1WoeH1945 be unto the pastorsH7462 that destroyH6 and scatterH6327 the sheepH6629 of my pastureH4830! saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 2Therefore thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478 against the pastorsH7462 that feedH7462 my peopleH5971; Ye have scatteredH6327 my flockH6629, and driven them awayH5080, and have not visitedH6485 them: behold, I will visitH6485 upon you the evilH7455 of your doingsH4611, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 3And I will gatherH6908 the remnantH7611 of my flockH6629 out of all countriesH776 whither I have drivenH5080 them, and will bring them againH7725 to their foldsH5116; and they shall be fruitfulH6509 and increaseH7235 . 4And I will set upH6965 shepherdsH7462 over them which shall feedH7462 them: and they shall fearH3372 no more, nor be dismayedH2865, neither shall they be lackingH6485, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 5Behold, the daysH3117 comeH935, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, that I will raiseH6965 unto DavidH1732 a righteousH6662 BranchH6780, and a KingH4428 shall reignH4427 and prosperH7919, and shall executeH6213 judgmentH4941 and justiceH6666 in the earthH776. 6In his daysH3117 JudahH3063 shall be savedH3467, and IsraelH3478 shall dwellH7931 safelyH983: and this is his nameH8034 whereby he shall be calledH7121, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSH3072. 7Therefore, behold, the daysH3117 comeH935, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, that they shall no more sayH559, The LORDH3068 livethH2416, which brought upH5927 the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714; 8But, The LORDH3068 livethH2416, which brought upH5927 and which ledH935 the seedH2233 of the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478 out of the northH6828 countryH776, and from all countriesH776 whither I had drivenH5080 them; and they shall dwellH3427 in their own landH127. 9Mine heartH3820 withinH7130 me is brokenH7665 because of the prophetsH5030; all my bonesH6106 shakeH7363 ; I am like a drunkenH7910 manH376, and like a manH1397 whom wineH3196 hath overcomeH5674, becauseH6440 of the LORDH3068, and because of the wordsH1697 of his holinessH6944. 10For the landH776 is fullH4390 of adulterersH5003 ; for becauseH6440 of swearingH423 the landH776 mournethH56 ; the pleasant placesH4999 of the wildernessH4057 are dried upH3001, and their courseH4794 is evilH7451, and their forceH1369 is not right. 11For both prophetH5030 and priestH3548 are profaneH2610 ; yea, in my houseH1004 have I foundH4672 their wickednessH7451, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 12Wherefore their wayH1870 shall be unto them as slipperyH2519 ways in the darknessH653: they shall be driven onH1760, and fallH5307 therein: for I will bringH935 evilH7451 upon them, even the yearH8141 of their visitationH6486, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 13And I have seenH7200 follyH8604 in the prophetsH5030 of SamariaH8111; they prophesiedH5012 in BaalH1168, and caused my peopleH5971 IsraelH3478 to errH8582 . 14I have seenH7200 also in the prophetsH5030 of JerusalemH3389 an horrible thingH8186: they commit adulteryH5003, and walkH1980 in liesH8267: they strengthenH2388 also the handsH3027 of evildoersH7489, that noneH376 doth returnH7725 from his wickednessH7451: they are all of them unto me as SodomH5467, and the inhabitantsH3427 thereof as GomorrahH6017. 15Therefore thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635 concerning the prophetsH5030; Behold, I will feedH398 them with wormwoodH3939, and make them drinkH8248 the waterH4325 of gallH7219: for from the prophetsH5030 of JerusalemH3389 is profanenessH2613 gone forthH3318 into all the landH776. 16Thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635, HearkenH8085 not unto the wordsH1697 of the prophetsH5030 that prophesyH5012 unto you: they make you vainH1891 : they speakH1696 a visionH2377 of their own heartH3820, and not out of the mouthH6310 of the LORDH3068. 17They sayH559 stillH559 unto them that despiseH5006 me, The LORDH3068 hath saidH1696, Ye shall have peaceH7965; and they sayH559 unto every one that walkethH1980 after the imaginationH8307 of his own heartH3820, No evilH7451 shall comeH935 upon you. 18For who hath stoodH5975 in the counselH5475 of the LORDH3068, and hath perceivedH7200 and heardH8085 his wordH1697? who hath markedH7181 his wordH1697, and heardH8085 it? 19Behold, a whirlwindH5591 of the LORDH3068 is gone forthH3318 in furyH2534, even a grievousH2342 whirlwindH5591: it shall fall grievouslyH2342 upon the headH7218 of the wickedH7563. 