TRV
Translation
King James Version
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
KJV (with Strong's)
Then the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, The prophets H5030 prophesy H5012 lies H8267 in my name H8034: I sent H7971 them not, neither have I commanded H6680 them, neither spake H1696 unto them: they prophesy H5012 unto you a false H8267 vision H2377 and divination H7081, and a thing of nought H457 H434, and the deceit H8649 of their heart H3820.
Complete Jewish Bible
ADONAI replied, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn't send them, order them or speak to them. They are prophesying false visions to you, worthless divinations, the delusions of their own minds.
Berean Standard Bible
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.
American Standard Version
Then Jehovah said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake I unto them: they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their own heart.
World English Bible Messianic
Then the LORD said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I didn’t send them, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I to them: they prophesy to you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then the Lord said vnto me, The prophets prophecie lyes in my Name: I haue not sent them, neither did I command them, neither spake I vnto them, but they prophecie vnto you a false vision, and diuination, and vanitie, and deceitfulnes of their owne heart.
Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto me: Falsehood the prophets are prophesying in My name, I did not send them, nor command them, Nor have I spoken unto them: A false vision, and divination, and vanity, And the deceit of their own heart, they are prophesying to you.
In the KJVVerse 19,308 of 31,102
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Commentary on Jeremiah 14 verses 10–16
10 ¶ Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
13 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.
14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
15 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.
The dispute between God and his prophet, in this chapter, seems to be like that between the owner and the dresser of the vineyard concerning the barren fig-tree, Luk 13:7. The justice of the owner condemns it to be cut down; the clemency of the dresser intercedes for a reprieve. Jeremiah had been earnest with God, in prayer, to return in mercy to this people. Now here,
I. God overrules the plea which he had offered in their favour, and shows him that it would not hold. In answer to it thus he says concerning this people, Jer 14:10. He does not say, concerning my people, for he disowns them, because they had broken covenant with him. It is true they were called by his name, and had the tokens of his presence among them; but they had sinned, and provoked God to withdraw. This the prophet had owned, and had hoped to obtain mercy for them, notwithstanding this, through intercession and sacrifice; therefore God here tells him, 1. That they were not duly qualified for a pardon. The prophet had owned that their backslidings were many; and, though they were so, yet there was hope for them if they returned. But this people show no disposition at all to return; they have wandered, and they have loved to wander; their backslidings have been their choice and their pleasure, which should have been their shame and pain, and therefore they will be their ruin. They cannot expect God should take up his rest with them when they take such delight in going astray from him after their idols. It is not through necessity or inadvertency that they wander, but they love to wander. Sinners are wanderers from God; their wanderings forfeit God's favour, but it is their loving to wander that quite cuts them off from it. They were told what their wanderings would come to that one sin would hurry them on to another, and all to ruin; and yet they have not taken warning and refrained their feet. So far were they from returning to their God that neither his prophets nor his judgments could prevail upon them to give themselves the least check in a sinful pursuit. This is that for which God is now reckoning with them. When he denies them rain from heaven he is remembering their iniquity and visiting their sin; that is it for which their fruitful land is thus turned into barrenness. 2. That they had no reason to expect that the God they had rejected should accept them; no, not though they betook themselves to fasting and prayer and put themselves to the expense of burnt-offerings and sacrifice: The Lord doth not accept them, Jer 14:10. He takes no pleasure in them (so the word is); for what pleasure can the holy God take in those that take pleasure in his rivals, in any service, in any society, rather than his? "When they fast (Jer 14:12), which is a proper expression of repentance and reformation, - when they offer a burnt offering and an oblation, which was designed to be an expression of faith in a Mediator, - though their prayers be thus enforced, and offered up in those vehicles that used to be acceptable, yet, because they do not proceed from humble, penitent, and renewed hearts, but still they love to wander, therefore I will not hear their cry, be it ever so loud; nor will I accept them, neither their persons nor their performances." It had been long since declared, The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; and those only are accepted that do well, Gen 4:7. 3. That they had forfeited all benefit by the prophet's prayers for them because they had not regarded his preaching to them. This is the meaning of that repeated prohibition given to the prophet (Jer 14:11): Pray not thou for this people for their good, as before, Jer 7:15; Jer 11:14. This did not forbid him thus to express his good-will to them (Moses continued to intercede for Israel after God had said, Let me alone, Exo 32:10), but it forbade them to expect any good effect from it as long as they turned away their ear from hearing the law. Thus was the doom of the impenitent ratified, as that of Saul's rejection was by that word to Samuel, When wilt thou cease to mourn for Saul? It therefore follows (Jer 14:12), I will consume them, not only by this famine, but by the further sore judgments of sword and pestilence; for God has many arrows in his quiver, and those that will not be convinced and reclaimed by one shall be consumed by another.
