Jeremiah 23:35

KJV

Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus shall ye say {H559} every one {H376} to his neighbour {H7453}, and every one {H376} to his brother {H251}, What hath the LORD {H3068} answered {H6030}? and, What hath the LORD {H3068} spoken {H1696}?

Complete Jewish Bible

So, when you speak with your neighbor or brother, ask, "What answer has ADONAI given?" or "What has ADONAI said?"

Berean Standard Bible

This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother: ‘What has the LORD answered?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’

American Standard Version

Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, What hath Jehovah answered? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 23:35 stands as a pivotal command from the Lord to the people of Judah, instructing them on how to distinguish authentic divine revelation from the deceptive pronouncements of false prophets. This verse redirects the community's focus from a casual or mocking inquiry about a "burden" (a term often misused by the false prophets) to a serious and diligent pursuit of what the Lord has genuinely "answered" and "spoken." It underscores God's demand for integrity in prophetic communication and calls His people to active discernment in a time rife with spiritual deception, emphasizing the authoritative source and content of His true word.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 23:35 is embedded within a broader prophetic discourse (Jeremiah 23:9-40) where the Lord vehemently condemns the false prophets who proliferate in Judah. Immediately preceding this verse, God addresses the widespread misuse and mockery of the phrase "the burden of the Lord" (Hebrew: *masśaʼ*), which originally signified a weighty, authoritative prophetic utterance, often one of judgment (as seen in [Jeremiah 23:33](/jeremiah/23-33 "Jeremiah 23:33 - The Burden of the Lord")). These false prophets, speaking their own dreams and imaginations rather than God's word, had trivialized this sacred term. Verse 35 serves as a direct divine intervention, providing the people with a new, authentic inquiry to replace their flippant questions, thereby re-establishing the seriousness and sanctity of divine communication. The subsequent verses (e.g., [Jeremiah 23:36-40](/jeremiah/23-36 "Jeremiah 23:36-40 - God's Judgment on False Prophets")) continue to elaborate on the consequences for those who misuse God's name and His word.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah ministered during a deeply turbulent and morally corrupt period in Judah, spanning the reigns of several kings leading up to the devastating Babylonian exile. The nation was steeped in idolatry, social injustice, and a superficial religiosity, yet a multitude of prophets proclaimed messages of peace and prosperity, directly contradicting God's warnings of impending judgment (e.g., [Jeremiah 6:14](/jeremiah/6-14 "Jeremiah 6:14 - False Peace")). This created a spiritual crisis where the people struggled to discern true prophecy from the popular, but ultimately destructive, falsehoods. False prophets often gained favor by telling the people what they wanted to hear, offering comfort without demanding repentance. In this environment, God's instruction in Jeremiah 23:35 provided a critical litmus test for genuine divine revelation, demanding that His people actively seek His true voice amidst the cacophony of deceitful claims.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 23:35 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the critical theme of **discerning true revelation**, emphasizing that God's people must actively distinguish between human invention and authentic divine communication. It shifts the focus from the *form* of a message to its authoritative *source* and *content*. Secondly, it underscores the profound **accountability for God's word**, not only for those who prophesy but also for those who listen. God demands faithfulness in relaying His message, as reiterated in [Jeremiah 23:28](/jeremiah/23-28 "Jeremiah 23:28 - The True Prophet's Word"). Thirdly, the verse promotes the vital practice of **seeking God's voice** with intentionality and diligence. It is not enough for the people to passively receive messages; they are called to critically evaluate all spiritual claims against the unchanging standard of God's character and His previously revealed truth, fostering a community of active spiritual discernment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **say (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** This primitive root is used with great latitude, encompassing not just speaking, but also appointing, commanding, declaring, promising, and even thinking. In Jeremiah 23:35, it signifies the act of uttering or declaring, specifically in the context of a public inquiry. The command "Thus shall ye say" emphasizes that this new form of inquiry is a divine mandate, redirecting the people's speech from mocking to seeking genuine revelation.
* **answered (Hebrew, _ʻânâh'_):** Properly meaning to eye or heed, this root implies paying attention and, by extension, responding or beginning to speak. It can also mean to testify or announce. In this context, "What hath the LORD answered?" points to God's responsive communication, His direct reply to a situation or inquiry. It highlights the interactive nature of divine revelation, where God's word is not merely a static pronouncement but a dynamic, living response.
* **spoken (Hebrew, _dâbar'_):** This primitive root primarily means to arrange or speak, often in a structured or authoritative manner. It encompasses declaring, commanding, communing, and teaching. Paired with "answered," "What hath the LORD spoken?" emphasizes the declarative and authoritative nature of God's word. While 'ânâh suggests a response, dâbar points to the inherent authority and intentionality of God's utterance, reinforcing that His word is not arbitrary but purposeful and true.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother":** This opening clause establishes the universal and communal nature of the command. It is not just for the prophets or leaders, but for "every one" within the community, extending to "his neighbour" and "his brother." This underscores the personal responsibility of each individual for spiritual discernment, as well as the importance of communal dialogue and accountability in seeking God's truth. It implies a shift from passively receiving messages to actively engaging in spiritual inquiry within the community.
* **"What hath the LORD answered?":** This is the first part of the divinely mandated inquiry. It directly contrasts with the mocking question about "the burden of the Lord" from the preceding verses. By asking what the Lord has "answered," the focus shifts to God's direct, responsive, and authentic communication. It implies a desire for clarity, a seeking of God's mind on a matter, rather than a flippant or dismissive attitude towards His word.
* **"and, What hath the LORD spoken?":** This second, parallel question reinforces and deepens the first. "Spoken" (dâbar) emphasizes the authoritative and declarative nature of God's word. Together with "answered," it forms a comprehensive inquiry into the very essence of divine revelation: what has God truly communicated, in His own authoritative voice? This double inquiry underscores the imperative for precision and authenticity when seeking to understand God's will and message, demanding that the people look beyond human invention to the true source of all truth.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 23:35 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its urgent message. The most prominent is **Contrast**, setting the divinely commanded inquiry ("What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?") against the misused and mocked phrase "the burden of the LORD" from the preceding verses. This contrast highlights the stark difference between authentic, authoritative divine communication and human-fabricated or trivialized pronouncements. **Parallelism** is evident in the two questions, "What hath the LORD answered?" and "and, What hath the LORD spoken?" This synonymous parallelism reinforces the core message, emphasizing both the responsive and declarative aspects of God's true word. The **Repetition** of "every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother" underscores the universal and communal responsibility for discernment within Judah. Furthermore, the verse functions as a **Rhetorical Instruction**, guiding the people not just to ask a question, but to adopt a new, discerning posture towards all claims of divine revelation, thereby fostering spiritual accountability.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 23:35 is a profound theological statement on the nature of divine revelation and the imperative for discernment among God's people. It underscores that God's word is not a mere human construct or a burden to be mocked, but a living, authoritative, and purposeful communication that demands serious inquiry and faithful reception. The verse highlights God's unwavering commitment to truth and His condemnation of all forms of spiritual deception. It calls believers to cultivate a deep hunger for genuine divine communication, recognizing that true peace and guidance come only from what the Lord has truly "answered" and "spoken," rather than from the comforting lies of false prophets. This principle of discerning God's voice remains central to Christian faith, guiding believers to test all spiritual claims against the unchanging standard of His revealed Word.