20The angerH639 of the LORDH3068 shall not returnH7725, until he have executedH6213, and till he have performedH6965 the thoughtsH4209 of his heartH3820: in the latterH319 daysH3117 ye shall considerH995 it perfectlyH998. 21I have not sentH7971 these prophetsH5030, yet they ranH7323 : I have not spokenH1696 to them, yet they prophesiedH5012 . 22But if they had stoodH5975 in my counselH5475, and had caused my peopleH5971 to hearH8085 my wordsH1697, then they should have turnedH7725 them from their evilH7451 wayH1870, and from the evilH7455 of their doingsH4611. 23Am I a GodH430 at handH7138, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, and not a GodH430 afar offH7350? 24Can anyH376 hideH5641 himself in secret placesH4565 that I shall not seeH7200 him? saithH5002 the LORDH3068. Do not I fillH4392 heavenH8064 and earthH776? saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 25I have heardH8085 what the prophetsH5030 saidH559, that prophesyH5012 liesH8267 in my nameH8034, sayingH559, I have dreamedH2492, I have dreamedH2492 . 26How long shall this beH3426 in the heartH3820 of the prophetsH5030 that prophesyH5012 liesH8267? yea, they are prophetsH5030 of the deceitH8649 of their own heartH3820; 27Which thinkH2803 to cause my peopleH5971 to forgetH7911 my nameH8034 by their dreamsH2472 which they tellH5608 every manH376 to his neighbourH7453, as their fathersH1 have forgottenH7911 my nameH8034 for BaalH1168. 28The prophetH5030 that hath a dreamH2472, let him tellH5608 a dreamH2472; and he that hath my wordH1697, let him speakH1696 my wordH1697 faithfullyH571. What is the chaffH8401 to the wheatH1250? saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 29Is not my wordH1697 likeH3541 as a fireH784? saithH5002 the LORDH3068; and like a hammerH6360 that breakethH6327 the rockH5553 in piecesH6327 ? 30Therefore, behold, I am against the prophetsH5030, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, that stealH1589 my wordsH1697 every oneH376 from his neighbourH7453. 31Behold, I am against the prophetsH5030, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, that useH3947 their tonguesH3956, and sayH5001, He saithH5002 . 32Behold, I am against them that prophesyH5012 falseH8267 dreamsH2472, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, and do tellH5608 them, and cause my peopleH5971 to errH8582 by their liesH8267, and by their lightnessH6350; yet I sentH7971 them not, nor commandedH6680 them: therefore they shall not profitH3276 this peopleH5971 at allH3276, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 33And when this peopleH5971, or the prophetH5030, or a priestH3548, shall askH7592 thee, sayingH559, What is the burdenH4853 of the LORDH3068? thou shalt then sayH559 unto them, What burdenH4853? I will even forsakeH5203 you, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 34And as for the prophetH5030, and the priestH3548, and the peopleH5971, that shall sayH559, The burdenH4853 of the LORDH3068, I will even punishH6485 that manH376 and his houseH1004. 35Thus shall ye sayH559 every oneH376 to his neighbourH7453, and every oneH376 to his brotherH251, What hath the LORDH3068 answeredH6030 ? and, What hath the LORDH3068 spokenH1696 ? 36And the burdenH4853 of the LORDH3068 shall ye mentionH2142 no more: for every man'sH376 wordH1697 shall be his burdenH4853; for ye have pervertedH2015 the wordsH1697 of the livingH2416 GodH430, of the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635 our GodH430. 37Thus shalt thou sayH559 to the prophetH5030, What hath the LORDH3068 answeredH6030 thee? and, What hath the LORDH3068 spokenH1696 ? 38ButH518 since ye sayH559, The burdenH4853 of the LORDH3068; therefore thus saithH559 the LORDH3068; Because ye sayH559 this wordH1697, The burdenH4853 of the LORDH3068, and I have sentH7971 unto you, sayingH559, Ye shall not sayH559, The burdenH4853 of the LORDH3068; 39Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterlyH5377 forgetH5382 you, and I will forsakeH5203 you, and the cityH5892 that I gaveH5414 you and your fathersH1, and cast you out of my presenceH6440: 40And I will bringH5414 an everlastingH5769 reproachH2781 upon you, and a perpetualH5769 shameH3640, which shall not be forgottenH7911 .
