Jeremiah 23:15

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

Therefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635} concerning the prophets {H5030}; Behold, I will feed {H398} them with wormwood {H3939}, and make them drink {H8248} the water {H4325} of gall {H7219}: for from the prophets {H5030} of Jerusalem {H3389} is profaneness {H2613} gone forth {H3318} into all the land {H776}.

Therefore, this is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says concerning the prophets: "I will feed them bitter wormwood and make them drink poisonous water, for ungodliness has spread through all the land from the prophets of Yerushalayim."

Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”

Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem is ungodliness gone forth into all the land.

Commentary on Jeremiah 23:15 (KJV)

Jeremiah 23:15 delivers a stern declaration from the Lord concerning the false prophets who plagued Judah during Jeremiah's ministry. This verse emphasizes God's direct judgment upon those who claimed to speak for Him but instead led His people astray with lies and deceit, spreading moral and spiritual decay throughout the land.

Context

The Book of Jeremiah is largely a prophetic warning to the kingdom of Judah before its destruction and exile to Babylon. Jeremiah lived in a time of great spiritual apostasy, where true worship of Yahweh was often mixed with idolatry and moral corruption. A significant problem was the proliferation of false prophets who contradicted Jeremiah's messages of impending judgment, instead promising peace and prosperity (Jeremiah 14:14). These prophets were often popular because their messages aligned with the people's desires, rather than God's truth. Jeremiah 23 specifically condemns these individuals, exposing their deceit and declaring God's righteous wrath against them.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Falsehood: The verse opens with "Thus saith the LORD of hosts," underscoring that this is a direct, authoritative pronouncement from God Himself. The Lord's judgment is specifically directed at the "prophets" who have abused their spiritual office. This severe judgment underscores God's intolerance for those who mislead His people, a theme echoed in other prophetic warnings against false teachers and prophets.
  • The Bitter Consequences of Deception: The metaphor of being fed "wormwood" and drinking "the water of gall" vividly portrays the harsh, bitter, and poisonous consequences awaiting these false prophets. Both wormwood (Hebrew: la’anah) and gall (Hebrew: rosh, often associated with a bitter, poisonous plant) represent intense suffering, sorrow, and divine punishment. This imagery signifies that the very deception they propagated will return to them as a source of profound anguish and affliction.
  • The Pervasiveness of Profaneness: The reason for this severe judgment is clearly stated: "for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land." "Profaneness" (Hebrew: chănuppah) here refers to ungodliness, moral corruption, hypocrisy, and spiritual impurity. The false prophets, who should have been guardians of truth and holiness in Jerusalem (the spiritual center), instead became conduits for spreading spiritual decay and rebellion against God throughout the entire nation. This highlights the immense responsibility of those in positions of spiritual authority, a principle reinforced by James 3:1.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms for "wormwood" (la’anah) and "gall" (rosh) are often used together in Scripture to denote extreme bitterness, sorrow, and calamity. They symbolize the bitter fruit of disobedience and sin. The term "profaneness" (chănuppah) signifies a deep spiritual and moral corruption that defiles the land and its people, stemming from a disregard for God's holy standards.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 23:15 serves as a timeless warning for all generations. It calls believers to exercise discernment regarding those who claim to speak on behalf of God. We are reminded that true spiritual leadership will always align with God's revealed Word and promote holiness, not compromise or ungodliness. The consequences of leading others astray spiritually are severe, highlighting the immense responsibility placed upon teachers and leaders within the faith. For individuals, this verse encourages a careful examination of the messages we consume, ensuring they are rooted in biblical truth and lead to genuine godliness, not spiritual "wormwood and gall."

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 8:14

    Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 9:15

    Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, [even] this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

  • Lamentations 3:5

    He hath builded against me, and compassed [me] with gall and travail.

  • Psalms 69:21

    They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

  • Lamentations 3:15

    He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.

  • Lamentations 3:19

    Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

  • Revelation 8:11

    And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

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