Bible Strands
Jeremiah 23:13
“Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh speaks through Jeremiah to the covenant community during a period of institutional religious failure. The prophet identifies a specific moment of divine inspection where false prophetic leadership is being exposed.
The words — The Hebrew תִפְלָה (tiflah) translates literally as "offensive thing" or abomination, marking a breach of covenant boundaries. The verb וַ/יַּתְע֥וּ (wa/yitt‘û) means "they caused to err," describing the active misdirection of the people.
The thread — This pattern of religious leaders leading the people astray appears in Isaiah 9:16 and Jeremiah 2:8, where authorities abandon divine inquiry and rebel. The historical parallel of abandoning covenant commandments is recorded in 1 Kings 18:18.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that prophetic authority requires exclusive allegiance to Yahweh, not syncretistic compromise. Readers must evaluate religious teaching by its fidelity to divine command rather than its cultural acceptance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 9:16 For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.
- Jeremiah 2:8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.
- 1 Kings 18:18 “I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.
- Hosea 9:7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
- 2 Chronicles 33:9 So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
- 1 Kings 18:25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”
- 1 Kings 18:40 Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.