Bible Strands
Jeremiah 5:13
The prophets are but wind, for the word is not in them. So let their own predictions befall them.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jeremiah delivers God’s judgment to a rebellious people who trusted false prophets to deny impending disaster. The moment occurs as those prophets actively lie about the LORD’s inaction while actual judgment approaches.
The words — The Hebrew ר֔וּחַ (ruach) literally means “wind,” depicting the prophets as empty breath, while אֵ֣ין ('ein) “not” and דִּבֵּ֖ר (diber) “word” declare that divine communication is entirely absent from them.
The thread — This rebuke of wind-like prophecy appears in Jeremiah 14:15 and Jeremiah 14:13, where false seers falsely promise no sword or famine, and parallels Job 8:2’s description of mouth words as a blustering wind.
Why it lands — The text first states that prophets possess no divine word and will face their own false predictions, then requires readers to abandon empty assurances and submit to the consuming reality of God’s actual speech.
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
And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
Cross-references
- 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!
- Job 8:2 “How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
- Jeremiah 14:13 “Ah, Lord GOD!” I replied, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’”
- Job 6:26 Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
- Jeremiah 18:18 Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”
- Jeremiah 20:8 For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and destruction. For the word of the LORD has become to me a reproach and derision all day long.
- Jeremiah 28:3 Within two years I will restore to this place all the articles of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and carried to Babylon.
- Hosea 9:7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.