Read & explore together
False Prophecies
Jeremiah 23:33–40 warns about saying, “The message from Yahweh,” when people have turned their own words into that message. Yahweh rejects this speech and exposes it as a perversion of his words.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
These verses are direct prophecy and teaching. The passage names people, prophets, and priests who ask about Yahweh’s message, then gives corrected ways to speak and a warning of judgement. Its focus is not a new story but Yahweh’s response to speech that misuses his words.
Jeremiah 23:33–40Main takeaway
God rejects people presenting human words as his message, so this passage teaches careful truthfulness about what he has actually said.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A sharp answer from YahwehThe passage begins with people, a prophet, or a priest asking, “What is the message from Yahweh?”
Explanation
The passage begins with people, a prophet, or a priest asking, “What is the message from Yahweh?” Yahweh tells Jeremiah to answer with judgement: “What message? I will cast you off.” The response shows that this repeated phrase is not being accepted by God in this setting, but answered with rejection.
02The warning reaches every groupJeremiah 23:34 expands the warning. Prophet, priest, and people are all included, and the one who says, “The message from Yahweh,” will be punished, along with his household.
Explanation
Jeremiah 23:34 expands the warning. Prophet, priest, and people are all included, and the one who says, “The message from Yahweh,” will be punished, along with his household. The passage treats this matter seriously. It is not describing a harmless expression, but speech that stands under God’s judgement.
03How they should speak insteadThe people are told to ask, “What has Yahweh answered?” and, “What has Yahweh said?” These are the substitute questions repeated in the passage.
Explanation
The people are told to ask, “What has Yahweh answered?” and, “What has Yahweh said?” These are the substitute questions repeated in the passage. They direct attention to Yahweh’s actual answer and actual speech, instead of relying on a phrase that God has forbidden in this context.
04Perverting the words of GodVerse 36 explains the problem: “every man’s own word has become his message.” In other words, human speech was being treated as if it were God’s message.
Explanation
Verse 36 explains the problem: “every man’s own word has become his message.” In other words, human speech was being treated as if it were God’s message. This is called perverting “the words of the living God, of Yahweh of Armies, our God.” Those titles make the offence more serious because these are God’s own words.
05Lasting shame for refusing the warningYahweh says that although he sent word not to say, “The message from Yahweh,” they still say it.
Explanation
Yahweh says that although he sent word not to say, “The message from Yahweh,” they still say it. Therefore he will forget them, cast them off with the city he gave them and their fathers, and bring everlasting reproach and perpetual shame. The ending stresses enduring judgement for persistent disobedience.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does the passage replace “What is the message from Yahweh?” with “What has Yahweh answered?” and “What has Yahweh said?”
Notice the explanation that people had made their own word into the message, so the new wording points back to what Yahweh himself has actually said.
02Who is included in this warning?
Look for each group named in the opening verses and notice that the warning is not limited to one kind of speaker.
03What consequences follow if people keep saying the forbidden phrase?
List the judgments named at the end of the passage, including being cast off, forgotten, removed from God’s presence, and brought to shame.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 23:33–40
33“When this people, or the prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, ‘What is the message from Yahweh?’ Then you shall tell them, ‘ “What message? I will cast you off,” says Yahweh.’
34As for the prophet, the priest, and the people, who say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ I will even punish that man and his household.
35You will say everyone to his neighbor, and everyone to his brother, ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh said?’
36You will mention the message from Yahweh no more, for every man’s own word has become his message; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of Yahweh of Armies, our God.
37You will say to the prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’
38Although you say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ therefore Yahweh says: ‘Because you say this word, “The message from Yahweh,” and I have sent to you, telling you not to say, “The message from Yahweh,”
39therefore behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off with the city that I gave to you and to your fathers, away from my presence.
40I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten.’ ”