Jeremiah 29:23

Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and [am] a witness, saith the LORD.

Because they have committed {H6213} villany {H5039} in Israel {H3478}, and have committed {H6213} adultery {H5003} with their neighbours {H7453}' wives {H802}, and have spoken {H1696} lying {H8267} words {H1697} in my name {H8034}, which I have not commanded {H6680} them; even I know {H3045}, and am a witness {H5707}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.

because they have done vile things in Isra'el, committing adultery with their neighbors' wives and speaking words in my name, falsely, which I did not order them to say. For I am he who knows; I am witness to this,' says ADONAI.

For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”

because they have wrought folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I commanded them not; and I am he that knoweth, and am witness, saith Jehovah.

Jeremiah 29:23 is a powerful declaration from the Lord, explaining why judgment is coming upon certain individuals among the exiles in Babylon. Specifically, it points to egregious sins that have provoked God's wrath, particularly focusing on those who claim to speak in His name but spread falsehoods and engage in severe moral failings.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is part of a longer letter from the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish exiles who had been taken to Babylon (Jeremiah 29). In this chapter, Jeremiah warns against listening to false prophets who were giving the exiles premature hope of a swift return to Jerusalem. Jeremiah 29:21-22 specifically names two such false prophets, Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who were delivering messages of peace that God had not authorized. Verse 23 then details the specific wicked acts of these individuals (and perhaps others like them) that warrant divine punishment, reinforcing the authenticity of Jeremiah's own difficult message of a longer exile and the reasons for their captivity.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment for Immorality: The verse explicitly condemns "villany" and "adultery with their neighbours' wives," highlighting God's abhorrence for moral corruption and societal breakdown. This serves as a strong reminder of the importance of upholding the Ten Commandments and living righteously.
  • The Gravity of False Prophecy: A primary charge is "spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them." This is a severe offense in the Old Testament, as it misrepresents God and misleads His people. Such actions undermine faith and distort divine truth, drawing God's swift judgment. For more on the dangers and consequences of false prophecy, see Deuteronomy 18:20.
  • God's Omniscience and Justice: The concluding phrase, "even I know, and [am] a witness, saith the LORD," powerfully affirms God's perfect knowledge of all actions and His unwavering commitment to justice. No sin, especially that committed under the guise of religious authority, escapes His notice. This underscores God's role as the ultimate judge, who sees all hidden deeds, as also reflected in Hebrews 4:13.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "villany" is nevalah (נְבָלָה), which signifies an act of moral depravity, disgraceful conduct, or outrageous folly. It often implies a shameful and senseless act.
  • "Lying words" comes from the Hebrew sheqer (שֶׁקֶר), meaning falsehood, deception, or fraud. It emphasizes the deliberate nature of their false claims, uttered without divine authorization.
  • The term "witness" is ed (עֵד), highlighting God's personal observation and capacity to testify to the truth of their actions, confirming His direct knowledge.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 29:23 holds timeless lessons for believers today. It serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness of both moral transgression and spiritual deception. We are called to live lives of integrity, honoring our commitments and relationships within the community. Furthermore, it emphasizes the critical need to discern truth from falsehood, especially when it comes to spiritual matters and teachings. Always test what is taught against the unchanging word of God, being cautious of those who claim divine authority but whose lives contradict God's moral standards or whose messages deviate from biblical truth. Ultimately, this verse reassures us that God is actively engaged in the affairs of humanity, seeing all things and ensuring that justice will prevail.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hebrews 4:13

    Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

  • Jeremiah 23:14

    I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 16:17

    For mine eyes [are] upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 29:9

    For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

  • Proverbs 5:21

    For the ways of man [are] before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

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