Lexical Summary Nechelami: Nehelamite Original Word: נֶחֱלָמִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nehelamite Apparently a patronymic from an unused name (apparently passive participle of chalam); dreamed; a Nechelamite, or descendant of Nechlam -- Nehelamite. see HEBREW chalam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused name Definition descriptive title for a false prophet NASB Translation Nehelamite (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs נֶחֱלָמִי adjective, of a people (noun not found); — Jeremiah 29:24; also Jeremiah 29:31; Jeremiah 29:32 (Where van d. H. נֶחְלָמִי). נַחֲלָת see נַחֲלֶה. Topical Lexicon Identification The term נֶחֱלָמִי (Nehelamite) is applied solely to Shemaiah in the Book of Jeremiah. It functions as a gentilic, marking him either as a man of a locality named Nehelam or, as some suggest, as a “dreamer,” a fitting irony for one whose claims to revelatory dreams proved false. Biblical Context All three occurrences appear in Jeremiah 29 (verses 24, 31, 32). The prophet Jeremiah had just dispatched his famous letter to the early exiles in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1-23), urging them to seek the welfare of the city and to await the full seventy years of captivity. Shemaiah, already in Babylon, vigorously opposed Jeremiah’s message. Shemaiah’s Opposition to Jeremiah Shemaiah penned his own letter from Babylon to the priests in Jerusalem, particularly addressing Zephaniah, the successor to Jehoiada in the temple (Jeremiah 29:25-26). He demanded that Jeremiah be silenced and “put in stocks and neck irons” (Jeremiah 29:26). By invoking temple authority against a proven prophet, Shemaiah not only questioned Jeremiah’s authenticity but also attempted to subvert the divine counsel that called the exiles to patient submission. Divine Response and Judgment The Lord immediately instructed Jeremiah to counter-write concerning Shemaiah. “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you—though I did not send him—and has made you trust in a lie … there will be no descendants living among this people, nor will any see the good that I will bring to My people” (Jeremiah 29:31-32). The verdict included (1) the curse of childlessness or eradicated lineage, (2) exclusion from participation in Israel’s eventual restoration, and (3) public exposure of his deception. This oracle stands as a canonical hallmark for how seriously God defends the purity of His word against counterfeit revelation. Theological Significance 1. Authenticity of Prophetic Revelation Jeremiah’s confrontation with Shemaiah illustrates the biblical test that a true word from the Lord aligns with earlier revelation and is fulfilled in history (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). God confirms Jeremiah, while Shemaiah’s words collapse under judgment. 2. Protection of the Covenant Community False prophecy erodes covenant faithfulness. By excising Shemaiah and his progeny, the Lord shields His people from prolonged deception, demonstrating pastoral care for His remnant (John 10:12-13). 3. Sovereignty over Exile and Restoration The episode reinforces that Israel’s future hinges not on optimistic prognostication but on God’s fixed timetable (Jeremiah 29:10). Attempts to shortcut divine discipline invite severe repercussions. Ministry Implications • Discernment: Spiritual leaders must “test all things; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Lessons for Contemporary Readers The Nehelamite serves as a cautionary emblem: sincerity and spiritual zeal do not authenticate a message—divine commissioning does. Modern ministries must prize Scripture as the final rule for faith and practice, resist crowd-pleasing narratives, and await the fulfillment of every promise in God’s appointed season (2 Corinthians 1:20). Forms and Transliterations הַנֶּחֱלָמִ֑י הַנֶּחֱלָמִ֖י הַנֶּחֱלָמִי֮ הנחלמי han·ne·ḥĕ·lā·mî hannechelaMi hanneḥĕlāmîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 29:24 HEB: וְאֶל־ שְׁמַעְיָ֥הוּ הַנֶּחֱלָמִ֖י תֹּאמַ֥ר לֵאמֹֽר׃ NAS: To Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall speak, KJV: to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, INT: to Shemaiah the Nehelamite shall speak saying Jeremiah 29:31 Jeremiah 29:32 3 Occurrences |
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