Jeremiah 5:13

Translation
King James Version
And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And the prophets H5030 shall become wind H7307, and the word H1696 is not in them: thus shall it be done H6213 unto them.
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Complete Jewish Bible
The prophets are merely wind, they do not have the word; the things that they are predicting will happen only to them."
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Berean Standard Bible
The prophets are but wind, for the word is not in them. So let their own predictions befall them.”
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American Standard Version
and the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
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World English Bible Messianic
The prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them.”
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And the Prophetes shall be as winde, and the worde is not in them: thus shall it come vnto them.
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Young's Literal Translation
And the prophets become wind, And the word is not in them,' --thus it is done by them.
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See also
Jeremiah 14:15Jeremiah 14:13Job 8:2Job 6:26Jeremiah 18:18Hosea 9:7Jeremiah 20:8
In the KJVVerse 19,072 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Jeremiah 5:13 delivers a scathing indictment against the false prophets in Judah, declaring their messages to be utterly devoid of divine authority and substance, likening their pronouncements to mere wind. It powerfully underscores that their words do not originate from God's authentic revelation, and consequently, the very judgment they presumptuously deny will inevitably befall them, highlighting the severe consequences of speaking deceitfully in the Lord's name.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Jeremiah 5:13 is strategically positioned within a broader prophetic lament (Jeremiah 5:1-19) that meticulously details Judah's pervasive spiritual corruption, moral decay, and persistent rebellion against the covenant Lord. The preceding verses paint a grim picture of the nation's refusal to repent, their hardened hearts, and their outright rejection of God's ways, despite His persistent calls for faithfulness (e.g., Jeremiah 5:1-6). Specifically, Jeremiah 5:12 directly sets the stage, proclaiming the people's defiant assertion: "They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine." Jeremiah 5:13 then immediately exposes the source of this dangerous delusion, attributing the false assurance to the empty pronouncements of the prophets. The subsequent verse, Jeremiah 5:14, serves as God's swift and terrifying response, declaring, "Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them." This powerful sequence dramatically contrasts the unsubstantial words of the false prophets with the consuming, destructive power of God's true word, which Jeremiah himself is commissioned to deliver, building an undeniable case for impending divine judgment due to Judah's deep-seated apostasy and the complicity of its spiritual leaders.

  • Historical & Cultural Context: Jeremiah's prophetic ministry unfolded during one of the most tumultuous periods in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of the last kings before the devastating Babylonian exile (Josiah, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah). This era was characterized by profound political instability, shifting alliances with dominant regional powers like Egypt and Babylon, and a widespread spiritual decline marked by rampant idolatry, pervasive social injustice, and a superficial adherence to religious rituals that lacked genuine heart transformation. In ancient Near Eastern societies, prophets wielded immense social and religious influence, serving as crucial intermediaries between the divine realm and humanity. However, alongside authentic prophets like Jeremiah, who often delivered unpopular messages of repentance and impending judgment, there proliferated numerous false prophets. These individuals typically prophesied messages of peace and prosperity, catering to the desires of the people and the ruling elite, thereby systematically undermining the genuine warnings and calls to repentance issued by God's true messengers. Their deceptive messages fostered a dangerous sense of false security, making the populace complacent and highly resistant to Jeremiah's urgent calls for national repentance, ultimately contributing significantly to Judah's catastrophic downfall.

