Jeremiah 29:8
For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah, writing from exile in Babylon, is addressing the exiled Judeans who are surrounded by Babylonian culture and its false prophets. These false prophets, much like those back in Jerusalem, are peddling comforting lies about a quick return home, encouraging the people to ignore God's promised seventy-year period of exile. Jeremiah's message here serves as a stark warning to discern between God's true word and the deceptive messages that cater to the people's own desires.
When God wants to get our attention, He doesn't whisper. He speaks with authority, identifying Himself in ways that remind us who's in charge.
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Jeremiah begins this message with a powerful declaration: "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel." This isn't just a casual greeting; it's a divine title that carries immense weight.
The Almighty Commander
'LORD of hosts' (Yahweh Sabaoth in Hebrew) paints a picture of God as the supreme commander of heavenly armies. It means God is all-powerful, sovereign, and utterly in control, even when circumstances seem chaotic.
The Covenant Keeper
He also identifies Himself as 'the God of Israel.' This reminds His people of their unique covenant relationship with Him. He is not a distant deity, but the God who specifically chose, protected, and made promises to them.
When you hear these titles, remember that the words that follow come from the ultimate authority, the one who knows all, sees all, and has the power to fulfill His promises and execute His judgments.
In exile, the people were surrounded by voices promising comfort and quick fixes. God warns them to be discerning, for not all messages come from Him.
God directly warns His people against listening to deceptive voices. In the midst of their difficult Babylonian exile, there were 'prophets and diviners' who were NOT sent by God, but who offered false hope.
Homemade 'Revelations'
The phrase 'the dreams that they dream' is particularly striking. The commentaries suggest that these weren't necessarily genuine divine dreams, but rather dreams concocted or promoted by people seeking attention, profit, or to please the people's desires. It implies a demand for such comforting lies, and a supply of them to meet that demand.
The Danger of Deception
These false prophets and diviners were leading God's people astray, encouraging them to believe in a speedy return that God had not promised. This wasn't just harmless wishful thinking; it was actively working against God's stated plan and would lead to further ruin. God's people were urged not to 'listen' – a word that implies more than just hearing; it means to give heed, to obey.
It's easy to blame the deceivers, but God points out that the listeners also play a crucial role in the spread of falsehood.
The text includes a profound insight: 'the dreams that ye cause to be dreamed.' This isn't a mistake in the text; it's a powerful accusation.
The Role of Desire
The commentaries highlight that the people's own desires created a market for these false prophecies. They wanted to hear about a quick return, about comfort, about the 'smooth things' that would soothe their anxieties without demanding repentance or faith in God's actual timing.
Accessory to Deception
Because the people were so eager to believe these lies, they 'caused' these dreamers and prophets to continue their deceptive work. Their willingness to listen and their 'love to have it so' fueled the very deception they were warned against. It means we are not passive recipients of truth or error; our desires and our willingness to listen actively shape the spiritual messages we receive and perpetuate.
Understand the original words
tseba'ot · Hebrew Noun
A title emphasizing God as the Commander of all angelic armies and the universe, highlighting His supreme sovereignty and power over all nations and realms.
nabi · Hebrew Noun
Individuals who claimed to speak for God but lacked divine commission, often leading people astray through false assurances and counterfeit spiritual experiences.
qesem · Hebrew Noun
Individuals who practice forbidden occult arts to predict the future or gain secret knowledge, explicitly condemned in Scripture as an affront to God's sole authority.
nasha' · Hebrew Verb
The act of being misled or seduced by false teachings or idols, causing one to abandon truth and trust in things that do not exist or have no power.
The people in exile were tempted by prophets who offered false hope for a quick return, preying on their desire to leave Babylon. Jeremiah’s message, grounded in God's true word, urged them to settle in, build, and seek the welfare of their foreign land, warning against these deceptive voices.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Jehoiakim, the first wave of Judean exiles, including members of the royal family and nobility, were deported to Babylon. This event marked the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following King Jehoiachin's rebellion, another significant group of Judeans, including prominent citizens and the prophet Ezekiel, were exiled to Babylon. This further weakened Jerusalem.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
After a prolonged siege, Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the city and the Temple, and deported the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This was a catastrophic event for Judah.
c. 586 BC - 538 BC— this verse
Exile in Babylon
The Jewish people lived in exile in Babylon for approximately 70 years. During this time, false prophets arose among them, offering misleading prophecies of a quick return, contrary to Jeremiah's message.
539 BC
Conquest of Babylon by Persia
Cyrus the Great conquered the Babylonian Empire, establishing the Persian Empire. This political shift would eventually lead to the decree allowing the exiles to return to Judah.
538 BC
Cyrus' Decree Allowing Return
Cyrus issued a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This marked the end of the Babylonian exile for many.
This passage directly addresses the issue of false prophets in ancient Israel who were claiming to speak for God, often through dreams, highlighting the consistent problem of deception that Jeremiah is warning against here.
Isaiah 30:10This verse shows people actively rejecting God's truth and demanding comforting falsehoods from prophets, which is similar to the sentiment behind Jeremiah 29:8 where the people's desire for certain dreams fuels the deception.
1 Kings 22:1-28The story of Micaiah and the false prophets shows a king seeking confirmation for his own desires, illustrating the danger of listening to prophets who tell you what you want to hear, rather than what God says, as warned in Jeremiah.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-11This New Testament passage speaks about a coming deception where people are given over to believing falsehoods because they did not embrace the truth, echoing Jeremiah's warning about the consequences of choosing to listen to deceivers.
barnesJeremiah 29:8: "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed."
Your prophets and your diviners - The evils from which the people had suffered so cruelly at home followed them in their exile. Dreams which ye cause to be dreamed - As long as there was a market for dreams, so long there would be plenty of impostors to supply them.
clarkeJeremiah 29:8: "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed."
Neither hearken to your dreams - Rather, dreamers; for it appears there was a class of such persons, who not only had acquired a facility of dreaming themselves, but who undertook to interpret the dreams of others.
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Jeremiah, writing from exile in Babylon, is addressing the exiled Judeans who are surrounded by Babylonian culture and its false prophets. These false prophets, much like those back in Jerusalem, are peddling comforting lies about a quick return home, encouraging the people to ignore God's promised seventy-year period of exile. Jeremiah's message here serves as a stark warning to discern between God's true word and the deceptive messages that cater to the people's own desires.
Jeremiah, writing from exile in Babylon, is addressing the exiled Judeans who are surrounded by Babylonian culture and its false prophets. These false prophets, much like those back in Jerusalem, are peddling comforting lies about a quick return home, encouraging the people to ignore God's promised seventy-year period of exile. Jeremiah's message here serves as a stark warning to discern between God's true word and the deceptive messages that cater to the people's own desires.
"For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream," — { "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "605 BC", "title": "First Deportation to Babylon", "description": "King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports a portion…
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