Jeremiah 14:14

KJV

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.

Commentary

### 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
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 14:14 is strategically placed within a profound lament and prophecy concerning a severe drought afflicting Judah, often referred to as "the drought" (Jeremiah 14:1). The preceding verses (Jeremiah 14:1-10) paint a vivid and harrowing picture of widespread desolation, depicting the suffering of the land, animals, and people, and highlighting Judah's persistent sin and spiritual apathy despite their dire circumstances. Jeremiah, deeply grieved, intercedes for his nation, yet the Lord repeatedly declares His refusal to relent due to their unrepentant apostasy. Verse 14 specifically addresses a critical impediment to the nation's spiritual awakening: the pervasive and destructive influence of false prophets. These individuals directly contradicted Jeremiah's message of impending judgment and the urgent call for genuine contrition, instead offering comforting but ultimately ruinous assurances of peace. This verse serves as God's direct and forceful rebuttal to the false claims, clarifying that the people's deception is compounded by those who presumptuously claim to speak for Him without His authority. It sets a foundational theme for Jeremiah's ministry, establishing a stark contrast between authentic, divinely-commissioned prophecy and the self-serving, destructive lies of those who corrupt God's name, ultimately contributing to Judah's relentless trajectory towards exile.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah's ministry unfolded during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah (late 7th to early 6th century BCE), a period characterized by profound political instability, spiritual degradation, and the looming existential threat of Babylonian conquest. Judah had consistently violated its covenant with Yahweh, embracing widespread idolatry, social injustice, and syncretistic religious practices. In ancient Israel, the prophet served as God's primary messenger, interpreting divine will and speaking truth to both rulers and the populace. However, this era witnessed a proliferation of individuals who usurped the prophetic mantle without divine authorization. These false prophets often pandered to popular desires, promising "peace and security" ([Jeremiah 6:14](/jeremiah/6-14 "Jeremiah 6:14 - False Peace")) to a populace desperate for good news, even when it directly contradicted the stark realities of their national sin and God's impending judgment. Their deceptive messages fostered a dangerous complacency, preventing the nation from heeding the true prophetic warnings delivered by Jeremiah and other faithful messengers. The cultural milieu also included practices of **divination** (Hebrew: `qeçem`), which, despite being explicitly condemned by the Mosaic Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10-12 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Abominations to the Lord")), were prevalent in surrounding pagan cultures. The false prophets sometimes mimicked these illicit methods, further blurring the lines between divine truth and human deception, thereby eroding the spiritual discernment of the people.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 14:14 powerfully articulates and contributes to several pivotal themes within the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic tradition. Foremost is the theme of **True vs. False Prophecy**, emphasizing that authentic divine revelation originates exclusively from God's direct commission and communication, never from human invention or desire. This verse profoundly underscores the **Divine Authority and Sovereignty** of the Lord, asserting that only He possesses the prerogative to send, command, and speak to His true messengers. It highlights the profound danger of **Spiritual Deception**, illustrating how comforting lies can tragically prevent a people from acknowledging their sin and seeking genuine repentance, leading inevitably to devastating consequences. The verse also pointedly touches on the **Corrupt Nature of the Human Heart**, revealing that the ultimate source of these false prophecies is not merely intellectual error but often the "deceit of their heart," driven by self-interest, ambition, or a desire for popular acclaim rather than faithfulness to God. This resonates deeply with Jeremiah's broader indictment of Judah's spiritual condition, where the heart is famously described as "deceitful above all things and desperately sick" ([Jeremiah 17:9](/jeremiah/17-9 "Jeremiah 17:9 - The Deceitfulness of the Heart")). Ultimately, the verse reinforces the critical necessity of **Discernment** for God's people, urging them to rigorously test all messages against the revealed character and unchanging word of God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prophets (Hebrew, _nâbîyʼ'_):** From H5030, meaning "a prophet or (generally) inspired man." In this context, the term refers to those who claim to speak on behalf of God, yet the Lord immediately and emphatically disavows their authority. The very word `nâbîyʼ` implies one who is "called" or "sent" by God, making the Lord's subsequent denial ("I sent them not") a direct and devastating challenge to their self-proclaimed identity and legitimacy.
* **Lies (Hebrew, _sheqer'_):** From H8267, meaning "an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial); without a cause, deceit(-ful), false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, [phrase] lie, lying, vain (thing), wrongfully." This word is absolutely crucial as it precisely defines the inherent nature of the false prophets' message. It signifies that their pronouncements are not simply mistaken interpretations or misunderstandings, but deliberate fabrications, falsehoods presented as divine truth. The repetition of "lies" and "false" throughout the verse underscores the utter lack of veracity and the intentional deception embedded in their pronouncements.
* **Heart (Hebrew, _lêb'_):** From H3820, referring to "the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything." In this verse, the phrase "the deceit of their heart" points directly to the internal, volitional, and moral source of their false prophecies. It profoundly signifies that their deception originates not from external influences or mere error, but from their innermost being—their desires, intentions, corrupted will, and moral character—rather than from genuine divine inspiration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name:"** This opening clause establishes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the condemnation. The Lord Himself, speaking directly through His true prophet Jeremiah, confronts the pervasive issue of false prophecy. The phrase "in my name" highlights the profound audacity and blasphemy of the false prophets, who presumptuously invoked God's holy authority to legitimize their deceitful messages, thereby profaning His sacred name and misleading His people.
* **"I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them:"** This triple negative constitutes a powerful, emphatic, and unequivocal repudiation by God. It systematically dismantles any conceivable claim of divine authorization by the false prophets. "I sent them not" denies their divine commission or appointment; "neither have I commanded them" denies any specific instructions or directives from God; and "neither spake unto them" denies any direct revelation, communication, or personal encounter with the Lord. This emphatic denial underscores that true prophecy is rooted solely in God's sovereign initiative and direct, intimate interaction with His chosen messengers.
* **"they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart."** This final, comprehensive clause meticulously details both the content and the corrupt source of the false prophecies. "A false vision" (H2377, `châzôwn`) indicates a counterfeit revelation, something supposedly "seen" or "received" that is, in fact, not from God. "Divination" (H7081, `qeçem`) explicitly connects their practices to pagan, occult methods of seeking knowledge, further distancing them from Yahweh's pure and holy revelation. "A thing of nought" (H457, `ʼĕlîyl` and H434, `ʼĕlûwl`) powerfully conveys the utter emptiness, worthlessness, futility, and non-existence of their messages—they are baseless, unsubstantial, and incapable of delivering what they promise. Finally, "the deceit of their heart" (H8649, `tormâh` and H3820, `lêb`) reveals the internal, corrupt origin of their pronouncements, stemming not from divine truth but from their own self-serving motives, spiritual dishonesty, and moral bankruptcy.