II. The prophet offers another plea in excuse for the people's obstinacy, and it is but an excuse, but he was willing to say whatever their case would bear; it is this, That the prophets, who pretended a commission from heaven, imposed upon them, and flattered them with assurances of peace though they went on in their sinful way, Jer 14:13. He speaks of it with lamentation: "Ah! Lord God, the poor people seem willing to take notice of what comes in thy name, and there are those who in thy name tell them that they shall not see the sword nor famine; and they say it as from thee, with all the gravity and confidence of prophets: I will continue you in this place, and will give you assured peace here, peace of truth. I tell them the contrary; but I am one against many, and every one is apt to credit that which makes for them; therefore, Lord, pity and spare them, for their leaders cause them to err." This excuse would have been of some weight if they had not had warning given them, before, of false prophets, and rules by which to distinguish them; so that if they were deceived it was entirely their own fault. But this teaches us, as far as we can with truth, to make the best of bad, and judge as charitably of others as their case will bear.
III. God not only overrules this plea, but condemns both the blind leaders and the blind followers to fall together into the ditch. 1. God disowns the flatteries (Jer 14:14): They prophesy lies in my name. They had no commission from God to prophesy at all: I neither sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoke unto them. They never were employed to go on any errand at all from God; he never made himself known to them, much less by them to the people; never any word of the Lord came to them, no call, no warrant, no instruction, much less did he send them on this errand, to rock them asleep in security. No; men may flatter themselves, and Satan may flatter them, but God never does. It is a false vision, and a thing of nought. Note, What is false and groundless in vain and worthless. The vision that is not true, be it ever so pleasing, is good for nothing; it is the deceit of their heart, a spider's web spun out of their own bowels, and in it they think to shelter themselves, but it will be swept away in a moment and prove a great cheat. Those that oppose their own thoughts of God's word (God indeed says so, but they think otherwise) walk in the deceit of their heart, and it will be their ruin. 2. He passes sentence upon the flatterers, Jer 14:15. As for the prophets, who put this abuse upon the people by telling them they shall have peace, and this affront upon God by telling them so in God's name, let them know that they shall have no peace themselves. They shall fall first by those very judgments which they have flattered others with the hopes of an exemption from. They undertook to warrant people that sword and famine should not be in the land; but it shall soon appear how little their warrants are good for, when they themselves shall be cut off by sword and famine. How should they secure others or foretel peace to them when they cannot secure themselves, nor have such a foresight of their own calamities as to get out of the way of them? Note, The sorest punishment await those who promise sinners impunity in their sinful ways. 3. He lays the flattered under the same doom: The people to whom they prophesy lies, and who willingly suffer themselves to be thus imposed upon, shall die by sword and famine, Jer 14:16. Note, The unbelief of the deceived, with all the falsehood of the deceivers, shall not make the divine threatenings of no effect; sword and famine will come, whatever they say to the contrary; and those will be least safe that are most secure. Impenitent sinners will not escape the damnation of hell by saying that they can never believe there is such a thing, but will feel what they will not fear. It is threatened that this people shall not only fall by sword and famine, but that they shall be as it were hanged up in chains, as monuments of that divine justice which they set at defiance; their bodies shall be cast out, even in the streets of Jerusalem, which of all places, one would think, should be kept clear from such nuisances: there they shall lie unburied; their nearest relations, who should do them that last office of love, being so poor that they cannot afford it, or so weakened with hunger that they are not able to attend it, or so overwhelmed with grief that they have no heart to it, or so destitute of natural affection that they will not pay them so much respect. Thus will God pour their wickedness upon them, that is, the punishment of their wickedness; the full vials of God's wrath shall be poured upon them, to which they have made themselves obnoxious. Note, When sinners are overwhelmed with trouble they must in it see their own wickedness poured upon them. This refers to the wickedness both of the false prophets and of the people; the blind lead the blind, and both fall together into the ditch, where they will be miserable comforters one to another.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 10–16. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Jeremiah
