Jeremiah 23:37

KJV

Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus shalt thou say {H559} to the prophet {H5030}, What hath the LORD {H3068} answered {H6030} thee? and, What hath the LORD {H3068} spoken {H1696}?

Complete Jewish Bible

So, when speaking to a prophet, ask, "What answer has ADONAI given you?" or "What did ADONAI say?"

Berean Standard Bible

Thus you are to say to the prophet: ‘What has the LORD answered you?’ and ‘What has the LORD spoken?’

American Standard Version

Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath Jehovah answered thee? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 23:37 delivers a direct divine instruction to the people of Judah on how to discern true prophets from false ones. It commands them to challenge any individual claiming to speak for God by demanding to know the specific, verifiable word the LORD has revealed. This verse underscores the critical importance of divine revelation as the sole source of legitimate prophetic authority, placing the onus on the listener to scrutinize the message's origin rather than merely its content or the prophet's charisma.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 23:37 is situated within a lengthy and impassioned denunciation of false prophets and corrupt leaders in Judah, spanning much of Jeremiah chapter 23. Preceding this verse, the LORD condemns the "shepherds" (leaders) who have scattered His flock, promising to raise up righteous ones in the future ([Jeremiah 23:1-4](/jeremiah/23-1 "Jeremiah 23:1-4 - Denunciation of Corrupt Leaders")). The chapter then shifts focus to the false prophets, who speak "a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD" ([Jeremiah 23:16](/jeremiah/23-16 "Jeremiah 23:16 - False Prophets Speak Their Own Vision")). They offer deceptive messages of peace and prosperity, contradicting Jeremiah's warnings of impending judgment and exile. The immediate context of verses 33-40 addresses the people's mocking use of the phrase "the burden of the LORD," which they irreverently applied to prophetic messages. God declares He will punish them for this mockery, and verse 37 provides the specific, divinely sanctioned way in which they are to interact with those claiming to speak His word, contrasting it with their flippant attitude.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings from Josiah to Zedekiah (c. 627-586 BC). This era was marked by political instability, spiritual apostasy, and the looming threat of Babylonian invasion. Religious syncretism was rampant, with many people blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan practices. In this environment, prophets played a crucial role in society, acting as intermediaries between God and the people. However, the proliferation of false prophets, often aligned with popular opinion or royal courts, created widespread confusion and spiritual deception. These false prophets typically offered optimistic messages, promising peace and deliverance, which contrasted sharply with Jeremiah's unpopular prophecies of judgment and exile. The cultural expectation was that a prophet would deliver a direct word from the deity, making the challenge in verse 37 a direct test of that claim.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 23:37 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Jeremiah and biblical prophecy. A primary theme is the **discernment of true and false prophecy**. The verse provides a practical mechanism for the people to distinguish between genuine divine revelation and human fabrication, emphasizing that the true prophet speaks *only* what the LORD has said. This ties into the broader theme of **divine authority and the integrity of God's Word**, asserting that only messages originating directly from God possess ultimate authority and truth, unlike the self-generated messages of the false prophets ([Jeremiah 23:21](/jeremiah/23-21 "Jeremiah 23:21 - God Did Not Send Them")). Furthermore, the verse highlights the **accountability of spiritual leaders**, demanding that those who claim to speak for God must be able to demonstrate the divine origin of their messages. This principle resonates with earlier commands in Deuteronomy concerning the testing of prophets ([Deuteronomy 18:20-22](/deuteronomy/18-20 "Deuteronomy 18:20-22 - How to Discern a False Prophet")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prophet (Hebrew, _nâbîyʼ'_):** From H5030, meaning "a prophet or (generally) inspired man." This word signifies one who is called by God to be His mouthpiece, to announce or call out His message. The essence of a prophet's role is to be an intermediary, delivering divine revelation, not personal opinions or fabricated dreams. The challenge in the verse directly targets this core function, demanding proof that the individual is indeed a legitimate "nâbîyʼ" of the LORD.
* **Answered (Hebrew, _ʻânâh'_):** From H6030, meaning "to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce." In this context, it implies a direct, responsive communication from God, often in reply to an inquiry or a prayer. The question "What hath the LORD answered thee?" presses the prophet to reveal a specific, direct communication received from God, rather than a general feeling or a message derived from human wisdom.
* **Spoken (Hebrew, _dâbar'_):** From H1696, meaning "to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue." This is a fundamental verb for divine communication, often implying an authoritative, deliberate utterance. When God "speaks," His word carries power, truth, and often, a specific command or declaration. The repetition of this concept alongside "answered" underscores the demand for a clear, unambiguous, and divinely originated message, not merely an interpretation or a human construct.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus shalt thou say to the prophet,"**: This clause establishes a direct divine command, indicating that the people are not merely permitted but *required* to engage prophets in a specific manner. It empowers the ordinary person to challenge those claiming spiritual authority.
* **"What hath the LORD answered thee?"**: This is the first of two crucial questions. It demands to know what specific, responsive word the prophet has received from Yahweh. The implication is that a true prophet would have been in communion with God, receiving direct answers to prayers or inquiries, or a specific message for the people.
* **"and, What hath the LORD spoken?"**: This second question reinforces the first, emphasizing the need for a clear, authoritative, and divinely originated utterance. The repetition underscores that the *source* of the message (the LORD) is paramount, not the prophet's personal insights or the message's popularity. It demands a verifiable word from God, not human conjecture.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Repetition** and **Rhetorical Question** as its key literary devices. The phrase "What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?" is a powerful instance of repetition, not merely for emphasis but to highlight the singular, non-negotiable source of true prophecy: the direct word of Yahweh. This repetition serves to underscore the divine authority that must underpin any prophetic claim. While framed as questions to be posed to the prophet, these are also **Rhetorical Questions** for the audience, implicitly suggesting that the false prophets *have not* received a genuine answer or spoken word from the LORD. The very act of posing these questions is a challenge designed to expose the emptiness of the false prophet's claims. Furthermore, the verse uses **Direct Address**, as God directly instructs the people ("Thus shalt thou say..."), empowering them to act as discerning agents in a time of widespread spiritual deception.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 23:37 profoundly impacts our understanding of divine communication and the nature of spiritual authority. It establishes a timeless principle that all claims of divine revelation must be rigorously tested against the ultimate source: the LORD Himself. This verse underscores God's commitment to truth and His abhorrence of deception, particularly when it is perpetrated in His name. It places a crucial responsibility on believers to exercise spiritual discernment, not passively accepting every message, but actively seeking to identify the authentic voice of God. This principle is foundational for maintaining the purity of faith and guarding against spiritual error, emphasizing that true spiritual leadership is always rooted in faithful transmission of God's revealed will, not human invention or manipulation.

