Jeremiah 29:8

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}; Let not your prophets {H5030} and your diviners {H7080}, that be in the midst {H7130} of you, deceive {H5377} you, neither hearken {H8085} to your dreams {H2472} which ye cause to be dreamed {H2492}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For this is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el, says: 'Don't let your prophets who are living among you and your diviners deceive you, and don't pay attention to the dreams you urge them to dream.

Berean Standard Bible

For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 29:8 delivers a critical divine warning to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, emphasizing the profound danger of spiritual deception. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, explicitly commands His people not to be misled by false prophets and diviners operating within their community, nor to give credence to dreams that are self-generated or manipulated rather than genuinely revealed by God. This instruction is paramount for the exiles' spiritual integrity and underscores the vital importance of discerning true divine communication amidst a climate of desperation and conflicting messages regarding their future.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial component of Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon, a profound and lengthy message found in [Jeremiah 29](/jeremiah/29 "Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles in Babylon"). Sent from Jerusalem, this letter directly addresses the spiritual and practical realities faced by the deported community following the first major deportation in 597 BC. Immediately preceding this stern warning, Jeremiah provides counter-intuitive instructions: the exiles are to settle down, build homes, plant gardens, marry, and pray for the welfare of Babylon, indicating that their exile would be prolonged, not brief ([Jeremiah 29:5-7](/jeremiah/29-5-7 "Jeremiah's Instructions for Life in Exile")). The prohibition in [Jeremiah 29:8](/jeremiah/29-8 "Jeremiah 29:8 - Warning Against Deception") directly confronts the pervasive false hopes propagated by individuals who promised a swift return to Jerusalem, a message that directly contradicted God's true plan of a seventy-year exile ([Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - The Seventy Years of Exile")). Thus, it functions as an essential safeguard against spiritual delusion that would undermine God's specific and challenging instructions for their life in a foreign land.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting is the Babylonian exile, a traumatic period for the Judean people. After King Nebuchadnezzar's first deportation in 597 BC, many prominent citizens, including King Jehoiachin, priests, and prophets, were forcibly removed from Judah and resettled in Babylon. This displaced community, stripped of their homeland and temple, was highly vulnerable and desperate for messages of immediate hope and a quick return. This desperation created fertile ground for false prophets, both Israelite and potentially pagan, who would cater to these deep-seated desires. Furthermore, the practice of divination and dream interpretation was deeply ingrained in ancient Mesopotamian culture, often involving various occult methods. While dreams could be a legitimate channel of divine communication in the Bible, the broader cultural context meant that the line between genuine revelation and deceptive practices was often blurred, making God's explicit prohibition against such practices ([Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10-12 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Abominable Practices")) all the more vital. Jeremiah's letter, therefore, served as a crucial anchor of truth for a people susceptible to comforting lies in a foreign, polytheistic environment.
* **Key Themes:** [Jeremiah 29:8](/jeremiah/29-8 "Jeremiah 29:8 - Warning Against Deception") significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and broader biblical theology. A primary theme is the **distinction between true and false prophecy**, emphasizing God's unwavering commitment to the integrity of His word. Jeremiah consistently contends with those who claim divine inspiration but deliver messages born of their own imaginations, self-interest, or popular demand ([Jeremiah 23:16](/jeremiah/23-16 "Jeremiah 23:16 - False Prophets Speak Their Own Vision")). This verse highlights the profound danger of **spiritual deception**, underscoring God's concern for the spiritual well-being of His people. It also stresses the critical need for **discernment**, calling the exiles to meticulously evaluate the source and content of any message claiming divine origin. Finally, the phrase "dreams which ye cause to be dreamed" introduces the theme of **human complicity in self-delusion**, suggesting that people can actively foster or seek out messages that confirm their biases or desires, rather than submitting to God's often difficult truth. This tendency to gravitate towards what "itching ears" want to hear is a recurring biblical motif, echoed in passages like [2 Timothy 4:3-4](/2_timothy/4-3-4 "2 Timothy 4:3-4 - People Will Gather Teachers to Suit Their Desires").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **nâshâʼ (Hebrew, _nâshâʼ'_):** From a primitive root, meaning "to lead astray, i.e. (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce." In this context, it signifies the act of misleading or deceiving the people, causing them to believe falsehoods, particularly regarding their future and God's will concerning the duration of their exile. This deception is presented as a grave spiritual danger that God explicitly warns against, as it diverts His people from His true purposes.
* **nâbîyʼ (Hebrew, _nâbîyʼ'_):** From a root meaning "to prophesy," this term refers to a "prophet or (generally) inspired man." While typically referring to a legitimate spokesperson for God, in this context, when paired with "deceive" and contrasted with the Lord's own declaration, it specifically denotes false prophets who claim divine inspiration but deliver messages that are not from the Lord, often to gain favor, appease the people, or tell them what they want to hear.
* **chălôwm (Hebrew, _chălôwm'_):** Meaning "a dream," this term refers to nocturnal visions. Dreams were often considered a legitimate means of divine communication in the ancient world and in the Bible (e.g., Joseph, Daniel). However, here, they are presented as a source of deception, especially when they are "caused to be dreamed," implying that they are either fabricated by the people's own desires, misinterpreted to fit preconceived notions, or actively sought out with a specific, self-serving outcome in mind, rather than being a pure divine revelation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel;":** This opening clause establishes the absolute authority and divine origin of the message. It is not Jeremiah's personal opinion, but a direct utterance from Yahweh (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh_), the covenant God of Israel (H3478, _Yisrâʼêl_), who is also "the LORD of hosts" (H6635, _tsâbâʼ_ - Sovereign over all heavenly and earthly armies), underscoring His power and ultimate control over their circumstances. This authoritative pronouncement serves to validate the warning that follows and to distinguish it sharply from the false messages circulating among the exiles.
* **"Let not your prophets and your diviners, that [be] in the midst of you, deceive you,":** This is a direct, emphatic prohibition from God. The "prophets" (H5030, _nâbîyʼ_) refer to those within the Israelite community who claimed to speak for God but were delivering false messages, often promising a quick end to the exile. The "diviners" (H7080, _qâçam_) were likely those who engaged in pagan forms of seeking knowledge (e.g., omens, astrology), practices explicitly forbidden to Israel ([Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10-12 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Abominable Practices")), but which might have been prevalent in Babylon or even adopted by some Israelites. The phrase "in the midst of you" (H7130, _qereb_) emphasizes that the danger of deception was internal, coming from within their own community, making it particularly insidious and difficult to discern. The core command is "deceive you" (H5377, _nâshâʼ_), warning against allowing these individuals to lead them astray from God's truth.
* **"neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.":** This second prohibition warns against a more subtle and internal form of self-deception. "Hearken" (H8085, _shâmaʻ_) implies giving active attention, belief, and obedience. The "dreams" (H2472, _chălôwm_) here are not necessarily genuine divine revelations but are characterized as those "which ye cause to be dreamed" (H2492, _châlam_). This suggests that the people themselves were actively involved in fostering these deceptive hopes, perhaps through wishful thinking, seeking out those who would confirm their biases, or even fabricating dreams to justify their desires for a swift return. It points to the human tendency to embrace comforting illusions over difficult truths, a form of active self-delusion.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 29:8 employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent and authoritative message. The most prominent is **Divine Address**, signaled by the majestic and authoritative declaration, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel." This immediately establishes the absolute veracity and weighty significance of the subsequent warning, contrasting it sharply with the unreliable words of human agents. This is followed by a clear and direct **Prohibition** ("Let not... deceive you, neither hearken..."), which functions as a divine imperative, directly commanding the exiles to abstain from specific actions and influences. There is a strong element of **Contrast** woven throughout the verse, highlighting the stark difference between the true, authoritative word of God and the false, misleading messages of the prophets and diviners, thereby emphasizing the spiritual battle for the exiles' allegiance. The phrase "dreams which ye cause to be dreamed" utilizes a powerful form of **Paradox** or **Self-Implication**, suggesting a self-induced delusion where the people are complicit in creating or seeking out the very deceptions that mislead them. This also functions as a subtle form of **Agency**, attributing an active role to the exiles in the generation of their own misleading "dreams," rather than merely being passive recipients of external falsehoods.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This powerful warning in Jeremiah 29:8 resonates deeply with overarching biblical themes concerning the nature of truth, divine sovereignty, and human responsibility in discerning God's voice. It underscores that God's word, though sometimes difficult to hear or accept, is the only reliable source of truth and guidance, especially in times of profound crisis, displacement, and uncertainty. The passage implicitly teaches that genuine hope is found not in wishful thinking, comforting lies, or human-generated assurances, but in aligning one's expectations with God's revealed plan, even when it involves prolonged suffering, delayed gratification, or a challenging reality. It highlights the ever-present danger of spiritual deception, which can come not only from external false teachers but also from internal biases, unfulfilled desires, and the human tendency to mold reality to fit personal preferences rather than submitting to divine will. This call to spiritual discernment remains crucial for believers in every age, urging them to critically evaluate all claims of truth against the unchanging standard of God's revealed Word and His established character.

