Jeremiah 29:9

For they are falsely prophesying to you in My name; I have not sent them, declares the LORD.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses the exiles in Babylon, countering the claims of local prophets and diviners who promise a premature return.

The words — The Hebrew שְׁלַחְתִּ֖י/ם (she.lach.Ti/m) literally means "I sent them" and carries an object suffix, while בְ/שֶׁ֔קֶר (ve./She.ker) translates to "with falsehood."

The thread — This explicit denial of prophetic commission mirrors Jeremiah 27:15, and the warning against unauthorized messages in exile aligns with Jeremiah 29:31 and 29:23.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to measure every prophetic claim against the speaker’s direct authorization, treating uncommissioned words as factually void.

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

כִּ֣יkifor בְשֶׁ֔קֶרve./She.kerwith/ falsehood הֵ֛םhemthey נִבְּאִ֥יםni.be.'Im[are] prophesyingלָכֶ֖םla./Khemto <the>/ youבִּשְׁמִ֑יbi/sh.M/iin/ name/ my לֹ֥אlo'not שְׁלַחְתִּ֖יםshe.lach.Ti/mI sent/ them נְאֻם־ne.'um-[the] utterance of יְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehYahweh

King James Version

For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

Cross-references

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.”
Jeremiah 29:31 “Send a message telling all the exiles what the LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you—though I did not send him—and has made you trust in a lie,
Jeremiah 29:23 For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”