Jeremiah 23:31
◄  Jeremiah 23:31  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The LORD declares.'

New Living Translation (©2007)
I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, 'This prophecy is from the LORD!'

English Standard Version (©2001)
Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the LORD.’

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Behold, I am against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who use their tongues and declare, 'The Lord declares.'

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
I am against the prophets"--the LORD's declaration--"who use their own tongues to make a declaration.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Look, I'm against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who use their tongues to issue a declaration.

NET Bible (©2006)
I, the LORD, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who are using their own tongues to declare, 'The LORD declares. . ..'

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"I'm against the prophets who speak their own thoughts and say that they speak for me.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He says.

American King James Version
Behold, I am against the prophets, said the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He said.

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord: who use their tongues, and say: The Lord saith it.

Darby Bible Translation
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He hath said.

English Revised Version
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.

World English Bible
Behold, I am against the prophets, says Yahweh, who use their tongues, and say, He says.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, I am against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Who are making smooth their tongue, And they affirm -- an affirmation.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:23-32 Men cannot be hidden from God's all-seeing eye. Will they never see what judgments they prepare for themselves? Let them consider what a vast difference there is between these prophecies and those delivered by the true prophets of the Lord. Let them not call their foolish dreams Divine oracles. The promises of peace these prophets make are no more to be compared to God's promises than chaff to wheat. The unhumbled heart of man is like a rock; if not melted by the word of God as a fire, it will be broken to pieces by it as a hammer. How can they be long safe, or at all easy, who have a God of almighty power against them? The word of God is no smooth, lulling, deceitful message. And by its faithfulness it may certainly be distinguished from false doctrines.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 31. - That use their tongues; literally, that take their tongue, like a workman's tool - as if prophecy could be turned out to order. And say, He saith. The word rendered "he saith" is one which the prophets habitually used to affirm the revealed character of their teaching. It is the participle of the verb rendered "say." Adopting a Miltonic verb, we might render, and oracle oracles." The "false prophets" adopt the same forms as the true; but they are to them only forms.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord,.... 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 letter (r), "that smooth their tongues", as Kimchi; or speak smooth things with their tongues, to please the people:

and say, he saith; that is, "the Lord", as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions express it; that so they, night be the more easily believed by the people; but this was highly provoking to God, to father their lies and falsehoods upon him.

(r) "hic pro" "qui lenificant linguam suam", Pagninus, Gataker; "sumentes blandam linguan suam", Schmidt.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

31. 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."

Jeremiah 23:31 Parallel Commentaries

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Lying Prophets
…30Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, said the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbor. 31Behold, I am against the prophets, said the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He said. 32Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, said the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, said the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:30 "Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.
Jeremiah 23:32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.