Jeremiah 14:15

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.

Therefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} concerning the prophets {H5030} that prophesy {H5012} in my name {H8034}, and I sent {H7971} them not, yet they say {H559}, Sword {H2719} and famine {H7458} shall not be in this land {H776}; By sword {H2719} and famine {H7458} shall those prophets {H5030} be consumed {H8552}.

Therefore," ADONAI says, "concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, whom I did not send, yet they say, 'There will be neither war nor famine in this land' - it will be war and famine that will destroy those prophets.

Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name: I did not send them, yet they say, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end!

Therefore thus saith Jehovah 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.

Jeremiah 14:15 delivers a stern warning from the LORD against those who claim to speak on His behalf but have not been genuinely commissioned by Him. This verse is part of a larger lament and prophecy concerning a severe drought and famine afflicting Judah, where the people are suffering, and false prophets are offering deceptive assurances of peace.

Context

Chapter 14 of Jeremiah vividly describes the dire situation in Judah, marked by widespread drought and famine. While Jeremiah intercedes for the people, God declares that He will not relent from the impending judgment due to their persistent sin and idolatry. Amidst this national crisis, false prophets emerge, promising that "Sword and famine shall not be in this land," directly contradicting God's revealed will. Jeremiah 14:15 is God's direct and forceful response to these deceivers, highlighting the severe consequences of their presumptuous claims. This passage underscores the deep spiritual malaise of Judah, where even religious leaders were leading the people astray.

Key Themes

  • False Prophecy and Deception: The verse clearly identifies those who "prophesy in my name, and I sent them not" as illegitimate. Their message of "peace and safety" is a dangerous lie designed to comfort the people rather than call them to repentance. This theme is crucial for understanding the prophetic books, as God consistently warns against those who speak presumptuously (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
  • Divine Judgment and Irony: The LORD's response is an act of just judgment. The very calamities—sword and famine—that the false prophets denied would come upon the land are precisely what will consume them. This serves as a powerful illustration of God's unwavering commitment to His word, whether it be a word of blessing or a word of judgment.
  • Authenticity of God's Word: By condemning the false prophets, God reaffirms the truth and authority of His genuine messengers, like Jeremiah, who faithfully proclaimed the difficult but necessary truth of impending judgment and the call to repentance.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I sent them not" (Hebrew: לֹא שְׁלַחְתִּים, lo sh'lachtim) is critical. It emphasizes that these prophets lacked divine authorization. They spoke from their own imaginations or desires, not from God's instruction. The terms "sword and famine" (חֶרֶב וְרָעָב, cherev v'ra'av) are frequently paired in the Old Testament as symbols of God's severe judgment, representing warfare and scarcity, which were common consequences of disobedience in ancient Israel.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 14:15 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual deception. In any age, there is a temptation to listen to messages that promise comfort and ease, even when they contradict God's revealed truth. This verse encourages believers to:

  • Discern Truth: Carefully evaluate teachings and prophecies against the standard of God's written Word (Acts 17:11).
  • Seek Authentic Voices: Prioritize leaders and teachers who faithfully proclaim God's whole counsel, even when it is challenging, rather than those who simply tell people what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
  • Understand Consequences: Recognize that God's justice is real, and there are severe consequences for those who willfully mislead others in His name.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 5:12

    They have belied the LORD, and said, [It is] not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

  • Jeremiah 5:13

    And the prophets shall become wind, and the word [is] not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.

  • Ezekiel 14:10

    And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh [unto him];

  • Jeremiah 28:15

    Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.

  • Jeremiah 28:17

    So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

  • Jeremiah 20:6

    And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.

  • 2 Peter 2:1

    ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

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