Bible Strands
Jeremiah 23:30
“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks through Jeremiah to confront Israel, placing this declaration immediately after describing His word as fire and a hammer. The address targets prophets operating within the community who are fabricating or borrowing divine messages.
The words — The Hebrew מְגַנְּבֵ֣י (megannevei) literally means "stealers" or "those who steal," paired with דְבָרַ֔י (devarai) for "My words." This phrasing specifies that the prophets are appropriating divine utterances without authorization.
The thread — This judgment against unauthorized prophecy aligns with Deuteronomy 18:20, which warns against speaking in God's name without command. It echoes Ezekiel 13:8, where God declares Himself against those who utter vain words, and Jeremiah 14:14, where God denies sending prophets who speak lies in His name.
Why it lands — The text demands verification of prophetic claims against the standard of received revelation. It requires readers to reject borrowed or self-originated messages that claim divine authority.
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
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 18:20 But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.”
- Ezekiel 13:8 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.
- Jeremiah 14:14 “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.
- Psalms 34:16 But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.
- Ezekiel 13:20 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I am against the magic charms with which you ensnare souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. So I will free the souls you have ensnared like birds.
- Ezekiel 15:7 And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.
- 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
- Leviticus 20:3 And I will set My face against that man and cut him off from his people, because by giving his offspring to Molech, he has defiled My sanctuary and profaned My holy name.
- Leviticus 26:17 And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.
- Deuteronomy 29:20 The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. Instead, His anger and jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will fall upon him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven