Bible Strands
Jeremiah 29:27
So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses the priestly official in Babylon, challenging the failure to discipline a man claiming prophetic office. This occurs during the exile, immediately after the priest’s charge to handle those who act as prophets.
The words — גָעַ֔רְתָּ (ga.'Ar.ta) translates literally as "have you rebuked," denoting formal censure. לָ֚/מָּה (La./mah) means "why?" and structures the statement as a direct indictment of inaction.
The thread — The tension over unverified prophetic claims parallels the challenge to authority in Numbers 16:3 and the royal warning in 2 Chronicles 25:16. Jeremiah’s hometown is identified in Jeremiah 1:1, anchoring his background before his exile message.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to actively test prophetic claims against established authority rather than accept them passively. It demands a clear boundary between authorized warning and unverified prediction.
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
Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?
Cross-references
- Numbers 16:3 They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
- 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 1:1 These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
- Jeremiah 29:26 ‘The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet—you must put him in stocks and neck irons.
- Jeremiah 43:2 Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’
- Amos 7:12 And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.
- Matthew 27:63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
- John 11:47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.
- Acts 4:17 But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”
- Acts 5:28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”