(Verses 13, 14.) And I said, ah, ah, ah, Lord God, (or who you are, Lord God) The prophets tell them, you will not see the sword, and there will be no famine among you: but true peace will be given to you in this place. And the Lord said to me: The false prophets prophesy in my name: I have not sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoken to them. They prophesy a false vision, and a fraudulent divination, and the seduction of their own heart to you. Listen to these teachers who promise prosperity to those who persist in their sins and vices, who say to the rich: You will not see the sword of God's torments, and there will be no hunger among you. For you will be satisfied with the words of God; and the Lord will give you true peace in the place of the Church, or Jerusalem. But as he said, according to the Hebrew, three times ah, ah, ah, he responded to the previous (on his own) where the Lord had threatened, saying: I will consume them with the sword, and famine, and pestilence. Because the prophets, or rather the false prophets, had made false promises: therefore the Lord spoke through Jeremiah: Do not listen to the words of false prophets, who were not sent by me, but came of their own accord. The so-called prophets, but rather should be called deceivers, speak seduction to the people. For it is much better to correct sins through fear of punishment than to subject oneself to the hope of favorable divine judgment.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 14:14 presents the Lord's unequivocal condemnation of false prophets in Judah who, amidst a devastating drought and impending divine judgment, brazenly declared messages of peace and prosperity in His name. These self-proclaimed spokesmen, operating without divine commission, command, or communication, propagated deceptive visions, divinations, and utterly worthless pronouncements. Their prophecies, originating from the "deceit of their heart," served to lull the people into a false sense of security, tragically diverting them from the path of genuine repentance and obedience to God's true word delivered through Jeremiah.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 14:14 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to amplify its message of divine condemnation and the danger of false prophecy. Repetition is powerfully evident in the emphatic triple negation: "I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them." This anaphora serves to unequivocally deny any divine sanction for the false prophets' claims, leaving absolutely no room for ambiguity or misinterpretation. The repetition creates a strong sense of divine authority and a complete, unreserved disavowal of the false messages. Contrast is central to the verse's rhetorical power, starkly setting the true word of the Lord (spoken through Jeremiah) against the "lies," "false vision," and "divination" of the unauthorized prophets. This highlights the profound difference between authentic divine revelation and human fabrication. Furthermore, the phrase "a thing of nought" functions as both a powerful Hyperbole and a vivid Metaphor, portraying the utter emptiness, futility, and non-existence of the false prophecies. They are not merely incorrect; they are utterly devoid of substance, akin to nothingness itself, emphasizing their complete lack of value or truth. The concluding phrase "the deceit of their heart" uses Metonymy, where "heart" represents the innermost core of a person's being—their intentions, will, and moral character—to indicate that the ultimate source of the lies is internal corruption and spiritual dishonesty, rather than external error or misunderstanding.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 14:14 stands as a timeless and critical warning against spiritual deception, affirming that true divine communication is always rooted in God's sovereign initiative, perfect character, and unwavering truthfulness. It underscores the profound distinction between God's authentic word, which may bring conviction, expose sin, and call for difficult repentance, and humanly contrived messages that often offer false comfort, avoid confronting uncomfortable truths, and cater to popular desires. The theological implication is profound: God is not a God of confusion, falsehood, or manipulation, and His true messengers will always align with His revealed will, character, and purpose, even when their message is unpopular, challenging, or demands sacrifice. This verse highlights the inherent danger of seeking messages that merely affirm personal desires or provide an easy path, rather than challenging one to conform to God's truth. It emphasizes that the divine source of a message is paramount to its validity, not its perceived pleasantness or convenience.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 14:14 serves as an enduring and vital call to spiritual discernment for believers in every age, particularly in our information-saturated world. In an era where countless voices claim spiritual authority, this passage compels us to critically and prayerfully examine the source, content, and fruit of every message, rather than merely its emotional appeal, popularity, or perceived wisdom. We are profoundly reminded that true spiritual nourishment and genuine life come solely from God's authentic word, which often challenges our comfort zones, exposes our hidden sins, and calls us to radical repentance and transformative obedience. We must be acutely aware of messages that promise only ease, prosperity, or a path devoid of sacrifice and spiritual discipline, as these may be the modern equivalents of "a false vision... and the deceit of their heart." Our ultimate safeguard against deception is a deep, consistent immersion in the unchanging, authoritative Word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to cultivate within us a keen sensitivity to truth and a robust aversion to falsehood. This verse urgently calls us to prioritize and diligently seek God's voice above all others, trusting that His truth, though sometimes difficult or demanding, always leads to genuine freedom, abundant life, and eternal salvation.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the Lord saying, "I sent them not"?