  • Key Themes: Jeremiah 5:13 profoundly contributes to several overarching themes central to the book of Jeremiah and indeed, to biblical prophecy as a whole. Foremost among these is the stark contrast between true and false prophecy. Jeremiah's entire ministry is defined by his unwavering commitment to delivering God's authentic, often unpopular, word, even at great personal cost. This verse succinctly encapsulates the defining characteristic of false prophecy: the utter absence of God's actual word, rendering their pronouncements unsubstantial, deceptive, and ultimately destructive. This directly ties into the theme of divine judgment and accountability, as the verse explicitly states that the consequences of their deceit will "be done unto them," underscoring God's unwavering justice and His intolerance for those who misrepresent His character or message. Furthermore, the verse implicitly emphasizes the profound nature and power of God's Word itself. By contrasting the "wind" of false prophets with the implied, substantial power of God's true word, it affirms that God's utterances are not empty but carry inherent authority, truth, and the power to accomplish His purposes, whether in judgment or salvation, a theme powerfully articulated in Isaiah 55:11. Finally, the verse speaks to the critical need for spiritual discernment, urging the audience to recognize the emptiness of words not truly from God and to cling steadfastly to divine truth as their only reliable guide.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Prophets (Hebrew, nâbîyʼ', H5030): From the root meaning "to bubble up, to pour forth," this term (H5030) refers to one who is inspired or speaks on behalf of another, specifically God. In this context, Jeremiah's indictment is precisely against those who bear the title "prophet" but lack the divine commission and the authentic message, thus functioning as "false" prophets. They claim to speak for God but do not.
  • Wind (Hebrew, rûwach', H7307): This versatile word (H7307) carries a wide semantic range, including "breath," "spirit," or "wind." In Jeremiah 5:13, its use powerfully emphasizes unsubstantiality, emptiness, and a complete lack of power or efficacy. Just as wind cannot be grasped, controlled, or relied upon for substance, so too the words of these false prophets are fleeting, without foundational truth, and ultimately ineffective in averting divine judgment or providing genuine guidance.
  • Word (Hebrew, dâbar', H1696): This primitive root (H1696) signifies "to speak," "to arrange," or "to command." It refers to a spoken utterance, a message, or a divine decree. In this verse, the phrase "the word [is] not in them" constitutes the core accusation. It signifies the complete and damning absence of God's authoritative, life-giving, and truth-revealing communication within these prophets. Their messages are self-generated, originating from their own minds or deceit, not divinely inspired.
  • Done (Hebrew, ʻâsâh', H6213): This highly versatile primitive root (H6213) means "to do or make" in the broadest sense, encompassing accomplishment, execution, and bringing to pass. Here, in "thus shall it be done unto them," it conveys the absolute certainty of divine action and retribution. The consequences of their deceitful prophecy—the very judgment they denied—will be brought to bear upon them, demonstrating God's unwavering justice and the inevitable outcome for those who presume to speak in His name without His true word.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And the prophets shall become wind": This clause opens with a striking and damning metaphor. The individuals who are supposed to be authoritative conduits of divine truth and substance are here declared to be like "wind"—empty, fleeting, and utterly devoid of any true power, weight, or lasting effect. This directly contrasts with the expectation that genuine prophets would convey a weighty, substantial, and authoritative message directly from God. Their words are revealed as mere breath, insubstantial and without divine backing.
  • "and the word [is] not in them": This is the precise accusation and the theological justification for the preceding metaphor. The definitive and non-negotiable mark of a true prophet of Yahweh is the presence of God's authoritative "word" (dâbar) within them, empowering, directing, and authenticating their speech. For these prophets, this essential divine element is conspicuously absent. Their pronouncements are not divinely inspired but originate from their own imaginations, their own desires, or deliberate deceit, rendering them spiritually bankrupt and their messages worthless.
  • "thus shall it be done unto them": This concluding phrase serves as a solemn pronouncement of inevitable divine judgment and retribution. The very emptiness, deceit, and false assurances that characterized their prophecies will boomerang back upon them. The consequences of their false words—the destruction and calamity they denied would come upon Judah—will ultimately be visited upon them personally. This highlights the profound seriousness of misrepresenting God and the certainty of His justice against those who lead His people astray with lies and false hope.

