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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses Israel through Jeremiah, confronting false prophets who use fabricated dreams to divert the people from covenant faithfulness. This declaration occurs amid a historical moment when deceptive visions were actively replacing reverence for God’s name.

The words — The Hebrew term דְּבָרִ/י (de.va.R/i) means "My word," set in direct contrast to חֲלוֹם (cha.lOm), meaning "a dream." The text explicitly ranks divine speech above human visions by asking what straw holds in comparison to grain.

The thread — This contrast between authentic revelation and deceptive imitation appears in 2 Corinthians 2:17, which condemns those who distort God’s message for gain, and Proverbs 14:5, which distinguishes truthful witness from deceit. The substance-versus-emptiness metaphor continues in Jeremiah 23:29, where the LORD describes His word as fire and a crushing hammer.

Why it lands — The passage requires readers to test spiritual claims by their alignment with God’s established revelation rather than their dramatic appeal. Listeners must prioritize factual fidelity and divine authority over novel or emotionally charged experiences.

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

הַנָּבִ֞יאha./na.Vi'the/ prophet אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whom אִתּ֤וֹ'i.T/o[is] with/ him חֲלוֹם֙cha.lOma dream יְסַפֵּ֣רye.sa.Perlet him recount חֲל֔וֹםcha.Lom[the] dream וַאֲשֶׁ֤רva./'a.Sherand/ whom דְּבָרִי֙de.va.R/iword/ my אִתּ֔וֹ'i.T/o[is] with/ him יְדַבֵּ֥רye.da.Berlet him speak דְּבָרִ֖יde.va.R/iword/ my אֱמֶ֑ת'e.Metfaithfulness מַה־mah-what?לַתֶּ֥בֶןla./Te.ven[belongs] to the/ straw אֶת־'et-with הַבָּ֖רha./Barthe/ grain נְאֻם־ne.'um-[the] utterance of יְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehYahweh

King James Version

The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.

Cross-references

1 Timothy 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.
2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
Proverbs 14:5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
Matthew 24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?
Luke 12:42 And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
1 Corinthians 3:12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,
1 Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.