Jeremiah 23:14
New International Version
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that not one of them turns from their wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

New Living Translation
But now I see that the prophets of Jerusalem are even worse! They commit adultery and love dishonesty. They encourage those who are doing evil so that no one turns away from their sins. These prophets are as wicked as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah once were.”

English Standard Version
But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”

Berean Standard Bible
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

King James Bible
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

New King James Version
Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

New American Standard Bible
“Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in deceit; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

NASB 1995
“Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

NASB 1977
“Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

Legacy Standard Bible
Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen an appalling thing: The committing of adultery and walking in lying; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his evil. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

Amplified Bible
“Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; They encourage and strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become like Sodom to Me, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

Christian Standard Bible
Among the prophets of Jerusalem also I saw a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, and none turns his back on evil. They are all like Sodom to me; Jerusalem’s residents are like Gomorrah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Among the prophets of Jerusalem also I saw a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, and none turns his back on evil. They are all like Sodom to Me; Jerusalem’s residents are like Gomorrah.

American Standard Version
In the prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies; and they strengthen the hands of evil-doers, so that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them become unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

Contemporary English Version
And you prophets in Jerusalem are even worse. You're unfaithful in marriage and never tell the truth. You even lead others to sin instead of helping them turn back to me. You and the people of Jerusalem are evil like Sodom and Gomorrah.

English Revised Version
In the prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen an horrible thing; they commit adultery, and walk in lies, and they strengthen the hands of evil-doers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them become unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"[Say this] about the prophets of Jerusalem: I see something horrible. The prophets of Jerusalem commit adultery and live a lie. They support those who do evil so that no one turns back from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me, and those who live in Jerusalem are like Gomorrah."

Good News Translation
But I have seen the prophets in Jerusalem do even worse: they commit adultery and tell lies; they help people to do wrong, so that no one stops doing what is evil. To me they are all as bad as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

International Standard Version
Among the prophets of Jerusalem I saw a horrible thing, for they commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of those who do evil, so that no one repents of his evil. All of them are like Sodom to me, and her residents like Gomorrah."

Majority Standard Bible
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

NET Bible
But I see the prophets of Jerusalem doing something just as shocking. They are unfaithful to me and continually prophesy lies. So they give encouragement to people who are doing evil, with the result that they do not stop their evildoing. I consider all of them as bad as the people of Sodom, and the citizens of Jerusalem as bad as the people of Gomorrah.

New Heart English Bible
In the prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies; and they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that none does return from his wickedness: they are all of them become to me as Sodom, and its inhabitants as Gomorrah.

Webster's Bible Translation
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evil-doers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants of it as Gomorrah.

World English Bible
In the prophets of Jerusalem I have also seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one returns from his wickedness. They have all become to me as Sodom, and its inhabitants as Gomorrah.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have seen a horrible thing in prophets of Jerusalem, "" Committing adultery, and walking falsely, "" Indeed, they strengthened the hands of evildoers, "" So that they have not turned back, "" Each from his wickedness, "" All of them have been as Sodom to me, "" And its inhabitants as Gomorrah.”

Young's Literal Translation
And in prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing, Committing adultery, and walking falsely, Yea, they strengthened the hands of evil doers, So that they have not turned back Each from his wickedness, They have been to me -- all of them -- as Sodom, And its inhabitants as Gomorrah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And in the prophets of Jerusalem I saw a horrible thing, committing adultery and going in falsehood: and they strengthened the hands of those doing evil, they turned not back a man from his evil: they were to me all of them as Sodom, and those dwelling in her as Gomorrah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I have seen the likeness of adulterers, and the way of lying in the peophets of Jerusalem: and they strengthened the hand of the wicked, that no man should return from his evil doings: that are all become unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gamorrha.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in the prophets of Jerusalem, I have seen the likeness of adulterers and the path of falsehood. And they have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that each one would not convert from his malice. They have all become to me like Sodom, and its inhabitants have become like Gomorrah.”

New American Bible
But among Jerusalem’s prophets I saw something more shocking: Adultery, walking in deception, strengthening the power of the wicked, so that no one turns from evil; To me they are all like Sodom, its inhabitants like Gomorrah.