Literary Devices

Jeremiah 5:13 employs several potent Literary Devices to convey its stark and condemning message. The most prominent is Metaphor, specifically in the vivid phrase "the prophets shall become wind." This powerful comparison immediately communicates the utter lack of substance, power, and truth in the messages of the false prophets. Just as wind is insubstantial, cannot be grasped, and offers no solid foundation, so their words are empty, fleeting, and provide no genuine guidance or protection. This metaphor also strongly implies futility, as their pronouncements will ultimately achieve nothing but lead to destruction. There is also a profound element of Contrast at play. The "wind" of false prophecy is implicitly, yet powerfully, contrasted with the substantial, powerful, and effective "word" of the Lord that Jeremiah himself delivers. This highlights the fundamental, qualitative difference between human fabrication and authentic divine revelation. Furthermore, the verse carries an underlying Irony: those who speak empty words, denying impending judgment and promising peace, will themselves experience the very judgment they dismissed and helped to bring about through their deception. Their own deceptive messages will not shield them from the consequences of their actions and the divine wrath.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Jeremiah 5:13 profoundly speaks to the very nature of divine revelation and the grave responsibility of those who claim to speak for God. It underscores that true prophecy is not a product of human imagination, personal desire, or political expediency, but a direct, authoritative impartation of God's own "word." The absence of this divine word renders any prophetic utterance as mere "wind"—empty, unsubstantial, and ultimately deceptive. This verse serves as a timeless and urgent warning against spiritual counterfeits and emphasizes the critical importance of discerning the true source of any message claiming divine origin. It reminds us that God holds His messengers to an incredibly strict standard, and those who mislead His people with lies will face His certain and just judgment, for His word, unlike human words, never returns void but always accomplishes His sovereign purposes.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Jeremiah 5:13 remains profoundly relevant for believers today, serving as a vital call to spiritual discernment in a world saturated with diverse voices claiming authority and spiritual insight. It challenges us to critically evaluate all spiritual messages, ensuring they align rigorously with the unchanging truth of God's revealed Word, the Holy Scriptures. In an era where information—and misinformation—spreads with unprecedented speed and reach, this verse compels us to prioritize substance over superficiality, divine truth over popular opinion, and genuine revelation over comforting lies. It reminds us that authentic spiritual nourishment and true guidance come only from the eternal Word of God, which is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, not from transient, human-derived pronouncements or self-serving prophecies. We are called to be vigilant, to "test the spirits" as commanded in 1 John 4:1, and to cling to the authoritative Scriptures as our ultimate, infallible guide, recognizing that those who speak presumptuously in God's name, or who neglect to speak His truth, face serious accountability before Him.

Questions for Reflection

  • How do I personally discern between messages that are "wind" and those that carry the true "word" of God in my own life and in the broader spiritual landscape I encounter?
  • What are the potential dangers of uncritically accepting all spiritual claims, and what practical steps can I take to cultivate a deeper, more consistent reliance on Scripture for discernment?
  • In what ways might I, or others, be tempted to speak or live as if God's word is not truly "in" us, leading to empty, ineffective, or even misleading spiritual expressions?

FAQ

What defines a "false prophet" according to Jeremiah 5:13?

Answer: According to Jeremiah 5:13, a false prophet is fundamentally defined by the absence of God's true "word" (H1696, dâbar) within them. Their messages are explicitly likened to "wind" (H7307, rûwach), signifying that they are empty, unsubstantial, and completely lack divine authority or inspiration. Unlike true prophets who speak God's revealed will and truth, false prophets in this context speak from their own imaginations, personal desires, or deliberate deceit, often promising peace and prosperity when divine judgment is imminent, as tragically illustrated in Jeremiah 14:14.

How does God deal with false prophets, according to this verse?

Answer: Jeremiah 5:13 succinctly states, "thus shall it be done unto them." This phrase indicates a certain and inevitable divine retribution. The very emptiness, deceit, and lack of divine substance that characterized their prophecies will ultimately be visited back upon them. While the verse doesn't specify the exact nature of the judgment, the broader context of Jeremiah's prophecies suggests that they would share in the calamities, destruction, and exile that ultimately befell Judah—the very events they falsely claimed would not come. This principle of divine accountability for those who mislead God's people is consistently taught throughout Scripture, including in the warnings found in Deuteronomy 18:20.

What is the significance of "the word [is] not in them" for understanding true prophecy?

Answer: The phrase "the word [is] not in them" is profoundly significant because it highlights the essential, non-negotiable nature of authentic prophecy. True prophecy is not merely human opinion, clever rhetoric, or a product of personal ambition; it is the direct, authoritative communication of God's "word" (H1696, dâbar). This divine word is living, powerful, and inherently effective, as vividly described in Hebrews 4:12. The absence of this divine word means the prophet is speaking presumptuously, without God's commission or inspiration, rendering their message null and void in God's eyes and ultimately leading to their condemnation and the judgment promised in this verse.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Jeremiah 5:13, with its stark warning against empty words and false prophets, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound contrast in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament prophets were human vessels through whom God's Word came, Jesus is the Word incarnate, the perfect, complete, and final revelation of God (as majestically proclaimed in John 1:1 and John 1:14). Unlike the false prophets whose words were "wind" and in whom "the word [was] not," Jesus perfectly embodies and speaks God's truth with unparalleled and inherent authority. He declared, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Matthew 24:35), demonstrating the eternal substance, unwavering truth, and ultimate power of His message, standing in stark opposition to the fleeting, unsubstantial pronouncements of the false prophets. Furthermore, Jesus Himself warned His disciples to "beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15), thereby affirming the ongoing need for spiritual discernment and reiterating the judgment that awaits those who mislead God's people. In Christ, we find the true Prophet, the one in whom the "word" is not merely present but is His very being, offering eternal life, unfailing truth, and ultimate salvation that stands in absolute opposition to all forms of spiritual emptiness and deception.