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE WICKED RULERS TO BE SUPERSEDED BY THE KING, WHO SHOULD REIGN OVER THE AGAIN UNITED PEOPLES, ISRAEL AND JUDAH. (Jer. 23:1-40)
pastors--Shallum, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah (
Ezek 34:2).
2 Ye have not . . . visited them . . . I will visit upon you--just retribution. Play upon the double sense of "visit." "Visit upon," namely, in wrath (
Exod 32:34).
3 Restoration of Judah from Babylon foretold in language which in its fulness can only apply to the final restoration of both "Judah" and "Israel" (compare
Jer 23:6); also "out of all countries," in this verse and
Jer 23:8; also, "neither shall they be lacking," that is, none shall be missing or detached from the rest: a prophecy never yet fully accomplished. It holds good also of the spiritual Israel, the elect of both Jews and Gentiles (
Mal 3:16-
Mal 3:17;
John 10:28;
John 17:12). As to the literal Israel also, see
Jer 32:37;
Isa 54:13;
Isa 60:21;
Ezek 34:11-
Ezek 34:16.
shepherds . . . shall feed them-- (
Jer 3:15;
Ezek 34:23-
Ezek 34:31). Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Maccabees were but typical of the consummating fulfilment of these prophecies under Messiah.
5 As Messianic prophecy extended over many years in which many political changes took place in harmony with these, it displayed its riches by a variety more effective than if it had been manifested all at once. As the moral condition of the Jews required in each instance, so Messiah was exhibited in a corresponding phase, thus becoming more and more the soul of the nation's life: so that He is represented as the antitypical Israel (
Isa 49:3).
unto David--HENGSTENBERG observes that Isaiah dwells more on His prophetical and priestly office, which had already been partly set forth (
Deut 18:18;
Ps 110:4). Other prophets dwell more on His kingly office. Therefore here He is associated with "David" the king: but in
Isa 11:1 with the then poor and unknown "Jesse."
righteous Branch--"the Branch of righteousness" (
Jer 33:15); "The Branch" simply (
Zech 3:8;
Zech 6:12); "The Branch of the Lord" (
Isa 4:2).
prosper--the very term applied to Messiah's undertaking (
Isa 52:13, Margin;
Isa 53:10). Righteousness or justice is the characteristic of Messiah elsewhere, too, in connection with our salvation or justification (
Isa 53:11;
Dan 9:24;
Zech 9:9). So in the New Testament He is not merely "righteous" Himself, but "righteousness to us" (
1Cor 1:30), so that we become "the righteousness of God in Him" (
Rom 10:3-
Rom 10:4;
2Cor 5:19-21;
Phil 3:9).
execute judgment and justice in the earth-- (
Ps 72:2;
Isa 9:7;
Isa 32:1,
Isa 32:18). Not merely a spiritual reign in the sense in which He is "our righteousness," but a righteous reign "in the earth" (
Jer 3:17-
Jer 3:18). In some passages He is said to come to judge, in others to reign. In
Matt 25:34, He is called "the King."
