Lexical Summary pachazuth: reckless boasting Original Word: פַחֲזוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lightness From pachaz; frivolity -- lightness. see HEBREW pachaz NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pachaz Definition recklessness, extravagance NASB Translation reckless boasting (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַּחֲזוּת] noun feminine recklessness, extravagance; — suffix תָם- Jeremiah 23:32 of prophets. פחח (√ of following; meaning dubious; compare Aramaic מָּחָא, Topical Lexicon Overview The term denotes the rash impetuosity that springs from a heart no longer restrained by reverence for God or regard for truth. While it appears only once in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 23:32), its cognate root helps frame a picture of unbridled self-assertion that corrupts both personal character and communal life. Biblical Occurrence Jeremiah 23:32 exposes false prophets who “lead My people astray with their lies and with their recklessness,” yet provide “no benefit to this people at all”. The word gathers into one stroke the arrogance, rashness, and empty bravado that characterized these uncommissioned spokesmen. Context in Jeremiah 23 Jeremiah contrasts two kinds of prophetic activity: authentic ministry that springs from the counsel of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:18, Jeremiah 23:22) and counterfeit ministry born of self-generated dreams and ambitious words (Jeremiah 23:25-32). The recklessness condemned in verse 32 is therefore not mere personality flair; it is the spiritual posture of those who handle holy things with cavalier indifference. Their frantic enthusiasm masks the absence of divine authority and turns ministry into theater. Nuanced Meaning 1. Rashness of Speech: Words delivered without weighing their conformity to God’s revealed will. Intertextual Links with the Root Judges 9:4 and Zephaniah 3:4 apply the cognate adjective to “reckless men” and “reckless prophets,” revealing a consistent scriptural association between rash character and social disorder. These passages amplify the seriousness of Jeremiah’s charge: the same quality that fomented civil violence under Abimelech and spiritual apostasy in Jerusalem now infiltrates Judah’s religious leadership. Historical Significance In the final decades of the kingdom of Judah, popular prophets offered messages of national optimism while ignoring covenant violations and looming Babylonian judgment. Their reckless assurance delayed repentance, hardened rebellion, and hastened disaster. The term therefore stands as a historical marker: it names the attitude that helped finalize the nation’s collapse. Theological Significance 1. Divine Opposition: “Behold, I am against those…” (Jeremiah 23:32). Recklessness in ministry positions a person not merely as ineffective but as an enemy of God’s redemptive purpose. Pastoral and Practical Application • Guard the Pulpit: Spiritual leaders must test every message against Scripture lest excitement replace exegesis (2 Timothy 2:15). Contrasts with True Prophetic Ministry – Recklessness pursues acclaim; faithful proclamation seeks God’s glory (Isaiah 66:2). – Recklessness disregards consequences; faithful service intercedes for the hearers’ welfare (Exodus 32:11-14; Romans 9:1-3). – Recklessness traffics in novelty; faithful ministry preserves “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Illustrations in Church History Periods of revival have often been accompanied by impostors whose sensational claims eclipsed sober proclamation. The discernment councils of the early church, the Puritan emphasis on tested calling, and the Evangelical awakenings’ insistence on doctrinal examination all represent collective efforts to extinguish the spirit of recklessness identified in Jeremiah 23:32. Questions for Reflection 1. Do my words about God carry weight proportionate to their subject? Summary The solitary appearance of פַחֲזוּת condenses an enduring warning: zeal divorced from truth becomes reckless presumption that misleads God’s people and invites His opposition. Vigilant adherence to Scripture and humble dependence on the Spirit remain the antidote in every generation. Forms and Transliterations וּבְפַחֲזוּתָ֑ם ובפחזותם ū·ḇə·p̄a·ḥă·zū·ṯām ūḇəp̄aḥăzūṯām uvefachazuTamLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 23:32 HEB: עַמִּ֔י בְּשִׁקְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְפַחֲזוּתָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֨י לֹֽא־ NAS: by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send KJV: by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent INT: my people their falsehoods and reckless them nor 1 Occurrence |
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, whence (Frä119) Arabic 
as loan-word).