Devine Scripture

Jeremiah 29:27

What does Jeremiah 29:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Jeremiah 29:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Jeremiah 29:27 means

This verse contains Shemaiah's direct challenge to Zephaniah for failing to act against Jeremiah. Shemaiah asks, "Now therefore, why hast thou not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who maketh himself a prophet to you?" He criticizes Zephaniah for not using his supposed authority to silence Jeremiah, whom Shemaiah maliciously labels as a self-appointed prophet. This shows Shemaiah's contempt for God's true messenger and his relentless efforts to discredit Jeremiah, attempting to enforce his own false narrative of what God’s people should hear.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Now therefore, why hast thou not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who maketh himself a prophet to you,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Now therefore, why hast thou not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who maketh himself a prophet to you,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So why have you made no protest against Jeremiah of Anathoth, who is acting as a prophet to you?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And now, why hast thou not pushed against Jeremiah of Anathoth, who is making himself a prophet to you?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And now why hast thou not rebuked Jeremiah the Anathothite, who prophesieth to you?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And now, why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, who maketh himself a prophet to you?

Context

Following the revelation of Shemaiah’s instructions to Zephaniah, this verse reveals Shemaiah’s direct accusation towards Zephaniah for not silencing Jeremiah. It shows Shemaiah’s aggressive efforts to enforce his false narrative by pressuring the priest to act. This highlights the intense conflict surrounding Jeremiah’s ministry and the active opposition he faced from false prophets.

v.26Jehovah hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of Jehovah, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks and in shackles.

v.27This passage

v.28forasmuch as he hath sent unto us in Babylon, saying, The captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 11:47

    The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs.

  • Amos 7:12

    Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thou away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

  • Acts 4:17

    But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

  • Jeremiah 1:1

    The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

  • Jeremiah 29:26

    Jehovah hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of Jehovah, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks and in shackles.

  • Numbers 16:3

    and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Jehovah is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of Jehovah?

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