Jeremiah 29:23
What does Jeremiah 29:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Jeremiah 29:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jeremiah 29:23 means
God provides the specific transgressions for which Ahab and Zedekiah were condemned: "because they have wrought folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I commanded them not; and I am he that knoweth, and am witness, saith Jehovah." Their sins were threefold: moral depravity (folly and adultery), and gross spiritual deception by falsely claiming divine authority. God explicitly states His omniscience and role as a witness, underscoring that their hidden wickedness and public deceit were fully known to Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000because they have wrought folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I commanded them not; and I am he that knoweth, and am witness, saith Jehovah.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901because they have wrought folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I commanded them not; and I am he that knoweth, and am witness, saith Jehovah.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because they have done shame in Israel, and have taken their neighbours' wives, and in my name have said false words, which I did not give them orders to say; and I myself am the witness, says the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Because that they have done folly in Israel, and commit adultery with the wives of their neighbours, and speak a word in My name falsely that I have not commanded them, and I <FI>am<Fi> He who knoweth and a witness--an affirmation of Jehovah.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Because they have acted folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with the wives of their friends, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I commanded them not: I am the judge and the witness, saith the Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890because they have committed infamy in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken words of falsehood in my name, which I had not commanded them: and I [am] he that knoweth, and [am] witness, saith Jehovah.
Context
This verse gives the explicit reasons for the severe judgment against Ahab and Zedekiah, detailing their moral and prophetic failures. It moves beyond simply calling them 'false prophets' to exposing their specific sins of folly, adultery, and speaking lies in God’s name. This explanation justifies their punishment, reinforcing God’s justice and the gravity of their deceit.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 3:14
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
- Proverbs 5:21
For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh level all his paths.
- Jeremiah 7:9
Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods that ye have not known,
- Malachi 3:5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner from his right, and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts.
- 2 Peter 2:10
but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:
- Jeremiah 23:21
I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied.
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