1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.
10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force [is] not right.
11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery [ways] in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, [even] the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
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.
15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, [and] not out of the mouth of the LORD.
17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard [it]?
19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
23 [Am] I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
26 How long shall [this] be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, [they are] prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
29 [Is] not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer [that] breaketh the rock in pieces?
30 Therefore, behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
31 Behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
32 Behold, I [am] against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What [is] the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.
34 And [as for] the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.
35 Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?
36 And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.
37 Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?
38 But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;
39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, [and cast you] out of my presence:
40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
Overview of Jeremiah Chapter 23
Jeremiah Chapter 23 is a significant passage in the Book of Jeremiah, focusing on the themes of false prophets, the coming of a righteous branch, and the promise of restoration for Israel. This chapter serves as a critique of the leaders of Israel and a reassurance of God’s ultimate plan for His people.
Key Themes
- Condemnation of False Prophets: The chapter opens with a strong denunciation of the shepherds (leaders) of Israel who have failed to care for their flock.
- Promise of a Righteous Leader: God promises to raise up a righteous branch from David’s line, symbolizing hope and restoration.
- God’s Omnipresence: The chapter emphasizes that God is always present and aware of the actions of His people, contrasting the deceit of false prophets.
Detailed Analysis
1. Condemnation of Shepherds (Verses 1-4)
The chapter begins with a strong warning against the shepherds of Israel. God declares that these leaders have scattered His flock and failed to protect them.
- Divine Judgment: The leaders are held accountable for their negligence and are warned of impending judgment.
- Promise of Restoration: God promises to gather the remnant of His flock and bring them back to their pasture, signifying hope for the future.
2. The Righteous Branch (Verses 5-6)
In these verses, God introduces the concept of the “righteous branch,” a messianic figure who will reign wisely and execute justice.
- Messianic Prophecy: This figure is identified as a descendant of David, symbolizing the fulfillment of God’s covenant.
- Character of the Leader: The righteous branch will be known for His justice and righteousness, contrasting sharply with the current leaders.
3. The Nature of False Prophets (Verses 7-8)
Jeremiah addresses the issue of false prophets who mislead the people by claiming to speak for God.
- False Assurance: These prophets provide false comfort, leading the people away from true repentance.
- God’s True Voice: The chapter emphasizes that true prophecy comes from God, who knows the hearts of His people.
4. The Omnipresence of God (Verses 9-24)
Jeremiah expresses his anguish over the false prophets and the dire state of the nation.
- God’s Knowledge: The passage highlights that God is not distant; He is fully aware of the deceit and corruption among the leaders.
- Call to Accountability: God will hold these leaders accountable for their actions, emphasizing that nothing is hidden from Him.
5. The Future Hope (Verses 25-32)
God contrasts the false prophets with His true message, which will ultimately lead to restoration.
- True Prophecy: God promises that true prophets will arise, speaking His words and guiding the people back to Him.
- Judgment on False Prophets: There is a warning that those who claim to speak for God without His authority will face judgment.
6. The New Covenant (Verses 33-40)
The chapter concludes with a declaration of a new covenant, emphasizing the transformative relationship between God and His people.
- Shift in Relationship: The new covenant signifies a deeper, more personal relationship with God.
- End of Shame: The people will no longer be ashamed of their past, as God will restore their dignity and honor.
Conclusion
Jeremiah Chapter 23 serves as a powerful reminder of God’s justice and mercy. It critiques the failures of Israel’s leaders while offering hope through the promise of a righteous branch. This chapter is foundational for understanding the prophetic literature and the anticipation of the Messiah in the context of Israel’s history.
