TRV
Translation
King James Version
Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
Complete Jewish Bible
Don't listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, 'You will not serve the king of Bavel'; because they are prophesying lies to you.
Berean Standard Bible
Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say, ‘You must not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying to you a lie.
American Standard Version
And hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon; for they prophesy a lie unto you.
World English Bible Messianic
Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, You shall not serve the king of Babylon; for they prophesy a lie to you.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Therefore heare not the words of the prophets, that speake vnto you, saying, Ye shall not serue the King of Babel: for they prophecie a lie vnto you.
Young's Literal Translation
`And ye do not hearken unto the words of the prophets who are speaking unto you, saying, Ye do not serve the king of Babylon, --for falsehood they are prophesying to you.
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In the KJVVerse 19,611 of 31,102
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Commentary on Jeremiah 27 verses 12–22
12 ¶ I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
13 Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
14 Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
15 For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.
16 Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD'S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
17 Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?
18 But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.
19 For thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city,
20 Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;
21 Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;
22 They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.
What was said to all the nations is here with a particular tenderness applied to the nation of the Jews, for whom Jeremiah was sensibly concerned. The case at present stood thus: Judah and Jerusalem had often contested with the king of Babylon, and still were worsted; many both of their valuable persons and their valuable goods were carried to Babylon already, and some of the vessels of the Lord's house particularly. Now how this struggle would issue was the question. They had those among them at Jerusalem who pretended to be prophets, who bade them hold out and they should, in a little time, be too hard for the king of Babylon and recover all that they had lost. Now Jeremiah is sent to bid them yield and knock under, for that, instead of recovering what they had lost, they should otherwise lose all that remained; and to press them to this is the scope of these verses.
I. Jeremiah humbly addresses the king of Judah, to persuade him to surrender to the king of Babylon. His act would be the people's and would determine them, and therefore he speaks to him as to them all (Jer 27:12): Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and live. Is it their wisdom to submit to the heavy iron yoke of a cruel tyrant, that they may secure the lives of their bodies? And is it not much more our wisdom to submit to the sweet and easy yoke of our rightful Lord and Master Jesus Christ, that we may secure the lives of our souls? Bring down your spirits to repentance and faith, and that is the way to bring up your spirits to heaven and glory. And with much more cogency and compassion may we expostulate with perishing souls than Jeremiah here expostulates with a perishing people: "Why will you die by the sword and the famine - miserable deaths, which you inevitably run yourselves upon, under pretence of avoiding miserable lives?" What God had spoken, in general, of all those that would not submit to the king of Babylon, he would have them to apply to themselves and be afraid of. It were well if sinners would, in like manner, be afraid of the destruction threatened against all those that will not have Christ to reign over them, and reason thus with themselves, "Why should we die the second death, which is a thousand times worse than that by sword and famine, when we might submit and live?"
II. He addresses himself likewise to the priests and the people (Jer 27:16), to persuade them to serve the king of Babylon, that they might live, and might prevent the desolation of the city (Jer 27:17): "Wherefore should it be laid waste, as certainly it will be if you stand it out?" The priests had been Jeremiah's enemies, and had sought his life to destroy it, yet he approves himself their friend, and seeks their lives, to preserve and secure them, which is an example to us to render good for evil. When the blood-thirsty hate the upright, yet the just seek his soul, and the welfare of it, Pro 29:10. The matter was far gone here; they were upon the brink of ruin, which they would not have been brought to if they would have taken Jeremiah's counsel; yet he continues his friendly admonitions to them, to save the last stake and manage that wisely, and now at length in this their day to understand the things that belong to their peace, when they had but one day to turn them in.
III. In both these addresses he warns them against giving credit to the false prophets that rocked them asleep in their security, because they saw that they loved to slumber: "Hearken not to the words of the prophets (Jer 27:14), your prophets, Jer 27:16. They are not God's prophets; he never sent them; they do not serve him, nor seek to please him; they are yours, for they say what you would have them say, and aim at nothing but to please you." Two things their prophets flattered them into the belief of: - 1. That the power which the king of Babylon had gained over them should now shortly be broken. They said (Jer 27:14), "You shall not serve the king of Babylon; you need not submit voluntarily, for you shall not be compelled to submit." This they prophesied in the name of the Lord (Jer 27:15), as if God had sent them to the people on this errand, in kindness to them, that they might not disparage themselves by an inglorious surrender. But it was a lie. They said that God sent them; but that was false; he disowns it: I have not sent them, saith the Lord. They said that they should never be brought into subjection to the king of Babylon; but that was false too, the event proved it so. They said that to hold out to the last would be the way to secure themselves and their city; but that was false, for it would certainly end in their being driven out and perishing. So that it was all a lie, from first to last; and the prophets that deceived the people with these lies did, in the issue, but deceive themselves; the blind leaders and the blind followers fell together into the ditch: That you might perish, you, and the prophets that prophesy unto you, who will be so far from warranting your security that they cannot secure themselves. Note, Those that encourage sinners to go on in their sinful ways will in the end perish with them. 2. They prophesied that the vessels of the temple, which the king of Babylon had already carried away, should now shortly be brought back (Jer 27:16); this they fed the priests with the hopes of, knowing how acceptable it would be to them, who loved the gold of the temple better than the temple that sanctified the gold. These vessels were taken away when Jeconiah was carried captive into Babylon, Jer 27:20. We have the story, and it is a melancholy one, Kg2 24:13, Kg2 24:15; Ch2 36:10. All the goodly vessels (that is, all the vessels of gold that were in the house of the Lord), with all the treasures, were taken as prey, and brought to Babylon. This was grievous to them above any thing; for the temple was their pride and confidence, and the stripping of that was too plain an indication of that which the true prophet told them, that their God had departed from them. Their false prophets therefore had no other way to make them easy than by telling them that the king of Babylon should be forced to restore them in a little while. Now here, (1.) Jeremiah bids them think of preserving the vessels that remained by their prayers, rather than of bringing back those that were gone by their prophecies (Jer 27:18): If they be prophets, as they pretend, and if the word of the Lord be with them - if they have any intercourse with heaven and any interest there, let them improve it for the stopping of the progress of the judgment; let them step into the gap, and stand with their censer between the living and the dead, between that which is carried away and that which remains, that the plague may be stayed; let them make intercession with the Lord of hosts, that the vessels which are left go not after the rest. [1.] Instead of prophesying, let them pray. Note, Prophets must be praying men; by being much in prayer they must make it to appear that they keep up a correspondence with heaven. We cannot think that those do, as prophets, ever hear thence, who do not frequently by prayer send thither. By praying for the safety and prosperity of the sanctuary they must make it to appear that, as becomes prophets, they are of a public spirit; and by the success of their prayers it will appear that God favours them. [2.] Instead of being concerned for the retrieving of what they had lost, they must bestir themselves for the securing of what was left, and take it as a great favour if they can gain that point. When God's judgments are abroad we must not seek great things, but be thankful for a little. (2.) He assures them that even this point should not be gained, but the brazen vessels should go after the golden ones, Jer 27:19, Jer 27:22. Nebuchadnezzar had found so good a booty once that he would be sure to come again and take all he could find, not only in the house of the Lord, but in the king's house. They shall all be carried to Babylon in triumph, and there shall they be. But he concludes with a gracious promise that the time should come when they should all be returned: Until the day that I visit them in mercy, according to appointment, and then I will bring those vessels up again, and restore them to this place, to their place. Surely they were under the protection of a special Providence, else they would have been melted down and put to some other use; but there was to be a second temple, for which they were to be reserved. We read particularly of the return of them, Ezr 1:8. Note, Though the return of the church's prosperity do not come in our time, we must not therefore despair of it, for it will come in God's time. Though those who said, The vessels of the Lord's house shall shortly be brought again, prophesied a lie (Jer 27:16), yet he that said, They shall at length be brought again, prophesied the truth. We are apt to set our clock before God's dial, and then to quarrel because they do not agree; but the Lord is a God of judgment, and it is fit that we should wait for him.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–22. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 27:14 conveys a divine imperative from the Lord through Jeremiah, sternly warning the people of Judah to reject the deceptive counsel of false prophets. These prophets were falsely assuring the populace that they would not be subjected to the dominion of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, a message that directly contradicted God's revealed will for their submission. The verse thus underscores the critical importance of discerning divine truth from human fabrication, particularly when God's ordained path involves hardship, humility, and the surrender of national independence.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 27:14 powerfully employs several significant literary devices to convey its urgent message. The most prominent is Direct Address, as God, speaking through Jeremiah, issues a command directly to the people ("hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you"). This creates an immediate, urgent, and deeply personal appeal, demanding an unequivocal response from the audience. There is also profound Irony embedded in the phrase "prophets that speak... a lie." Prophets, by their very definition and sacred calling, were meant to be God's truth-tellers and authentic spokesmen. Yet, these individuals, bearing that esteemed title, are exposed as purveyors of falsehood, highlighting a tragic and dangerous inversion of their divinely appointed role. Finally, the verse functions as a clear and emphatic Warning, a common and essential prophetic genre. Its primary purpose is to avert impending disaster by clearly stating the dire consequences of following deceptive counsel, thereby sharply contrasting the path of destruction with the difficult but ultimately true path of divine obedience.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 27:14 stands as a profound testament to God's absolute and unwavering sovereignty, extending not only over His covenant people but over all nations and empires. It underscores the critical theological principle that God's word, though at times unpopular, challenging, or seemingly counter-intuitive, is always true and must be obeyed without reservation. Conversely, human-derived messages, however comforting, appealing, or nationally expedient, are ultimately deceptive and destructive if they contradict divine revelation. The pervasive tension between true and false prophecy is a recurring and vital theme throughout the Old Testament, serving as a constant reminder of the perpetual need for spiritual discernment and an unwavering reliance on God's authoritative word, rather than on human wisdom, popular opinion, or self-serving desires.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 27:14 serves as an enduring and urgent call for spiritual discernment in every generation. In a world increasingly saturated with competing voices, diverse ideologies, and countless self-proclaimed authorities, the believer is constantly challenged to distinguish between genuine truth and persuasive falsehood. This verse powerfully reminds us that God's truth may not always align with our immediate comfort zones, our nationalistic aspirations, or our personal desires for an easy life. True obedience often necessitates embracing difficult realities and submitting to God's sovereign, sometimes painful, plan, even when it involves hardship, humiliation, or the surrender of cherished notions. We are therefore called to be vigilant, to critically test every message, every teaching, and every popular narrative against the unchanging, authoritative standard of God's revealed Word. We must resist the temptation to succumb to narratives that promise an easy path, immediate gratification, or contradict the clear, often challenging, principles of Scripture. Our spiritual well-being, our flourishing, and our very survival depend on our willingness to "hearken" to God's truth, no matter how demanding, and to resolutely reject every "lie," no matter how appealing or widely accepted.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the specific "lie" the prophets were speaking in Jeremiah 27:14?
Answer: The lie was the false assurance that the people of Judah would not have to serve the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. These prophets were actively promising peace, national independence, and freedom from Babylonian subjugation, directly contradicting God's revealed will that Judah was to submit to Babylon as a divine judgment for their persistent sin and rebellion. Jeremiah, in stark contrast, was delivering God's true message that submission, though painful, was the only path to survival and eventual restoration, as clearly articulated in passages like Jeremiah 27:12.
How can we distinguish between true and false prophets or teachers today, based on the principles in this verse?
Answer: Jeremiah 27:14 fundamentally highlights that false prophets speak a "lie"—a message that directly contradicts God's revealed will and purposes. Today, we discern true from false by rigorously comparing any message or teaching to the authoritative, complete, and unchanging Word of God, the Bible. Any teaching that contradicts the clear truths of Scripture, promises an easy path to blessing without repentance or obedience, or appeals primarily to human desires for comfort, prosperity, or self-affirmation without addressing sin, the cross, or God's absolute sovereignty, should be viewed with extreme suspicion. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 18:22 provides a practical test: if what a prophet says does not come to pass, then the Lord has not spoken it, and the prophet is false.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 27:14, with its stark warning against false prophets and its call to embrace God's difficult, unvarnished truth, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound significance in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "lie" propagated by the false prophets in Jeremiah's day was a rejection of God's sovereign plan for His people, a refusal to accept the path of humility, judgment, and submission that God had ordained for their good. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is revealed as the ultimate and true Prophet, the very embodiment of God's truth and the definitive revelation of His will (John 14:6). He did not come to speak comforting falsehoods or to cater to human desires for an easy life, but to declare the full, often challenging, truth of God's kingdom, calling people to radical repentance and complete submission to His Lordship (Mark 1:15). The "serving" of Babylon, a painful but necessary submission, foreshadows the greater call to "serve" Christ, which intimately involves taking up one's cross daily and following Him, a path that often includes suffering, self-denial, and the rejection of worldly comforts, but which ultimately leads to true freedom, abundant life, and eternal glory (Matthew 16:24-25). The Old Testament's imperative to reject false prophecy, as seen in Jeremiah, points forward to the New Testament's constant exhortation to "test the spirits" and to beware of false teachers who preach "another gospel" that is no gospel at all (Galatians 1:6-9 and 1 John 4:1). Christ Himself warns His disciples against "false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15), emphasizing that true discipleship and salvation are built solely upon His unvarnished truth, not on humanly appealing deceptions or comfortable lies.