* [Deuteronomy 18:20-22](/deuteronomy/18-20-22 "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")
* [Matthew 7:15](/matthew/7-15 "Matthew 7:15 - Beware of False Prophets")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 29:8 serves as a timeless spiritual compass, guiding believers to navigate the treacherous waters of deception in any era. In a world saturated with information, conflicting voices, and the pervasive desire for instant gratification, the temptation to "hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed" remains profoundly potent. We are often prone to seeking out messages, social media feeds, or self-help gurus that affirm our preconceived notions or promise easy solutions, rather than confronting the challenging truths of God's Word or the difficult realities of life. This verse calls us to cultivate a posture of radical humility and discernment, recognizing that true wisdom often involves embracing God's timing and plan, even when it differs from our immediate desires or seems counter-intuitive. It challenges us to critically examine the sources of our "hope" and "guidance," ensuring they are rooted in the unchanging character and promises of God, rather than the fleeting assurances of human invention, wishful thinking, or popular opinion. Ultimately, it is a call to trust God's difficult truth over comforting lies, for only His truth can truly set us free and lead us to genuine flourishing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "prophets and diviners" (i.e., influential voices, media, or ideologies) are "in the midst of you" today, and how do you discern their messages against the truth of God's Word?**
* **In what ways might you be "causing dreams to be dreamed," seeking out or embracing ideas that confirm your own desires or biases rather than God's truth?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper reliance on God's revealed Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to guard against both external and internal deception?**
* **What difficult truths might God be calling you to accept and trust, even if they contradict your immediate desires, cultural norms, or personal expectations?**

### FAQ

**Who were the "prophets and diviners" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: The "prophets" (Hebrew: _nâbîyʼ_) primarily refer to those within the Israelite community who claimed to speak for the Lord but were delivering false messages, often promising a quick end to the Babylonian exile, which directly contradicted God's true message through Jeremiah. A notable example is Hananiah in [Jeremiah 28](/jeremiah/28 "Jeremiah 28 - Hananiah's False Prophecy"), who prophesied a two-year return. The "diviners" (Hebrew: _qâçam_) were practitioners of divination, often associated with pagan or forbidden methods of seeking knowledge, such as omens, astrology, or necromancy, which God strictly condemned in [Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10-12 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Forbidden Practices"). Both groups posed a significant spiritual threat to the exiles by offering false hope and diverting them from God's true plan.

**What does "dreams which ye cause to be dreamed" mean in this context?**

Answer: This unusual phrase points to a form of self-induced delusion or wishful thinking. It suggests that the exiles were not merely passive recipients of deceptive dreams but were actively involved in fostering them. This could mean they were seeking out dream interpreters who would tell them what they wanted to hear, fabricating dreams to justify their desires for a swift return, or simply allowing their own desperate hopes and biases to shape their interpretation of events and messages. It highlights the human tendency to embrace comforting illusions over difficult truths, a concept echoed in [2 Timothy 4:3-4](/2_timothy/4-3-4 "2 Timothy 4:3-4 - People Will Gather Teachers to Suit Their Desires"), where people gather teachers to suit their own desires, turning away from the truth.

**Why was this warning so important for the exiles in Babylon?**

Answer: This warning was crucial because the exiles were in a vulnerable and desperate state, longing for an immediate return to Jerusalem and the restoration of their former life. False prophets and diviners capitalized on this desperation by promising a swift end to their captivity, a message that was appealing but ultimately false and contrary to God's actual plan for a seventy-year exile ([Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - The Seventy Years of Exile")). By heeding these false messages, the exiles would have been led astray from God's true will, preventing them from settling into their new reality and seeking the welfare of Babylon as God commanded ([Jeremiah 29:5-7](/jeremiah/29-5-7 "Jeremiah 29:5-7 - Instructions to Live in Babylon")). The warning protected them from spiritual and practical harm, urging them to trust God's difficult but true word over comforting lies, thus enabling them to endure the exile faithfully and prepare for the future God had for them.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 29:8, with its stark warning against deception and false hope, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the **True Prophet** whom Moses foretold ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - The Prophet Like Moses")), the one perfectly embodying and speaking the very words of God, never deceiving or misleading. Unlike the false prophets who spoke from their own imaginations or the diviners who relied on forbidden arts, Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life")). His entire ministry was a testament to divine truth, exposing the lies of the enemy and the self-deception of the human heart. In the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised as the Spirit of Truth ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit of Truth")), indwells believers, guiding them into all truth and empowering them to discern between true and false teachings ([1 John 4:1](/1_john/4-1 "1 John 4:1 - Test the Spirits")). Furthermore, the "dreams which ye cause to be dreamed"—human desires for quick fixes, immediate gratification, and an escape from suffering—are ultimately challenged by Christ's call to patient endurance and trust in God's sovereign timing, even through present trials. He teaches His followers to embrace the reality of the cross before the crown ([Luke 9:23](/luke/9-23 "Luke 9:23 - Take Up Your Cross")), knowing that His promises of ultimate restoration and eternal life are far greater than any earthly expectation ([Romans 8:18-25](/romans/8-18-25 "Romans 8:18-25 - Future Glory and Present Suffering")). In Christ, we find not a comforting lie, but the living Truth that sets us free from all deception and anchors our hope in an unfailing, eternal reality.

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

Ephesians 5:6

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

2 Thessalonians 2:9

[Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2 Thessalonians 2:11

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Jeremiah 28:15

Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.

2 Peter 2:2

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2 Peter 2:3

¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.