Jeremiah 23:21-22
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These prophets weren't just misguided; they eagerly rushed into ministry without any divine instruction, like messengers sprinting on a mission they invented themselves. Their eagerness to speak and their self-appointed authority highlight how quickly people can embrace comforting lies over God's actual word.
“I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this passage, Jeremiah is passionately lamenting the spiritual corruption within Jerusalem, particularly the actions of false prophets. These prophets offer comforting lies, assuring the people of peace and prosperity despite their disobedience. Jeremiah is heartbroken because these deceptive messages prevent people from turning back to God, leading them further into sin and ultimately towards judgment.
Ever feel the pressure to jump into something before you're truly ready? These prophets were like that, but with eternal consequences.
Jeremiah calls out prophets who were * eager* to speak, to declare messages they hadn't received from God. The word 'ran' here paints a picture of haste, of rushing headlong into a role without waiting for divine instruction. They weren't commissioned by God; they self-appointed themselves.
Running Ahead
It's one thing to be eager, but what happens when the message itself is not from God?
The verse doesn't just stop at their haste; it highlights the source of their message. They 'prophesied,' meaning they delivered messages, but crucially, 'I did not speak to them.' Their words were not an echo of God's voice but rather their own inventions.
Invented Oracles
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Understand the original words
nābîʾ · Hebrew Noun
Individuals chosen and empowered by God to receive His revelation and communicate His message to His people, often calling for repentance. True prophets speak only what God has commanded, while false prophets claim divine authority without having been sent by Him.
nābāʾ · Hebrew Verb
The act of receiving and declaring the message of God to men. It is authoritative only when the message originates from God Himself, rather than the imagination of the speaker.
sôd · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the heavenly court or divine assembly where God deliberates and reveals His purposes to His servants. To 'stand' in this council implies intimacy, access, and authorized representation of God's will.
rāʿâ · Hebrew Noun
A moral deviation or departure from God's standards; an act or character state that is harmful, wicked, and contrary to the will of God. It often encompasses both the internal disposition and the external manifestations of human rebellion.
This verse highlights the dangerous disconnect between the true prophetic message of repentance and the false prophets' eagerness to deliver uncommissioned, popular messages, especially during Judah's darkest hours.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its people. This event created a spiritual and political vacuum, and the false prophets often filled this void with comforting lies.
626 BC
Jeremiah's Call to Prophesy
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy to Judah, a kingdom increasingly threatened by surrounding empires. He is tasked with delivering God's warnings and calls for repentance.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms Challenged
King Josiah's religious reforms, aimed at restoring true worship, are met with mixed success and ultimately fail to fully turn Judah away from its corrupt practices.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar deport a portion of the Judean elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another wave of exiles, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, are taken to Babylon. Judah is reduced to a vassal state.
587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This is the catastrophic event that Jeremiah prophesied.
During Jeremiah's Ministry (c. 626-586 BC)— this verse
Prophets Preach False Hope
While Jeremiah warns of impending doom, many other prophets in Judah loudly proclaim peace and security, claiming God's favor despite the people's sin. They run ahead with messages they have not received from God, offering comforting lies.
This passage describes Israel demanding a king, a desire that ultimately led them away from God's direct leadership, mirroring how people might seek out self-appointed 'prophets' rather than God's true messengers.
Isaiah 6:8In contrast to the prophets in Jeremiah, Isaiah hears God's call ('Who will go for us?') and readily responds, 'Here I am, send me,' highlighting the essential element of divine commission that the false prophets lacked.
Matthew 7:15Jesus warns about false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves, directly addressing the danger of those who present themselves as God's spokespeople without true divine authority.
1 Kings 18:20This verse shows the prophets of Baal gathered by Ahab, illustrating a large group prophesying and performing rituals, yet they were not aligned with the true God and were ultimately exposed by Elijah.
2 Peter 2:1-3Peter speaks of false teachers who will secretly bring destructive heresies and exploit people with false words, directly paralleling the self-serving and unauthorized speech of the prophets in Jeremiah.
barnesJeremiah 23:21: "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied."
Ran - i. e., hurried to take upon them the responsibilites of the prophetic office.
ellicottJeremiah 23:21: "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied."
(21) Yet they ran. —The image is that of messengers who rush eagerly, as from the king’s council-chamber, on their self-appointed mission, without waiting for the command of the Master in whose name they profess to come. (Comp. the question, “Who will go for us? ” in Isaiah 6:8 .)
These prophets weren't just misguided; they eagerly rushed into ministry without any divine instruction, like messengers sprinting on a mission they invented themselves. Their eagerness to speak and their self-appointed authority highlight how quickly people can embrace comforting lies over God's actual word.
In this passage, Jeremiah is passionately lamenting the spiritual corruption within Jerusalem, particularly the actions of false prophets. These prophets offer comforting lies, assuring the people of peace and prosperity despite their disobedience. Jeremiah is heartbroken because these deceptive messages prevent people from turning back to God, leading them further into sin and ultimately towards judgment.
In this passage, Jeremiah is passionately lamenting the spiritual corruption within Jerusalem, particularly the actions of false prophets. These prophets offer comforting lies, assuring the people of peace and prosperity despite their disobedience. Jeremiah is heartbroken because these deceptive messages prevent people from turning back to God, leading them further into sin and ultimately towards judgment.
"“I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turne…" — These prophets weren't just misguided; they eagerly rushed into ministry without any divine instruction, like messengers sprinting on a mission they invented themselves. Their eagerness to speak and…
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Last reviewed October 2026