Ps 9:7 unites them. Compare
Dan 7:22,
Dan 7:26-
Dan 7:27.
6 Judah . . . Israel . . . dwell safely--Compare
Jer 33:16, where "Jerusalem" is substituted for "Israel" here. Only Judah, and that only in part, has as yet returned. So far are the Jews from having enjoyed, as yet, the temporal blessings here foretold as the result of Messiah's reign, that their lot has been, for eighteen centuries, worse than ever before. The accomplishment must, therefore, be still future, when both Judah and Israel in their own land shall dwell safely under a Christocracy, far more privileged than even the old theocracy (
Jer 32:37;
Deut 33:28; Isa. 54:1-17; 60:1-22;
Isa 65:17-
Isa 65:25;
Zech 14:11).
shall be called, the Lord--that is, shall be (
Isa 9:6) "Jehovah," God's incommunicable name. Though when applied to created things, it expresses only some peculiar connection they have with Jehovah (
Gen 22:14;
Exod 17:15), yet when applied to Messiah it must express His Godhead manifested in justifying power towards us (
1Tim 3:16).
our--marks His manhood, which is also implied in His being a Branch raised unto David, whence His human title, "Son of David" (compare
Matt 22:42-
Matt 22:45).
Righteousness--marks His Godhead, for God alone can justify the ungodly (compare
Rom 4:5;
Isa 45:17,
Isa 45:24-
Isa 45:25).
7 Repeated from
Jer 16:14-
Jer 16:15. The prophet said the same things often, in order that his sayings might make the more impression. The same promise as in
Jer 23:3-
Jer 23:4. The wide dispersion of the Jews at the Babylonish captivity prefigures their present wider dispersion (
Isa 11:11;
Joel 3:6). Their second deliverance is to exceed far the former one from Egypt. But the deliverance from Babylon was inferior to that from Egypt in respect to the miracles performed and the numbers delivered. The final deliverance under Messiah must, therefore, be meant, of which that from Babylon was the earnest.
9 because of the prophets--so the Masorites and Targum. But Vulgate, Septuagint, &c., make this the inscription of the prophecy, CONCERNING THE PROPHETS: as in
Jer 46:2;
Jer 48:1;
Jer 49:1. Jeremiah expresses his horror at the so-called "prophets" not warning the people, though iniquity so fearfully abounded, soon to be followed by awful judgments.
bones shake-- (
Hab 3:16).
drunken--God's judgments are represented as stupefying like wine. The effects of the Holy Spirit also are compared to those of wine (
Acts 2:17). In both cases ecstasy was produced. This accounts for the denial of wine to those likely to be inspired, Nazarites, &c. (
Luke 1:15). It was necessary to put it out of men's power to ascribe inspired ecstasy to the effects of wine.
because of . . . words of . . . holiness--because of Jehovah's holy words, wherewith He threatened severe penalties, soon to be inflicted, against the breakers of His law.
10 adulterers--spiritual, that is, forsakers of God, Israel's true Husband (
Isa 54:5) for idols, at the instigation of the false "prophets" (
Jer 23:9,
Jer 23:15). Literal adultery and fornication, the usual concomitants of idolatry, are also meant.
swearing--MAURER, &c., translate, "Because of the curse (of God on it), the land mourneth" (
Deut 27:15-
Deut 27:26; Deu. 28:15-68;
Isa 24:6). More than usual notoriety had been given to the curses of the law, by the finding and reading of it in Josiah's time (
2Kgs 22:11, &c.). But
Hos 4:2-
Hos 4:3, favors English Version (compare
Jer 12:4). A drought was sent by God on the pastures ("pleasant places," oases) in the desert, on account of the "profaneness" of the priests, prophets, and people (
Jer 23:11).
course . . . evil--They (both prophets and people) rush into wickedness (
Jer 23:21;
Isa 59:7).
force . . . not right--Their powers are used not on the side of rectitude, but on that of falsehood.
