Jeremiah 23:30

Therefore, behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets {H5030}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, that steal {H1589} my words {H1697} every one {H376} from his neighbour {H7453}.

So, I am against the prophets," says ADONAI, "who steal my words from each other.

โ€œTherefore behold,โ€ declares the LORD, โ€œI am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.โ€

Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.

Commentary

Context

Jeremiah's prophetic ministry took place during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, leading up to the Babylonian exile. A significant challenge he faced was the widespread presence of false prophets who offered comforting, yet deceitful, messages of peace and prosperity, directly contradicting God's true word of impending judgment. This verse, Jeremiah 23:30, is part of a larger divine indictment against these false prophets, beginning in Jeremiah 23:9, where the LORD unequivocally declares His opposition to those who speak lies in His name.

Key Themes

  • Authenticity vs. Deception: The core message is God's condemnation of prophets who do not receive their words directly from Him. To "steal my words" implies a lack of genuine divine revelation. These prophets either plagiarized from one another, invented their own messages, or spoke from their own imaginations, presenting these falsehoods as God's truth.
  • Divine Judgment on Falsehood: The declaration, "I am against the prophets," underscores God's severe displeasure and active opposition to those who corrupt His truth and mislead His people. This highlights the seriousness of misrepresenting God's character and will.
  • The Source of True Prophecy: This verse implicitly emphasizes that true prophecy originates solely from God. Any message not directly inspired by Him, but rather "stolen" or fabricated, is an abomination in His sight and a dangerous deception for the hearers. This contrasts sharply with the power of God's true word, described in Jeremiah 23:29 as like a fire and a hammer.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "steal" is ganav (ื’ึผึธื ึทื‘), which means to take by stealth, unlawfully, or to pilfer. In this spiritual context, it powerfully conveys the idea of prophets claiming divine inspiration for messages they did not genuinely receive from the LORD. They were essentially misappropriating the authority and sacredness of God's word. The phrase "from his neighbour" further implies that their messages were not original divine revelations but perhaps borrowed, repeated, or fabricated within their own circles, lacking any true connection to God's will or direct encounter with Him, as seen in Jeremiah 23:21.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 23:30 remains highly relevant for believers today. It serves as a timeless warning to exercise spiritual discernment in evaluating all teachings and claims of spiritual authority. In an age saturated with information and diverse voices, it is crucial to test every message against the unchanging standard of God's written Word, the Bible. We must be vigilant against those who "steal" or distort biblical truth, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and instead seek out genuine, God-breathed instruction that truly nourishes the soul and aligns with the character of God, as emphasized in 2 Timothy 3:16.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 18:20

    But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

  • Ezekiel 13:8

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I [am] against you, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Jeremiah 14:14

    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.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 34:16

    The face of the LORD [is] against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

  • Ezekiel 13:20

    Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make [them] fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, [even] the souls that ye hunt to make [them] fly.

  • Ezekiel 15:7

    And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from [one] fire, and [another] fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I set my face against them.
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