Jeremiah 27:15
For I have not sent them, declares the LORD, and yet they are prophesying falsely in My name; therefore I will banish you, and you will perish—you and the prophets who prophesy to you.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks through Jeremiah to Judah’s officials, priests, and people while false prophets are actively urging national resistance to Babylon and premature temple restoration. The declaration functions as a direct rebuttal to those claiming divine mandate for political rebellion.
The words — כִּי (ki) translates literally as "for," establishing the statement as a causal foundation, while נְאֻם־יְהוָה (ne'um-Yahweh) means "utterance of Yahweh," marking the message as authoritative divine speech rather than human speculation.
The thread — The pattern of uncommissioned prophets speaking falsely in God’s name recurs in Jeremiah 27:10, where such prophecy directly triggers banishment and perishing, and aligns with Jeremiah 6:13’s indictment of prophets and priests practicing deceit.
Why it lands — The text requires listeners to verify prophetic claims against the standard of divine commission, rejecting messages that contradict God’s actual directives. It places the burden of discernment on the audience to distinguish authorized speech from self-invented prophecy.
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
For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 27:10 For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16 While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”
- Jeremiah 6:13 “For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
- Jeremiah 14:15 Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name: I did not send them, yet they say, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end!
- 2 Chronicles 18:17 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”
- Jeremiah 8:10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
- Jeremiah 20:6 And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house, will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon, and there you will die and be buried—you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied these lies.’”
- Jeremiah 23:15 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”
- Jeremiah 23:21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
- Jeremiah 28:16 Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’”