King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
[Am] I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Am I God only when near," asks ADONAI, "and not when far away?
Berean Standard Bible:
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?”
American Standard Version:
Am I a God at hand, saith Jehovah, and not a God afar off?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Am I a God{H430} at hand{H7138}, saith{H5002} the LORD{H3068}, and not a God{H430} afar off{H7350}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 139:1
- ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].
Psalms 139:10
- Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
1 Kings 20:23
- And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods [are] gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
1 Kings 20:28
- And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.
Jonah 1:3
- But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah 1:4
- ¶ But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
Psalms 113:5
- Who [is] like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
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Commentary for Jeremiah 23:23
Jeremiah 23:23 is a verse that speaks to the nature of God's presence and omniscience. In this verse, God, through the prophet Jeremiah, challenges the popular misconceptions of His nature. The historical context of this verse is set during a period when the people of Judah were experiencing moral and spiritual decay. False prophets were abundant, leading the people astray with messages that were not from the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16-22). These prophets were giving oracles they claimed were from God, but they were actually speaking from their own imaginations or the desires of their hearts.
The verse "Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?" is a rhetorical question posed by God to emphasize that He is not limited by physical proximity. He is both near to His people, intimately involved in their lives, and also transcendent, not confined to any one place or bound by human limitations. This declaration serves to remind the Israelites, and by extension all readers, that God is ever-present and aware of the deeds and thoughts of humanity. He cannot be deceived by the falsehoods of the prophets because He is close enough to see and know all.
The themes of this verse include the sovereignty and omnipresence of God, the accountability of religious leaders, and the call to authentic faith and practice. It underscores God's accessibility to those who seek Him truly and His judgment upon those who would misrepresent Him. This verse also comforts the faithful by affirming that God is always near, ready to be found by those who seek Him with sincerity.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H7138
There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרוֹב
Transliteration: qârôwb
Pronunciation: kaw-robe'
Description: or קָרֹב; from קָרַב; near (in place, kindred or time); allied, approach, at hand, [phrase] any of kin, kinsfold(-sman), (that is) near (of kin), neighbour, (that is) next, (them that come) nigh (at hand), more ready, short(-ly). - Strong's Number: H5002
There are 358 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְאֻם
Transliteration: nᵉʼum
Pronunciation: neh-oom'
Description: from נָאַם; an oracle; (hath) said, saith. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H7350
There are 84 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָחוֹק
Transliteration: râchôwq
Pronunciation: raw-khoke'
Description: or רָחֹק; from רָחַק; remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition); (a-) far (abroad, off), long ago, of old, space, great while to come.