Jehovah, I will even punish that man and his house.
← Jeremiah 23:30Jeremiah 23:32 →
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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
“Behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the Lord, etc.] Not another sort of prophets distinct from the former, or those that follow; but the same under another character, and against whom he was, and set his face on another occasion; that use their tongues; at their pleasure, their lips being their own. So the Targum, “who prophesy according to the will of their own hearts;” talk in a haughty and insolent manner, speaking bold and daring things of the divine Being; or in a boasting bragging manner, extolling themselves, and speaking highly in their own commendations; or rather in a flattering way to the people: so some read it, by a transposition of a radical letterf500, “that smooth…”
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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
“use--rather, "take" their tongue: a second class (compare Jer 23:30) require, in order to bring forth a revelation, nothing more than their tongues, wherewith they say, He (Jehovah) saith: they bungle in the very formula instead of the usual "Jehovah saith," being only able to say "(He) saith."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He - That is, the Lord saith. Jeremiah 23:33”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“use: or, smooth, Isa 30:10; Mic 2:11 He: Jer 23:17; Ch2 18:5, Ch2 18:10-12, Ch2 18:19-21 Jeremiah 23:32”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification