Jeremiah 27:9

Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

Therefore hearken {H8085} not ye to your prophets {H5030}, nor to your diviners {H7080}, nor to your dreamers {H2472}, nor to your enchanters {H6049}, nor to your sorcerers {H3786}, which speak {H559} unto you, saying {H559}, Ye shall not serve {H5647} the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}:

"'"You, therefore, don't listen to your prophets, diviners, dreamers, magicians or sorcerers, when they tell you that you won't be subject to the king of Bavel;

But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’

But as for you, hearken ye not to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreams, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

Commentary

Jeremiah 27:9 is a stern warning from the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah, cautioning them against listening to false prophets, diviners, and sorcerers. These individuals were giving comforting, yet deceitful, messages that contradicted God's true word given through Jeremiah, specifically regarding submission to the Babylonian Empire.

Context

This verse is situated within a significant period of Judah's history, just before the final Babylonian exile. Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," was delivering God's difficult message: Judah must submit to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, as this servitude was God's decreed judgment for their idolatry and disobedience. Jeremiah himself wore a symbolic yoke of Babylon to visually represent this submission. However, many false prophets and spiritualists were actively prophesying peace and liberation, telling the people they would not serve Babylon. Jeremiah 27:9 directly addresses this dangerous opposition, urging the people not to be swayed by such comforting lies. This period of servitude is detailed in Jeremiah 25:11.

Key Themes

  • Warning Against False Prophecy: The primary message is a strong condemnation of those who speak falsely in the name of God or through occult means. They offer a message that sounds pleasant but leads to destruction.
  • Divine Sovereignty: God is presented as being in absolute control of nations and history, even using a pagan king like Nebuchadnezzar as His instrument of judgment and discipline.
  • Discerning Truth: The verse highlights the critical importance of distinguishing between genuine divine revelation and human deception, which often appeals to desires for comfort or immediate relief.
  • Obedience to God's True Word: Despite the message being unpopular and challenging, Jeremiah emphasizes that the only path to safety and eventual restoration is obedience to God's difficult truth, not the lies of false hope.

Linguistic Insights

The verse lists various categories of false spiritual guides, reflecting the diverse occult practices prevalent in the ancient Near East, all strictly forbidden by God in Israel (cf. Deuteronomy 18:10-12):

  • Prophets (nabiy): Here, referring to those who claimed to speak for God but delivered their own words.
  • Diviners (qosem): Practitioners of divination, seeking knowledge through omens or magical means.
  • Dreamers (chalom): Those who interpreted dreams for guidance, often outside of God's direct revelation.
  • Enchanters ('onen): Those who practiced sorcery or fortune-telling, often associated with observing clouds or times for omens.
  • Sorcerers (kashaph): Practicing magic, witchcraft, or spells.

All these terms refer to illicit attempts to gain divine knowledge or control, contrasting sharply with the legitimate, divinely appointed role of a true prophet like Jeremiah.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 27:9 remains highly relevant for believers today. In a world saturated with information and conflicting voices, this verse serves as a timeless reminder to:

  • Discern Spiritual Messages: Not every message claiming divine origin is from God. Believers must diligently test all spirits and teachings against the established truth of God's written Word, the Bible. This is the ultimate standard for testing all spiritual messages.
  • Beware of Comforting Lies: Often, the truth from God's Word can be challenging or convicting. We must be wary of messages that always promise ease and prosperity without addressing sin or the need for difficult obedience.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even when circumstances are difficult or seem contrary to our desires, this verse reminds us that God is sovereign over all earthly powers and events, working His purposes even through unexpected means.
  • Value God's Word Above All: The Bible is our authoritative guide. We must prioritize its teachings over personal feelings, popular opinions, or enticing but unbiblical prophecies.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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 29:8

    ¶ For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that [be] in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

  • Malachi 3:5

    And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • Isaiah 8:19

    And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

  • Isaiah 47:12

    Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

  • Isaiah 47:14

    Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: [there shall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire to sit before it.

  • Jeremiah 23:25

    I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.