* [1 John 4:1](/1_john/4-1 "1 John 4:1 - Test the Spirits")
* [1 Thessalonians 5:21](/1_thessalonians/5-21 "1 Thessalonians 5:21 - Test Everything")
* [Deuteronomy 18:20-22](/deuteronomy/18-20 "Deuteronomy 18:20-22 - Identifying False Prophets")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 23:35 offers timeless wisdom for believers navigating a world filled with competing voices and spiritual claims. In an age saturated with information and diverse perspectives, the call to discern what the Lord has *truly* answered and spoken is more critical than ever. This verse challenges us to move beyond superficial engagement with spiritual matters, urging us to deeply examine the source and content of every message claiming divine authority. It reminds us that spiritual maturity involves actively seeking God's truth, not passively accepting popular narratives or comforting lies. Our primary question, whether in personal devotion, communal worship, or public discourse, should always be: "What has the Lord already revealed in His inspired Word, and how does this message align with His character and purposes?" This active, communal pursuit of truth protects us from deception and grounds our faith in the unshakeable foundation of God's authentic voice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I actively discern between true and false spiritual messages in my daily life?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to seek "comforting lies" rather than the challenging truth of God's word?**
* **How does my personal study of Scripture equip me to answer the question, "What hath the LORD spoken?"**
* **What is my responsibility in helping my "neighbour" and "brother" to seek and understand God's true word?**

### FAQ

**What was the "burden of the LORD" that false prophets were misusing?**

Answer: The "burden of the LORD" (Hebrew: *masśaʼ*) was a technical term in prophetic literature, referring to a weighty, authoritative prophetic utterance, often one of judgment or a divine oracle. It conveyed the idea that the prophet was carrying a heavy message from God. However, in Jeremiah's time, false prophets had trivialized and mocked this sacred phrase, using it flippantly or even as a joke. God condemns this misuse in [Jeremiah 23:33-34](/jeremiah/23-33 "Jeremiah 23:33-34 - God's Judgment on Misusing 'Burden'"), stating that He would "forget" and "forsake" those who continued to use the term in such a disrespectful manner. Jeremiah 23:35 then provides the correct, reverent way for the people to inquire about God's word.

**Why is discerning true prophecy so important according to this verse?**

Answer: Discerning true prophecy is paramount because false prophecy leads people away from God and into destruction. In Jeremiah's day, false prophets promised peace when judgment was imminent, preventing the people from repenting and turning back to God. Their words were "dreams" and "imaginations" ([Jeremiah 23:25-26](/jeremiah/23-25 "Jeremiah 23:25-26 - False Prophets' Dreams")), not God's truth, and they had no power to change hearts ([Jeremiah 23:29](/jeremiah/23-29 "God's Word Like Fire and Hammer")). Jeremiah 23:35 provides a vital test: instead of focusing on a catchy phrase or what sounds good, the people are commanded to seek what God has *actually* "answered" and "spoken"—His authentic, authoritative word. This active discernment protects the community from spiritual deception and ensures they are guided by divine truth, not human lies.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 23:35, with its urgent call to discern the true word of the Lord, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the very embodiment of what the Lord has "answered" and "spoken." Unlike the false prophets who spoke their own dreams, Jesus declared, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me" ([John 7:16](/john/7-16 "John 7:16 - Jesus' Teaching is from God")). He is the Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), the definitive and final revelation of God to humanity. In Him, God has spoken His fullest and clearest message ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Has Spoken Through His Son")). Jesus consistently warned against false prophets and teachers, just as Jeremiah did ([Matthew 7:15-20](/matthew/7-15 "Matthew 7:15-20 - Beware of False Prophets")), emphasizing that true followers would be known by their fruit and adherence to His words. Therefore, to ask "What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?" today is to turn to Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life")), and in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Treasures of Wisdom in Christ")). He is the faithful Prophet, whose words are eternal life ([John 6:68](/john/6-68 "John 6:68 - Words of Eternal 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

Jeremiah 42:4

Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard [you]; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, [that] whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare [it] unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.

Jeremiah 31:34

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Hebrews 8:11

And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Jeremiah 33:3

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.