* [Deuteronomy 18:20-22](/deuteronomy/18-20 "Deuteronomy 18:20-22 - How to Discern a False Prophet")
* [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 - Prove All Things")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 23:37 remains profoundly relevant for believers today, serving as a timeless call to spiritual discernment in an age saturated with diverse voices and claims of truth. In a world where information abounds and spiritual teachings are easily accessible, this verse compels us to critically evaluate the source and content of every message, especially those claiming divine authority. It reminds us that our ultimate allegiance is to God's revealed Word, not to human charisma, popular opinion, or sensational claims. We are called to be active, discerning listeners, constantly comparing what we hear with the established truth of Scripture and seeking the authentic voice of the Holy Spirit. This verse challenges us to cultivate a mature faith that is not easily swayed by every "wind of doctrine," but is firmly rooted in the verifiable truth of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I currently discern between true and false spiritual messages in my life?**
* **Am I more inclined to accept a message based on the speaker's popularity or charisma, or on its alignment with God's revealed Word?**
* **What steps can I take to deepen my understanding of Scripture so that I am better equipped to "test the spirits"?**
* **How does this verse challenge me to hold spiritual leaders and teachers accountable, and what does that accountability look like in practice?**

### FAQ
**What was the "burden of the LORD" that the people were mocking?**

Answer: The "burden of the LORD" (מַשָּׂא יְהוָה, _massa' Yahweh_) was a technical prophetic term referring to a weighty, often ominous, message or oracle from God, typically concerning judgment or a significant divine pronouncement. It was a serious declaration, a "load" or "burden" that the prophet carried and delivered. In Jeremiah's time, the people, particularly the false prophets, had begun to use this phrase mockingly and irreverently, applying it flippantly to any prophetic word, perhaps to diminish its seriousness or to ridicule Jeremiah's consistent messages of impending doom. God's response in [Jeremiah 23:33-36](/jeremiah/23-33 "Jeremiah 23:33-36 - God's Judgment on Mockery of His Word") indicates His extreme displeasure with this irreverence, declaring that He would "forsake" and "cast out" those who continued to use the phrase mockingly, and that He would bring a "burden" of judgment upon them. Jeremiah 23:37 then provides the proper, reverent way to inquire of a prophet, contrasting it sharply with their previous mockery.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 23:37, with its insistent demand for a verifiable word from the LORD, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment and culmination of divine revelation. While Jeremiah's contemporaries were instructed to ask prophets, "What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?", in Christ, God Himself has definitively "spoken" and "answered" humanity's deepest questions. The author of Hebrews declares, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Has Spoken Through His Son")). Jesus is not merely a prophet who delivers God's word; He *is* the Word made flesh ([John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God"), [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). His life, teachings, death, and resurrection are the definitive answer to humanity's need for redemption and truth. Unlike the false prophets who spoke from their own hearts, Jesus consistently affirmed that His words were not His own, but those of the Father who sent Him ([John 12:49](/john/12-49 "John 12:49 - Jesus Speaks the Father's Words"), [John 14:10](/john/14-10 "John 14:10 - The Father Dwells in Me")). He is the true and faithful witness ([Revelation 1:5](/revelation/1-5 "Revelation 1:5 - The Faithful Witness")), the ultimate Prophet foretold by Moses ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Me")), whose words carry eternal life ([John 6:68](/john/6-68 "John 6:68 - Words of Eternal Life")). Thus, the spiritual discernment called for in Jeremiah finds its perfect object in Christ, for in Him, we hear the unadulterated, authoritative, and life-giving voice of God Himself.

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.