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Jeremiah 23:36

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 23:36 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the burden of Jehovah shall ye mention no more: for every man`s own word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of Jehovah of hosts our God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the burden of Jehovah shall ye mention no more: for every man`s own word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of Jehovah of hosts our God.
Jeremiah 23:36 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
35Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, What hath Jehovah answered? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?
36And the burden of Jehovah shall ye mention no more: for every man`s own word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of Jehovah of hosts our God.
37Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath Jehovah answered thee? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?
38But if ye say, The burden of Jehovah; therefore thus saith Jehovah: Because ye say this word, The burden of Jehovah, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of Jehovah;
39therefore, behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off, and the city that I gave unto you and to your fathers, away from my presence:
← Jeremiah 23:35Jeremiah 23:37 →
← Full Chapter 23 Jeremiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the burden of the Lord shall be mentioned no more, etc.] Or the word of the Lord under that name, speaking of it in a ludicrous and scoffing manner: for every man’s word shall be his burden; every flout, scoff, and jeer of his, at the word of God, shall fall heavily upon him, with weight upon his conscience, and press him with guilt to the lowest hell; or, however, a heavy punishment for his sin shall light upon him: or, as the words may be rendered, “for his word is a burden to everyone”f503; that is, the word of the Lord is reckoned by everyone a burden; and with them a burden and the word of the Lord are synonymous terms; which ought not to be, and was offensive to the Lord; and…”
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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
“every man's word . . . his burden--As they mockingly call all prophecies burdens, as if calamities were the sole subject of prophecy, so it shall prove to them. God will take them at their own word. living God--not lifeless as their dumb idols, ever living so as to be able to punish.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Every man’s word ... - Rather, every man’s burden shall be his word; i. e., his mocking use of the word “burden” shall weigh him down and crush him. Perverted - i. e., put into a ridiculous light. 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
“Mention no more - Not in scorn and derision. For - These false and irreverent speeches which are in every man's mouth, shall be burdensome to them, shall bring down vengeance upon them. Perverted - Because you have derided, the words of God, the living God. Jeremiah 23:37”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:36 The Lord warned that no one should claim to have a prophecy from the Lord in order to exert authority over other people. Doing so would be contrary to God’s words and constitute a misuse of his name (Exod 20:7; see also Matt 20:25-28).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“for every: Psa 12:3, Psa 64:8, Psa 120:3, Psa 149:9; Pro 17:20; Isa 3:8; Mat 12:36; Luk 19:22; Pe2 2:17, Pe2 2:18; Jde 1:15, Jde 1:16 for ye: Isa 28:13, Isa 28:14, Isa 28:22; Gal 1:7-9, Gal 6:5; Pe2 3:16 of the: Jer 10:10; Deu 5:26; Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36; Kg2 19:4; Act 14:15; Th1 1:9 Jeremiah 23:38”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification