Jeremiah 23:21-22
“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)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
These false prophets were so eager to speak and gain influence that they "ran" ahead, even without a divine commission or any message from God. Their supposed prophecies weren't a result of listening to Him, but rather their own self-serving ideas presented as divine truth.
Jeremiah is railing against the false prophets who are misleading Judah with comforting lies, assuring peace and prosperity when God’s judgment is imminent. He contrasts their eagerness to speak with the true prophets' careful reliance on God’s commission and message. These self-appointed speakers, eager for popularity and personal gain, rushed ahead with messages they never received from God, leading the people further astray into spiritual complacency.
Have you ever felt an urge to speak out, to lead, or to teach, even when you weren't sure it was your place? Jeremiah confronts prophets who did just that.
God declares emphatically, 'I did not send these prophets.' This wasn't a minor oversight; it was a fundamental disconnect. These were individuals who took on the mantle of prophetic authority without any divine commission.
Running Without a Call
The phrase 'yet they ran' paints a vivid picture. It suggests eagerness, haste, and self-initiation. Instead of waiting for God's specific instructions, they rushed ahead, eager to fulfill a role they had chosen for themselves. This haste often stems from a desire for personal gain or recognition, rather than a genuine call from God.
Speaking Without Revelation
Equally critical is 'I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.' This highlights that their message wasn't rooted in divine truth. They hadn't received God's word or listened to His voice. Their 'prophecies' were likely their own ideas, speculations, or even outright fabrications, presented as divine revelation.
What happens when people speak 'words from God' that never came from His mouth? Jeremiah shows us the destructive consequences.
The core problem with these self-appointed prophets was their message. Because they hadn't genuinely heard from God, their words carried no divine authority and led people astray.
The Allure of Easy Answers
False prophets often offer comfort and validation to those who want to continue in sin. As one commentary notes, they give 'encouragement to men to continue in their sinful courses, or in a state of carnal security.' This is a hallmark of false prophecy – making people feel okay about things God says are wrong.
The Deception of the Message
Jeremiah's frustration stems from the fact that these prophets weren't just mistaken; they were actively deceiving people. They spoke their 'own conceits and inventions' and led others to believe them. This wasn't about a minor theological difference; it was about presenting human ideas as divine truth, which ultimately harms the people who believe it.
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
This verse speaks to a critical moment when the people of Judah, facing imminent judgment, were being misled by prophets who claimed God's blessing, even though God Himself states He never commissioned these speakers or their messages.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people and the scattering of the ten tribes. This event deeply impacted Judah's consciousness of God's judgment.
626 BC
Jeremiah Begins Ministry
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy to Judah. His ministry spans a tumultuous period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms End
King Josiah, who initiated religious reforms based on the rediscovery of the Law, is killed in battle. His death marks a decline in Judah's spiritual and political stability.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a group of elites, including Daniel, to Babylon. This event signals the beginning of Judah's downfall.
This passage highlights that rebellion against God's word is like the sin of divination, and stubbornness is like idolatry. This directly relates to Jeremiah's message about prophets who spoke their own words, not God's.
Ezekiel 13:6Ezekiel also confronts prophets who 'see false visions and practice lying divination.' This echoes Jeremiah's accusation that these prophets spoke falsehoods they hadn't received from God.
Matthew 7:15Jesus warns about false prophets who come disguised as sheep but are inwardly ravenous wolves. This parallels Jeremiah's denunciation of prophets who presented themselves as God's messengers but served their own interests.
1 Kings 18:19-20On Mount Carmel, Elijah confronts prophets who falsely claimed to speak for Baal, showing how readily people would follow those who spoke with authority, even if it wasn't God's authority.
Acts 20:30Paul warns the Ephesian elders about men who would arise from within, speaking twisted things to draw disciples away after themselves, demonstrating the persistent danger of self-appointed leaders who don't truly represent God.
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 false prophets were so eager to speak and gain influence that they "ran" ahead, even without a divine commission or any message from God. Their supposed prophecies weren't a result of listening to Him, but rather their own self-serving ideas presented as divine truth.
Jeremiah is railing against the false prophets who are misleading Judah with comforting lies, assuring peace and prosperity when God’s judgment is imminent. He contrasts their eagerness to speak with the true prophets' careful reliance on God’s commission and message. These self-appointed speakers, eager for popularity and personal gain, rushed ahead with messages they never received from God, leading the people further astray into spiritual complacency.
Jeremiah is railing against the false prophets who are misleading Judah with comforting lies, assuring peace and prosperity when God’s judgment is imminent. He contrasts their eagerness to speak with the true prophets' careful reliance on God’s commission and message. These self-appointed speakers, eager for popularity and personal gain, rushed ahead with messages they never received from God, leading the people further astray into spiritual complacency.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Jeremiah 23:21-22 is available in the Sola app.
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.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another wave of exiles, including the prophet Ezekiel, are taken to Babylon. Jerusalem's Temple is desecrated, and King Jehoiachin is deposed.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and sending most of the remaining population into Babylonian exile.
During Jeremiah's ministry (Late 7th - Early 6th century BC)— this verse
Prophecies Against False Prophets
Jeremiah confronts religious leaders in Jerusalem who are giving false assurances of peace and divine favor, contradicting God's messages of impending 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 false prophets were so eager to speak and gain influence that they "ran" ahead, even without a divine commission or any message from God. Their supposed prophecies weren't a result of listening…