11 profane-- (
Ezek 23:39;
Zeph 3:4).
in my house-- (
Jer 7:30). They built altars to idols in the very temple (
2Kgs 23:12;
Ezek 8:3-
Ezek 8:16). Compare as to covetousness under the roof of the sanctuary,
Matt 21:13;
John 2:16.
12 slippery ways in . . . darkness--Their "way" is their false doctrine which proves fatal to them (
Jer 13:16;
Ps 35:6;
Pro 4:19).
I will bring evil . . . visitation--still more calamities than those already inflicted. See on
Jer 11:23; "visitation," namely, in wrath.
13 folly--literally, "insipidity," "unsavouriness" (
Job 6:6), not having the salt of godliness (
Col 4:6).
in Baal--in the name of Baal; in connection with his worship (see
Jer 2:8).
caused . . . to err-- (
Isa 9:16).
14 "Jerusalem" and Judah were even worse than "Samaria" and the ten tribes; the greater were the privileges of the former, the greater was their guilt. They had the temple in their midst, which the ten tribes had not; yet in the temple itself they practised idolatry.
strengthen . . . hands of evildoers-- (
Ezek 13:22).
as Sodom-- (
Deut 32:32;
Isa 1:10).
15 gall--poison (see on
Jer 8:14;
Jer 9:15).
16 make you vain--They seduce you to vanity, that is, idolatry, which will prove a vain trust to you (
Jer 2:5;
2Kgs 17:15;
Jonah 2:8), [GESENIUS]. Rather, "they delude you with vain promises of security" (
Jer 23:17; compare
Ps 62:10) [MAURER].
of their own heart--of their own invention (
Jer 23:21;
Jer 14:14).
17 say still--Hebrew, "say in saying," that is, say incessantly.
peace-- (
Jer 6:14;
Ezek 13:10;
Zech 10:2).
imagination--Hebrew, "obstinacy."
no evil-- (
Mic 3:11).
18 A reason is given why the false prophets should not be heeded: They have not stood in the counsels of Jehovah (an image from ministers present in a standing posture at councils of Eastern kings) (compare
Jer 23:22;
Job 15:8). The spiritual man alone has the privilege (
Gen 18:17;
Ps 25:14;
Amos 3:7;
John 15:15;
1Cor 2:16).
19 So far from all prosperity awaiting the people as the false prophets say (
Jer 23:17), wrath is in store for them.
grievous--literally, "eddying," whirling itself about, a tornado. In
Jer 30:23, "continuing" is substituted for "grievous."
fall grievously--it shall be hurled on.
20 in . . . latter days--that is, "the year of their visitation" (
Jer 23:12). Primarily the meaning is: the Jews will not "consider" now God's warnings (
Deut 32:29); but when the prophecies shall be fulfilled in their Babylonish exile, they will consider and see, by bitter experience, their sinful folly. The ultimate scope of the prophecy is: the Jews, in their final dispersion, shall at last "consider" their sin and turn to Messiah "perfectly" (
Hos 3:5;
Zech 12:5,
Zech 12:10-
Zech 12:14;
Luke 13:35).
21 sent . . . spoken--sent" refers to the primary call: "spoken" to the subsequent charges given to be executed. A call is required, not only external, on the part of men, but also internal from God, that one should undertake a pastor's office [CALVIN].
22 stood in . . . counsel-- (
Jer 23:18).
they should have turned them from their evil way--They would have given such counsels to the people as would have turned them from their sins (
Jer 25:5;
Isa 55:11), and so would have averted punishment. Their not teaching the law in which God's counsel is set forth proves they are not His prophets, though they boast of being so (
Matt 7:15-
Matt 7:20).
23 Let not the false prophets fancy that their devices (
Jer 23:25) are unknown to Me. Are ye so ignorant as to suppose that I can only see things near Me, namely, things in heaven, and not earthly things as being too remote?
24 (
Ps 139:7, &c.;
Amos 9:2-
Amos 9:3).
fill heaven and earth--with My omniscience providence, power, and essential being (
1Kgs 8:27).
