Jeremiah 23:35

This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother: ‘What has the LORD answered?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses the people of Judah who are circulating unverified prophetic claims. He instructs them to stop asking one another what the LORD has answered or spoken.

The words — The Hebrew כֹּ֥ה (koh) means “thus,” and תֹאמְר֛וּ (to.me.ru) means “you will say.” These terms mark the exact formula the text forbids.

The thread — The text’s rejection of mediated religious inquiry aligns with Jeremiah 31:34, which declares an end to one person teaching another to know the LORD. It also contrasts with Jeremiah 33:3, which promises direct divine response to those who call upon God.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to abandon ritualized questions that treat God’s word as a commodity to be extracted from people. It demands direct engagement with Scripture rather than reliance on human interpretations of it.

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

כֹּ֥הkohthus תֹאמְר֛וּto.me.Ruyou will say אִ֥ישׁ'isheach עַל־'al-to רֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E./huneighbor/ his וְאִ֣ישׁve./'Ishand/ each אֶל־'el-to אָחִ֑יו'a.Chi/vbrother/ his מֶה־meh-what?עָנָ֣ה'a.Nahdid he answer יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וּמַה־u./mah-and/ what?דִּבֶּ֖רdi.Berdid he say יְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehYahweh

King James Version

Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?

Cross-references

Jeremiah 31:34 No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”
Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 42:4 “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers. I will not withhold a word from you.”
Hebrews 8:11 No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.