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Commentary on Jeremiah 5 verses 10–19

We may observe in these verses, as before,

I. The sin of this people, upon which the commission signed against them is grounded. God disowns them and dooms them to destruction, Jer 5:10. But is there not a cause? Yes; for, 1. They have deserted the law of God (Jer 5:11): The house of Israel and the house of Judah, though at variance with one another, yet both agreed to deal very treacherously against God. They forsook the worship of him, and therein violated their covenants with him; they revolted from him, and played the hypocrite with him. 2. They have defied the judgments of God and given the lie to his threatenings in the mouth of his prophets, Jer 5:12, Jer 5:13. They were often told that evil would certainly come upon them; they must expect some desolating judgment, sword or famine; but they were secure and said, We shall have peace, though we go on. For, (1.) They did not fear what God is. They belied him, and confronted the dictates even of natural light concerning him; for they said, "It is not he, that is, he is not such a one as we have been made to believe he is; he does not see, or not regard, or will not require it; and therefore no evil shall come upon us." Multitudes are ruined by being made to believe that God will not be so strict with them as his word says he will; nay, by this artifice Satan undid us all: You shall not surely die. So here: Neither shall we see sword nor famine. Vain hopes of impunity are the deceitful support of all impiety. (2.) They did not fear what God said. The prophets gave them fair warning, but they turned it off with a jest: "They do but talk so, because it is their trade; they are words of course, and words are but wind. It is not the word of the Lord that is in them; it is only the language of their melancholy fancy or their ill-will to their country, because they are not preferred." Note, Impenitent sinners are not willing to own any thing to be the word of God that makes against them, that tends either to part them from, or disquiet them in, their sins. They threaten the prophets: "They shall become wind, shall pass away unregarded, and thus shall it be done unto them; what they threaten against us we will inflict upon them. Do they frighten us with famine? Let them be fed with the bread of affliction." So Micaiah was, Kg1 22:27. "Do they tell us of the sword? Let them perish by the sword," Jer 2:30. Thus their mocking and misusing God's messengers filled the measure of their iniquity.

II. The punishment of this people for their sin. 1. The threatenings they laughed at shall be executed (Jer 5:14): Because you speak this word of contempt concerning the prophets, and the word in their mouths, therefore God will put honour upon them and their words, for not one iota or tittle of them shall fall to the ground, Sa1 3:19. Here God turns to the prophet Jeremiah, who had been thus bantered, and perhaps had been a little uneasy at it: Behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire. God owns them for his words, though men denied them, and will as surely make them to take effect as the fire consumes combustible material that is in its way. The word shall be fire and the people wood. Sinners by sin make themselves fuel to that wrath of God which is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men in the scripture. The word of God will certainly be too hard for those that contend with it. Those shall break who will not bow before it. 2. The enemy they thought themselves in no danger of shall be brought upon them. God gives them their commission (Jer 5:10): "Go you up upon her walls, mount them, trample upon them, tread them down. Walls of stone, before the divine commission, shall be but mud walls. Having made yourselves masters of the walls, you may destroy at pleasure. You may take away her battlements, and leave the fenced fortified cities to lie open; for her battlements are not the Lord's he does not own them and therefore will not protect and fortify them." They were not erected in his fear, nor with a dependence upon him; the people have trusted to them more than to God, and therefore they are not his. When the city is filled with sin God will not patronise the fortifications of it, and then they are paper walls. What can defend us when he who is our defence, and the defender of all our defences, has departed from us? Num 14:9. What is not of God cannot stand, not stand long, nor stand us in any stead. What dreadful work these invaders should make is here described (Jer 5:15): Lo, I will bring a nation upon you, O house of Israel! Note, God has all nations at his command, does what he pleases with them and makes what use he pleases of them. And sometimes he is pleased to make the nations of the earth, the heathen nations, a scourge to the house of Israel, when that has become a hypocritical nation. This nation of the Chaldeans is here said to be a remote nation; it is brought upon them from afar, and therefore will make the greater spoil and the longer stay, that the soldiers may pay themselves well for so long a march. "It is a nation that thou hast had no commerce with, by reason of their distance, and therefore canst not expect to find favour with." God can bring trouble upon us from places and causes very remote. It is a mighty nation, that there is no making head against, an ancient nation, that value themselves upon their antiquity and will therefore be the more haughty and imperious. It is a nation whose language thou knowest not; they spoke the Syriac tongue, which the Jews at that time were not acquainted with, as appears, Kg2 18:26. The difference of language would make it the more difficult to treat with them of peace. Compare this with the threatening, Deu 28:49, which it seems to have a reference to, for the law and the prophets exactly agree. They are well armed: Their quiver is as an open sepulchre; their arrows shall fly so thick, hit so sure, and wound so deep, that they shall be reckoned to breathe nothing but death and slaughter: they are able-bodied, all effective, mighty men, Jer 5:16. And, when they have made themselves masters of the country, they shall devour all before them, and reckon all their own that they can lay their hands on, Jer 5:17. (1.) They shall strip the country, shall not only sustain, but surfeit, their soldiers with the rich products of this fruitful land. "They shall not store up (then it might possibly by retrieved), but eat up thy harvest in the field and thy bread in the house, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat." Note, What we have we have for our families, and it is a comfort to see our sons and daughters eating that which we have taken care and pains for. But it is a grievous vexation to see it devoured by strangers and enemies, to see their camps victualled with our stores, while those that are dear to us are perishing for want of it: this also is according to the curse of the law, Deu 28:33. "They shall eat up thy flocks and herds, out of which thou hast taken sacrifices for thy idols; they shall not leave thee the fruit of thy vines and fig-trees." (2.) They shall starve the towns: "They shall impoverish thy fenced cities" (and what fence is there against poverty, when it comes like an armed man?), "those cities wherein thou trustedst to be a protection to the country." Note, It is just with God to impoverish that which we make our confidence. They shall impoverish them with the sword, cutting off all provisions from coming to them and intercepting trade and commerce, which will impoverish even fenced cities.

III. An intimation of the tender compassion God has yet for them. The enemy is commissioned to destroy and lay waste, but must not make a full end, Jer 5:10. Though they make a great slaughter, yet some must be left to live; though they make a great spoil, yet something must be left to live upon, for God has said it (Jer 5:18) with a non obstante - a nevertheless to the present desolation: "Even in those days, dismal as they are, I will not make a full end with you;" and, if God will not, the enemy shall not. God has mercy in store for his people, and therefore will set bounds to this desolating judgment. Hitherto it shall come, and no further.

IV. The justification of God in these proceedings against them. As he will appear to be gracious in not making a full end with them, so he will appear to be righteous in coming so near it, and will have it acknowledged that he has done them no wrong, Jer 5:19. Observe, 1. A reason demanded, insolently demanded, by the people for these judgments. They will say "Wherefore doth the Lord our God do all this unto us? What provocation have we given him, or what quarrel has he with us?" As if against such a sinful nation there did not appear cause enough of action. Note, Unhumbled hearts are ready to charge God with injustice in their afflictions, and pretend they have to seek for the cause of them when it is written in the forehead of them. But, 2. Here is a reason immediately assigned. The prophet is instructed what answer to give them; for God will be justified when he speaks, though he speaks with ever so much terror. He must tell them that God does this against them for what they have done against him, and that they may, if they please, read their sin in their punishment. Do not they know very well that they have forsaken God, and therefore can they think it strange if he has forsaken them? Have they forgotten how often they served gods in their own land, that good land, in the abundance of the fruits of which they ought to have served God with gladness of heart? and therefore is it not just with God to make them serve strangers in a strange land, where they can call nothing their own, as he has threatened to do? Deu 28:47, Deu 28:48. Those that are fond of strangers, to strangers let them go.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 10–19. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Jeremiah
(Verse 12, 13.) They denied the Lord and said: He is not (or these things are not), and evil will not come upon us. We will not see sword and famine. The prophets spoke in vain and there was no answer (or response) in them. Therefore, these things will happen to them. Because they denied the Lord or lied to the Lord, and said: He is not, by whose judgment all things are done, but these things happened by chance: and the things that the voices of the prophets threaten us with will not happen, nor will we see the sword, nor will we endure the siege famine, and whatever the prophets said, they spoke in vain, and all their words were in vain, and they did not receive an answer, which means the oracle or word of God was not in them, therefore they will endure what the following passage describes. Let the negligent Church listen to this and refute the providence of God, that it may believe the things that are said, lest it endure both the sword and famine.
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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