Jeremiah 14:14
And the LORD said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah has just presented a lament to God about the drought and the people's sin, but God interrupts him. The Lord declares that the false prophets, who have been assuring the people of peace and prosperity, are liars. These prophets are not sent or commissioned by God, nor have they received any divine message; their prophecies are just empty visions and deceitful pronouncements originating from their own minds.
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Why did God emphasize that He didn't send, command, or speak to these prophets? It's more than just a technicality – it's about where spiritual authority truly comes from.
Jeremiah is getting an inside look at why his people are facing such hardship. It's not just bad luck; it's a direct consequence of listening to the wrong voices. God makes it crystal clear that the so-called prophets have no divine backing.
What were these false prophecies actually made of? The verse uses stark language to describe the emptiness and deceit behind their messages.
Jeremiah 14:14 doesn't just say the prophets lied; it unpacks the nature of their deception.
Understand the original words
sheqer · Hebrew Noun
Untrue or deceptive speech that misrepresents reality or God’s truth; biblically, it is the opposite of the character of God.
qesem · Hebrew Noun
The act of seeking hidden knowledge or divine insight through means unauthorized by God; forbidden in Scripture as a substitute for true prophecy.
tarmiyth · Hebrew Noun
A quality of character involving fraud, trickery, or dishonesty, often used to describe the intent of those who mislead others.
Jeremiah prophesied during a period of immense national crisis, with the looming threat and eventual reality of Babylonian conquest and exile. His message directly confronted the false hope peddled by other prophets, who assured peace and prosperity even as judgment was imminent. This context highlights the stark contrast between divine truth and human deception, and the devastating consequences of ignoring God's warnings.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, invades Judah and deports some of the royal family and elite to Babylon, including the prophet Daniel. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Babylon again deports a significant portion of Jerusalem's population, including the prophet Ezekiel, after a revolt. King Jehoiachin is deposed and replaced by Zedekiah.
c. 589-587 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem for an extended period, leading to extreme famine and suffering. The city walls are breached, and Jerusalem is destroyed.
c. 586 BC
Third Deportation to Babylon
Following the destruction of Jerusalem, the remaining population is largely deported to Babylon, devastating the nation of Judah.
c. 586 BC - 538 BC— this verse
Exile in Babylon
The Judean people live in exile in Babylon, facing a crisis of identity and faith. During this time, Jeremiah continues to prophesy to those remaining in Judah and those in exile.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon and issues an edict allowing the exiled Jews to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple.
This passage directly echoes Jeremiah, exposing false prophets who claim visions from the Lord but have actually fabricated them, highlighting the severe consequences of their deceptive prophecies.
Matthew 7:15Jesus warns about false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves, a parallel to Jeremiah's message that outward claims of divine authority can mask deceitful intentions.
2 Peter 2:1This New Testament passage speaks of false prophets who will secretly bring destructive heresies, just as Jeremiah describes prophets who prophesy lies in God's name, showing the persistent danger of false teaching throughout biblical history.
1 Kings 22:22-23Here, a lying spirit is sent by the Lord to deceive prophets who had already strayed from truth, illustrating how God can allow deceptive spirits to influence those who reject His true word and messengers.
calvinJeremiah 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."
- 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 dece…
barnesJeremiah 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."
Divination - i. e., "conjuring," the abuse of the less understood powers of nature. It was strictly forbidden to all Jews Deuteronomy 18:10 . A thing of nought - Probably a small idol made of the more precious metals Isaiah 2:20. The…
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "Late 8th - Early 7th Century BC", "title": "Assyrian Domination", "description": "Jeremiah's ministry occurred during a turbulent period following Assyrian expansion. This created instability and a desire for false security, making the people receptive to prophets who promised peace.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "605 BC", "title": "First Babylonian Deportation", "description": "Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deported a portion of the Judean elite, including Daniel. This event signaled the rising power of Babylon and intensified anxieties about Judah's future.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 597 BC", "title": "Second Babylonian Deportation", "description": "Another significant deportation occurred, further weakening Judah and increasing desperation. Many believed prophets who claimed God would quickly deliver them, ignoring the true prophetic warnings of impending judgment.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 587/586 BC", "title": "Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple", "description": "Babylon finally destroyed Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, fulfilling the dire warnings of true prophets like Jeremiah. This marked the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the main Babylonian exile.", "isCurrentContext": true }, { "date": "Post-Exilic Period", "title": "Return and Rebuilding", "description": "After the Babylonian exile, the Jewish people began to return and rebuild. Even then, false prophets could arise, offering misleading messages of ease and prosperity instead of true repentance and reliance on God.", "isCurrentContext": false } ], "summaryInsight": "This verse hits hard because it exposes how, even amidst the terrifying reality of God's judgment and the destruction of Jerusalem, false prophets continued to peddle comforting lies. Their empty promises directly contradicted God's true word, highlighting the crucial need to discern authentic prophecy from deceptive rhetoric, especially when facing hardship." }
Jeremiah has just presented a lament to God about the drought and the people's sin, but God interrupts him. The Lord declares that the false prophets, who have been assuring the people of peace and prosperity, are liars. These prophets are not sent or commissioned by God, nor have they received any divine message; their prophecies are just empty visions and deceitful pronouncements originating from their own minds.
Jeremiah has just presented a lament to God about the drought and the people's sin, but God interrupts him. The Lord declares that the false prophets, who have been assuring the people of peace and prosperity, are liars. These prophets are not sent or commissioned by God, nor have they received any divine message; their prophecies are just empty visions and deceitful pronouncements originating from their own minds.
"And the LORD said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds." — { "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "Late 8th - Early 7th Century BC", "title": "Assyrian Domination", "description": "Jeremiah's ministry occurred duri…
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