the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed is the active complicity of the people: they don't just passively accept the false prophecies; they love it, preferring the comforting lies over the challenging truth. This suggests that spiritual deception thrives not just because leaders are corrupt, but because the followers actively desire to be misled.
the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah's prophecy describes a deeply corrupt spiritual and political climate in Jerusalem, where false prophets deliver comforting lies and the priests or rulers support their deception, all while the people actively embrace this false peace. This verse highlights the shocking collusion between religious and political leaders and the people's willing participation in their own spiritual downfall, setting the stage for God's inevitable judgment.
Imagine a society where spiritual leaders and religious authorities aren't just wrong, but actively working together to deceive. Jeremiah paints a stark picture of this spiritual corruption.
In Jeremiah's time, the religious establishment was a mess. The "prophets" weren't speaking God's truth; they were making things up, promising peace and prosperity that wouldn't come. And the "priests"? They weren't guiding the people back to God. Instead, they were ruling "by their means" – meaning they were essentially taking their cues and direction from these false prophets.
This created a powerful, self-serving alliance. The false prophets got to keep their influence and the people's attention, while the priests benefited from this system, gaining power and likely material gain. It was a deeply compromised spiritual leadership, where truth was sacrificed for stability and personal gain.
What happens when the people themselves aren't just victims of bad leadership, but actively prefer the deception?
The most shocking part of this passage isn't just the false prophets and complicit priests; it's God's assessment of His own people: "my people love to have it so." This isn't mere passive acceptance; it's an active embrace of the comfortable lies.
Why would people love to be deceived? Because the truth often comes with a cost. The true prophets, like Jeremiah, spoke hard truths about sin and impending judgment. This was uncomfortable. The false prophets, however, offered soothing messages, promising peace without repentance. This was easy. The people chose the path of least resistance, preferring the pleasant falsehoods over the challenging reality.
Ask a follow-up
What's the end game when a nation embraces deception and rejects truth? Jeremiah's question cuts to the heart of the matter.
The entire passage builds to a climactic question: "but what will you do when the end comes?" This isn't a casual inquiry; it's a prophetic declaration of unavoidable judgment. The "end" here refers to the ultimate consequence of their choices – the destruction of their city, their nation, and their way of life.
Despite the comfortable lies from their leaders and their own willing acceptance of those lies, the reality of God's justice could not be escaped. Their embrace of falsehood provided no shelter from the coming storm. This question forces them (and us) to confront the reality that there are consequences to rejecting God's truth and embracing deception, and that ultimately, we will face the outcome of our choices.
Understand the original words
nābîʾ · Hebrew Noun
An individual who speaks under divine inspiration, conveying God's message to His people. While true prophets are empowered by the Holy Spirit, false prophets operate out of their own imagination or for personal gain, leading the people away from God's truth.
nābāʾ šeqer · Hebrew Verb
To communicate a message believed to be from God. Falsely prophesying involves speaking messages that contradict God's revealed will, often to provide comfort or validation to those who refuse to repent.
kōhēn · Hebrew Noun
Those set apart by God for the ministry of the temple, offering sacrifices and teaching the law. Their role is to facilitate the relationship between God and His people, and when they fail, they lead the congregation into spiritual corruption.
rāḏâ · Hebrew Verb
To exercise authority, lead, or govern. In a biblical context, it implies taking responsibility for the spiritual and moral direction of the community, which should be done according to God's standard.
ʾāhaḇ · Hebrew Verb
The act of following or worshiping God, or—in a negative sense—clinging to sin and rebellion. It represents the deepest orientation of the heart, showing where a person finds their ultimate satisfaction.
ʾaḥărîṯ · Hebrew Noun
The culmination or final conclusion of a historical era, a period of judgment, or a specific divine purpose. It signifies the point where the patience of God gives way to divine intervention or historical consequence.