25 dreamed--I have received a prophetic communication by dream (
Num 12:6;
Deut 13:1, &c.
Joel 2:28).
26 prophets--a different Hebrew form from the usual one, "prophesiers." "How long," cries Jeremiah, impatient of their impious audacity, "shall these prophecy-mongers go on prophesying lies?" The answer is given in
Jer 23:29-
Jer 23:34.
27 They "think" to make My people utterly to forget Me. But I will oppose to those dreamers my true prophets.
fathers . . . for Baal-- (
Judg 3:7;
Judg 8:33-
Judg 8:34).
28 God answers the objection which might be stated, "What, then, must we do, when lies are spoken as truths, and prophets oppose prophets?" Do the same as when wheat is mixed with chaff: do not reject the wheat because of the chaff mixed with it, but discriminate between the false and the true revelations. The test is adherence to, or forgetfulness of, Me and My law (
Jer 23:27).
that hath a dream--that pretends to have a divine communication by dream, let him tell it "faithfully," that it may be compared with "my word" (
2Cor 4:2). The result will be the former (both the prophets and their fictions) will soon be seen to be chaff; the latter (the true prophets and the word of God in their mouth) wheat (
Ps 1:4;
Hos 13:3).
29 As the "fire" consumes the "chaff" (
Jer 23:28), so "My word" will consume the false prophets (
Matt 3:12;
Heb 4:12). "My word" which is "wheat" (
Jer 23:28), that is, food to the true prophet and his hearers, is a consuming "fire," and a crushing "hammer" (
Matt 21:44) to false prophets and their followers (
2Cor 2:16). The Word of the false prophets may be known by its promising men peace in sin. "My word," on the contrary, burns and breaks the hard-hearted (
Jer 20:9). The "hammer" symbolizes destructive power (
Jer 50:23;
Nah 2:1, Margin).
30 steal my words--a twofold plagiarism; one steals from the other, and all steal words from Jehovah's true prophets, but misapply them (see
Jer 28:2;
John 10:1;
Rev 22:19).
31 use--rather, "take" their tongue: a second class (compare
Jer 23:30) require, in order to bring forth a revelation, nothing more than their tongues, wherewith they say, He (Jehovah) saith: they bungle in the very formula instead of the usual "Jehovah saith," being only able to say "(He) saith."
32 Third class: inventors of lies: the climax, and worst of the three.
lightness--wanton inventions (
Zeph 3:4).
not profit--that is, greatly injure.
33 What is the burden--play on the double sense of the Hebrew: an oracle and a burden. They scoffingly ask, Has he got any new burden (burdensome oracle: for all his prophecies are disasters) to announce (
Mal 1:1)? Jeremiah indignantly repeats their own question, Do you ask, What burden? This, then, it is, "I will forsake you." My word is burdensome in your eyes, and you long to be rid if it. You shall get your wish. There will be no more prophecy: I will forsake you, and that will be a far worse "burden" to you.
34 The burden--Whoever shall in mockery call the Lord's word "a burden," shall be visited (Margin) in wrath.
35 The result of My judgments shall be, ye shall address the prophet more reverentially hereafter, no longer calling his message a burden, but a divine response or word. "What hath the LORD answered?"
36 every man's word . . . his burden--As they mockingly call all prophecies burdens, as if calamities were the sole subject of prophecy, so it shall prove to them. God will take them at their own word.
living God--not lifeless as their dumb idols, ever living so as to be able to punish.
39 I will . . . forget you--just retribution for their forgetting Him (
Hos 4:6). But God cannot possibly forget His children (
Isa 49:15). Rather for "forget" translate, "I will altogether lift you up (like a 'burden,' alluding to their mocking term for God's messages) and cast you off." God makes their wicked language fall on their own head [CALVIN]. Compare
Jer 23:36 : "every man's word shall be his burden."
40 not be forgotten--If we translate
Jer 23:39 as English Version, the antithesis is, though I forget you, your shame shall not be forgotten.
