Jeremiah 23:13

And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

And I have seen {H7200} folly {H8604} in the prophets {H5030} of Samaria {H8111}; they prophesied {H5012} in Baal {H1168}, and caused my people {H5971} Israel {H3478} to err {H8582}.

"I have seen inappropriate conduct in the prophets of Shomron - they prophesied by Ba'al and led my people Isra'el astray.

“Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.

And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

Jeremiah 23:13 reveals God's indictment against the false prophets in Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The verse highlights their profound spiritual error: prophesying in the name of Baal, which directly led God's people astray from true worship and obedience.

Context

The prophet Jeremiah ministered in Judah during a tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian exile. While much of his prophecy is directed at Judah and Jerusalem, this particular verse looks back at the historical example of Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Samaria had fallen to Assyria centuries earlier (722 BC) precisely because of its deep-seated idolatry and rejection of Yahweh. Jeremiah uses this past judgment as a stark warning, emphasizing that the same spiritual corruption—especially through false prophets—was rampant in Judah as well. God's vision of "folly" among these prophets underscores His divine perspective on their destructive practices, a theme consistent with Jeremiah's broader condemnation of false prophets throughout chapter 23.

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and False Prophecy: The most direct accusation is that these prophets "prophesied in Baal." This was not merely speaking about Baal, but claiming divine inspiration from Baal, a direct affront to the God of Israel. Baal worship was a prominent Canaanite fertility cult, often challenged by true prophets like Elijah, as seen in 1 Kings 18:21.
  • Spiritual Deception and Misguidance: The consequence of their false prophecy was that they "caused my people Israel to err." These supposed spiritual guides actively led the nation away from God's commands and into sin, resulting in spiritual and national ruin.
  • Divine Discernment and Judgment: God declares, "I have seen folly." This emphasizes God's perfect knowledge and righteous judgment of their corrupt practices. He sees beyond outward appearances to the true nature of their rebellion and deception.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "folly" here is tiphlah (תִּפְלָה), which implies something morally reprehensible, tasteless, absurd, or abominable in God's eyes. It's not just a lack of wisdom, but a perversion of truth that offends God.
  • "Prophesied in Baal" (וַיִּנָּבְאוּ בַּבַּעַל - vayinnave'u ba-Ba'al) indicates that Baal was the source or authority of their prophecy, directly contrasting with true prophets who spoke "in the name of the Lord" (b'shem YHWH).

Practical Application

Jeremiah 23:13 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Discernment is Crucial: We must constantly test what we hear, even from those claiming spiritual authority, against the unchanging truth of God's Word. As 1 John 4:1 advises, "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
  • Beware of Misleading Teachings: Any teaching that encourages idolatry (worship of anything other than God), promotes sin, or deviates from the character and commands of God, no matter how appealing, is dangerous. This serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of spiritual deception, echoing warnings about false prophets in sheep's clothing.
  • The Seriousness of Spiritual Leadership: Leaders bear a heavy responsibility. Those who mislead God's people will face His judgment, just as the prophets of Samaria did.
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.

  • Isaiah 9:16

    For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed.

  • Jeremiah 2:8

    The priests said not, Where [is] the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after [things that] do not profit.

  • 1 Kings 18:18

    And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

  • 1 Kings 18:21

    ¶ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

  • Hosea 9:7

    ¶ The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know [it]: the prophet [is] a fool, the spiritual man [is] mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

  • Hosea 9:8

    The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God: [but] the prophet [is] a snare of a fowler in all his ways, [and] hatred in the house of his God.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:9

    So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, [and] to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.

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