This verse reveals a dire spiritual condition in Judah where religious and political leaders collaborated to deceive the people, who willingly embraced the falsehoods. It underscores how widespread corruption and a love for comforting lies paved the way for national disaster.
c. 760 BC
Amos and Isaiah Prophesy
Earlier prophets like Amos and Isaiah criticized the priesthood, but the people could still look to the prophetic tradition for guidance. This context highlights a later spiritual decline.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple marked the catastrophic end of Judah as an independent kingdom. This event served as the ultimate consequence of the spiritual and political corruption Jeremiah warned against.
During Jeremiah's ministry (late 7th - early 6th century BC)— this verse
Prophets Prophesy Falsely
False prophets spread messages of peace and security, directly contradicting Jeremiah's warnings of impending doom and exile. They aligned with the priests and princes, creating a united front against Jeremiah's message.
During Jeremiah's ministry (late 7th - early 6th century BC)
Priests Rule by False Prophets' Means
The priests, instead of upholding God's law and guiding the people, aligned with the false prophets. They gained power and influence by supporting the comforting but deceitful messages of these prophets.
During Jeremiah's ministry (late 7th - early 6th century BC)
People Love Deception
The populace actively preferred the false prophecies of peace and prosperity over Jeremiah's difficult truths. This complicity in their own spiritual demise meant they embraced the corrupt leadership.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's complaint, highlighting a similar corruption where 'the heads of it judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money,' showing a pattern of spiritual leaders profiting from deceit.
Ezekiel 13:6-7Ezekiel denounces prophets who 'see false visions and practice lying divination' and claim peace when there is no peace, directly mirroring the false prophecies mentioned in Jeremiah 5:31.
Romans 1:28-32This New Testament passage describes people who, like Jeremiah's audience, 'did not see fit to acknowledge God,' embraced 'evil deeds,' and 'approved of those who practiced them,' illustrating the beloved sin and willful ignorance Jeremiah condemns.
2 Timothy 4:3-4Paul warns of a future time when people 'will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,' capturing the essence of the people loving what was false, as described in Jeremiah 5:31.
calvinJeremiah 5:30-31: "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;"
- Stupor (vel, res stupenda) et foeditas in terra (vel, res pudenda; sr, unde nomen deductum est, significat proprie cogitare vel reputare; sed videtur per antiphrasin Deus hoc loco, ut aliis quibusdam, notare rem prodigiosam, quae non cadit sub sensum humanum, quasi diceret hoc non posse concipi neque apprehendi hominis mente; scio hoc posse videri novum, sed tamen subest optima ratio, ut mihi videtur. Postea addit.…
cambridgeJeremiah 5:31: "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"
31 . “When Amos and Isaiah attacked the priesthood of Judah, they still felt that there remained the Prophets on whom the nation could fall back. But when Jeremiah mourned for Israel, he felt that there was no reserve in Judah. And when the Priesthood closed in hostile array around him, he felt that, as far as Jerusalem was concerned…
What's easily missed is the active complicity of the people: they don't just passively accept the false prophecies; they love it, preferring the comforting lies over the challenging truth. This suggests that spiritual deception thrives not just because leaders are corrupt, but because the followers actively desire to be misled.
Jeremiah's prophecy describes a deeply corrupt spiritual and political climate in Jerusalem, where false prophets deliver comforting lies and the priests or rulers support their deception, all while the people actively embrace this false peace. This verse highlights the shocking collusion between religious and political leaders and the people's willing participation in their own spiritual downfall, setting the stage for God's inevitable judgment.
Jeremiah's prophecy describes a deeply corrupt spiritual and political climate in Jerusalem, where false prophets deliver comforting lies and the priests or rulers support their deception, all while the people actively embrace this false peace. This verse highlights the shocking collusion between religious and political leaders and the people's willing participation in their own spiritual downfall, setting the stage for God's inevitable judgment.
"the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?" — What's easily missed is the active complicity of the people: they don't just passively accept the false prophecies; they love it, preferring the comforting lies over the challenging truth. This sug…
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Last reviewed October 2026