#### 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.
* [Deuteronomy 18:20-22](/deuteronomy/18-20-22 "Deuteronomy 18:20-22 - Identifying a False Prophet")
* [Ezekiel 13:1-7](/ezekiel/13-1-7 "Ezekiel 13:1-7 - Woe to Foolish Prophets")
* [1 John 4:1](/1_john/4-1 "1 John 4:1 - Testing the Spirits")

### 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
* **How do I discern between a message that truly comes from God and one that is merely "the deceit of their heart" in today's complex spiritual landscape?**
* **What "comforting lies" might I be prone to believe, either from external spiritual sources or from my own unexamined desires, that prevent me from facing difficult truths about myself, my circumstances, or my walk with God?**
* **In what practical ways can I deepen my knowledge and understanding of God's Word and cultivate a more profound spiritual discernment to better identify messages that are "a thing of nought"?**
* **Am I more inclined to seek out and embrace messages that affirm my existing beliefs and desires, or those that challenge me to grow, mature, and align more fully with God's revealed will and character?**

### 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](/deuteronomy/18-21-22 "Deuteronomy 18:21-22 - How to Discern a False Prophet")).

**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](/leviticus/19-26 "Leviticus 19:26 - Do Not Practice Divination")). 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](/john/1-1-14 "John 1:1-14 - The Word Became Flesh")). 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](/john/14-10 "John 14:10 - Jesus in the Father")). 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](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses")). That promised Prophet is Jesus, through whom God has spoken His final, most complete, and definitive word to humanity ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Has Spoken by His Son")). 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](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Whoever Has Seen Me Has Seen the Father")). 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](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). 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](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). 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.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 13:6

They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made [others] to hope that they would confirm the word.

Ezekiel 13:7

Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith [it]; albeit I have not spoken?

Jeremiah 29:8

¶ For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that [be] in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

Jeremiah 29:9

For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

Ezekiel 12:24

For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

Jeremiah 29:31

Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:

Isaiah 30:10

Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: