Jeremiah 14:14
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God directly states that He did not send, command, or speak to these prophets, yet they confidently prophesy "in my name." This highlights that claiming God's authority is not enough; their message was a "lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds," showing how easily even well-intentioned claims can become a dangerous deception when detached from God's actual word.
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)
Jeremiah has just expressed his own anguish over Judah's sin and the impending judgment, even questioning God's faithfulness. The Lord responds by revealing the root of the problem: false prophets are misleading the people with empty promises of peace and security, claiming divine authority they do not possess. These prophets are not sent by God, nor have they received any true message from Him, but instead speak their own deceitful fabrications.
Ever heard someone speak for God but their words just felt... off? Jeremiah faced a whole crowd of them, and God had a strong word about it.
Claiming God's Authority
God's message to Jeremiah in verse 14 is crystal clear: the prophets were lying in His name. This wasn't just a minor slip-up; it was a fundamental offense. To claim God's authority for messages He never sent is to twist His very character and purpose.
What makes a prophet a true prophet? It’s not just about speaking boldly, but about where their message originates.
The Marks of Divine Authority
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God highlights three crucial points to expose the falsity of these prophets:
These three 'nots' are the bedrock for discerning true prophecy. A prophet must have a divine sending, a divine command, and a divine word.
What's worse than a lie? A lie that promises something good, but is rooted in nothingness.
The Substance of Falsehood
God doesn't just say these prophets were wrong; He describes the nature of their false prophecies:
These descriptions paint a stark picture: their pronouncements were baseless, empty, and born from a corrupted inner world, not from the living God.
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.
This prophecy occurs during the intense crisis of Jerusalem's siege and impending destruction. The false prophets offered comforting lies, directly contradicting Jeremiah's message of impending doom and God's judgment, making their deception all the more dangerous and damnable.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah Ordained as Prophet
Jeremiah begins his prophetic ministry during the reign of King Josiah, a time of religious reform but also lingering idolatry and external threats.
609 BC
Death of King Josiah
Josiah's death in battle against Pharaoh Necho of Egypt marks a turning point, leading to instability and a decline in the religious reforms.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, prince of Babylon, defeats the Egyptians and begins deporting Judean elites, including young Daniel, to Babylon, signaling a loss of sovereignty.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and more of Jerusalem's population to Babylon, further weakening the kingdom.
c. 588-586 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, ultimately destroying the city and the Temple, and exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon.
This passage echoes Jeremiah 14:14 by directly stating that the prophets who speak 'visions of their own imagination' and 'by the mouth of rebellion speak what comes out of their own minds' are deceiving people, directly paralleling the theme of false prophecy.
Ezekiel 13:6-7Here, Ezekiel explicitly condemns prophets and diviners who 'see false visions and practice lying divination' and claim the Lord has spoken when He has not, directly mirroring the accusations made against the prophets in Jeremiah 14:14.
1 Kings 22:22-23This passage illustrates the danger of false prophecy, showing a lying spirit going out from the Lord to deceive Ahab's prophets, highlighting how God can permit deception when prophets reject His truth, a concept relevant to Jeremiah's context.
2 Peter 2:1-3Peter warns about false teachers who will secretly bring destructive heresies and follow corrupt practices, describing them as 'springs without water, clouds driven by a storm,' which aligns with the 'worthless divination' and 'deceit of their own minds' mentioned in Jeremiah 14:14.
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…
God directly states that He did not send, command, or speak to these prophets, yet they confidently prophesy "in my name." This highlights that claiming God's authority is not enough; their message was a "lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds," showing how easily even well-intentioned claims can become a dangerous deception when detached from God's actual word.
Jeremiah has just expressed his own anguish over Judah's sin and the impending judgment, even questioning God's faithfulness. The Lord responds by revealing the root of the problem: false prophets are misleading the people with empty promises of peace and security, claiming divine authority they do not possess. These prophets are not sent by God, nor have they received any true message from Him, but instead speak their own deceitful fabrications.
Jeremiah has just expressed his own anguish over Judah's sin and the impending judgment, even questioning God's faithfulness. The Lord responds by revealing the root of the problem: false prophets are misleading the people with empty promises of peace and security, claiming divine authority they do not possess. These prophets are not sent by God, nor have they received any true message from Him, but instead speak their own deceitful fabrications.
"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." — God directly states that He did not send, command, or speak to these prophets, yet they confidently prophesy "in my name." This highlights that claiming God's authority is not enough; their message…
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Last reviewed October 2026