Answer: This statement is profoundly significant because it directly and fundamentally challenges the legitimacy and authority of the false prophets. In ancient Israel, a prophet's entire authority and credibility rested upon being unequivocally "sent" by the Lord. By emphatically denying that He sent, commanded, or spoke to these individuals, God strips them of any divine mandate whatsoever. It means their messages were not merely mistaken interpretations or well-intentioned errors, but outright fabrications, originating from human ambition, self-interest, or deliberate deception rather than genuine divine inspiration. It powerfully underscores that true prophecy is not self-appointed or self-generated but divinely initiated, a crucial distinction for the people to understand amidst conflicting and confusing messages (see Deuteronomy 18:21-22).
How does "divination" relate to false prophecy in this verse?
Answer: The explicit inclusion of "divination" (Hebrew: qeçem) is critical because it links the false prophets' practices directly to methods explicitly forbidden by God in the Mosaic Law (e.g., Leviticus 19:26). While true prophets received direct, pure revelation from Yahweh, divination involved seeking knowledge or guidance through omens, magic, necromancy, or other illicit means, often associated with pagan worship and occult practices. By categorizing the false prophets' messages as "divination," the Lord exposes their true nature: they are not divine revelation but rather human attempts to manipulate or conjure information, akin to pagan spiritualism, and are thus an abomination to Him and a dangerous deviation from covenant faithfulness.
What does "a thing of nought" mean in practical terms for the people of Judah?
Answer: "A thing of nought" (Hebrew: ʼĕlîyl and ʼĕlûwl) literally means something utterly worthless, non-existent, empty, or of no value. For the people of Judah, this meant that the comforting messages of peace, prosperity, and averted judgment offered by the false prophets were utterly empty and baseless. They had no foundation in reality, no divine backing, and absolutely no power to avert the impending, divinely ordained judgment. Believing these "things of nought" led the people to a false and dangerous sense of security, preventing them from repenting, seeking God truly, and adequately preparing for the devastating Babylonian exile that Jeremiah truly prophesied. It meant their hope was tragically placed in a delusion, leading to catastrophic national consequences.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 14:14, with its stark contrast between deceitful human prophecy and the authoritative divine word, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the True Prophet whom God sent, not merely one who spoke for God, but God Himself incarnate, the very Word made flesh (John 1:1-14). Unlike the false prophets who spoke from "the deceit of their heart," Jesus spoke only what He heard and received from the Father, perfectly embodying divine authority, truth, and faithfulness (John 14:10). The Old Testament prophets, including Jeremiah, consistently pointed forward to a greater Prophet like Moses, one whom God would raise up and put His words in His mouth (Deuteronomy 18:15). That promised Prophet is Jesus, through whom God has spoken His final, most complete, and definitive word to humanity (Hebrews 1:1-2). While the false prophets offered "a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought," Jesus is the true vision of God, the one who perfectly reveals the Father, declaring, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). He is the very embodiment of truth, proclaiming, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). All false prophecies, human deceptions, and worthless pronouncements are utterly exposed as "things of nought" in the blazing light of His perfect revelation, His sinless life, and His sacrificial work as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). In Christ, we find not comforting lies that lead to destruction, but the challenging, life-giving truth that leads to eternal salvation, genuine peace, and abundant life.