Jeremiah 23:25

“I have heard the sayings of the prophets who prophesy lies in My name: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses the people of Israel while confronting a specific group of prophets who claim divine authority. He interrupts their ongoing messages to declare His awareness of their claims just before questioning how long their self-delusion will persist.

The words — The Hebrew verb שָמַ֗עְתִּי (sha.Ma'.ti) translates literally as "I have heard," emphasizing divine perception rather than mere auditory reception. The noun שֶׁ֖קֶר (She.ker) means "falsehood" or "lies," directly modifying the prophets' claims.

The thread — The rejection of fabricated dreams recurs in Jeremiah 23:28 and 23:32, where God contrasts straw with His word and directly opposes those who retell false dreams. Jeremiah 29:8 extends this warning by commanding the people not to be deceived by prophets and diviners who speak contrary to divine revelation.

Why it lands — It requires readers to test prophetic claims against God's actual word rather than accepting emotional or visionary experiences as authoritative. It demands discernment when religious voices claim divine endorsement but produce content that contradicts established revelation.

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

שָׁמַ֗עְתִּיsha.Ma'.tiI have heard אֵ֤ת'et<obj.>אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-[that] which אָֽמְרוּ֙'a.me.Ruthey have said הַנְּבִאִ֔יםha./ne.vi.'Imthe/ prophets הַֽנִּבְּאִ֥יםha./ni.be.'Imwho/ prophesy בִּשְׁמִ֛יbi/sh.M/iin/ name/ my שֶׁ֖קֶרShe.kerfalsehood לֵאמֹ֑רle./Mor<to>/ saying חָלַ֖מְתִּיcha.Lam.tiI have dreamed חָלָֽמְתִּי׃cha.La.me.tiI have dreamed

King James Version

I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 23:32 “Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:28 Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 29:8 For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them.
Joel 2:28 And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Numbers 12:6 He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.
Jeremiah 8:6 I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
Genesis 37:5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
Genesis 37:9 Then Joseph had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
Psalms 139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.