New Revised Standard Version
But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a more shocking thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from wickedness; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem folly; they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen also the hands of their friends, so that no one turns from his evil way; they are all of them to me like Sodom, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And in the Prophets of Jerusalem I have seen insanity. They commit adultery and they walk in falsehood and they strengthen the hands of their friends, that they shall not turn a man from his evil way, and they were all to me as Sadom, and its inhabitants as Amora
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery, and walk in lies, And they strengthen the hands of evil-doers, That none doth return from his wickedness; They are all of them become unto Me as Sodom, And the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Also in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen horrible things: as they committed adultery, and walked in lies, and strengthened the hands of many, that they should not return each from his evil way: they are all become to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrha.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Lying Prophets
13“Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray. 14And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.” 15Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”…

Cross References
Ezekiel 13:22
Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,

Isaiah 9:15-16
The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies. / For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.

Hosea 6:10
In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Ephraim practices prostitution there, and Israel is defiled.

Zephaniah 3:4
Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.

Lamentations 2:14
The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Ezekiel 22:25-28
The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her. / Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. / Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. ...

Isaiah 28:7
These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.

2 Peter 2:1-3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Timothy 3:5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

Jude 1:4
For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:20
But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.


Treasury of Scripture

I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none does return from his wickedness; they are all of them to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

in the.

Jeremiah 5:30,31
A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; …

Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Ezekiel 13:2-4,16
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; …

an horrible thing.

Jeremiah 18:13
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.

they commit.

Jeremiah 29:23
Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.

2 Peter 2:14-19
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: …

walk.

Jeremiah 23:17,25,26,32
They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you…

Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Ezekiel 22:25
There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.

strengthen.

Ezekiel 13:22,23
Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: …

Sodom.

Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Genesis 18:20
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Deuteronomy 32:32
For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

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Adultery Commit Evildoers Evil-Doers Gomorrah Hands Horrible Inhabitants Jerusalem Lies Prophets Sodom Strengthen Thereof Walk Wickedness
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Jeremiah 23
1. He prophesies a restoration of the scattered flock.
5. Christ shall rule and save them.
9. Against false prophets;
33. and mockers of the true prophets.














And among the prophets of Jerusalem
This phrase sets the geographical and spiritual context of the verse. Jerusalem, the heart of Israel, was meant to be a city of righteousness and a beacon of God's presence. The prophets, as God's messengers, were expected to uphold and communicate His truth. However, the mention of "Jerusalem" here is significant because it highlights the gravity of the situation—corruption and falsehood have infiltrated the very center of spiritual leadership. Historically, Jerusalem was the site of the Temple, the dwelling place of God's name, making the prophets' failure even more egregious.

I have seen something horrible
The Hebrew root for "horrible" (שַׁעֲרוּרָה, sha'arurah) conveys a sense of something shocking or appalling. This word choice underscores the severity of the prophets' actions in God's eyes. The use of "seen" indicates God's direct observation and judgment, emphasizing His omniscience and the undeniable nature of the transgressions. The phrase suggests a divine perspective on sin, where God is not distant but actively aware and concerned about the moral state of His people.

They commit adultery
Adultery here is both literal and metaphorical. Literally, it refers to the violation of the marriage covenant, a sin condemned throughout Scripture. Metaphorically, it represents spiritual unfaithfulness to God, akin to idolatry. The prophets, who should have been leading the people in faithfulness to God, were instead leading them astray. This imagery of adultery is a recurring theme in the prophetic books, symbolizing Israel's unfaithfulness to their covenant with God.

and walk in lies
The phrase "walk in lies" suggests a lifestyle or habitual practice of deceit. The Hebrew word for "lies" (שֶׁקֶר, sheqer) implies falsehood and deception. This indicates that the prophets were not merely making occasional mistakes but were consistently living and promoting falsehoods. In a broader biblical context, walking in truth is a hallmark of a righteous life, so walking in lies is a direct contradiction to God's will and character.

They strengthen the hands of evildoers
This phrase indicates that the prophets were not only sinning themselves but were also enabling and encouraging others in their sin. The imagery of "strengthening the hands" suggests active support and empowerment. In a society where prophets were supposed to call people to repentance, their actions were instead reinforcing wickedness. This highlights the destructive influence of corrupt leadership and the responsibility of spiritual leaders to guide others toward righteousness.

so that no one turns back from his wickedness
The failure of the prophets to call for repentance is a critical issue. Repentance, or turning back, is a central theme in the prophetic message, calling people to return to God and abandon their sinful ways. The prophets' actions, however, were preventing this essential transformation. This phrase underscores the importance of true prophetic ministry, which should lead people to recognize their sin and seek God's forgiveness and restoration.

They are all like Sodom to Me
The comparison to Sodom is a powerful indictment. Sodom, known for its extreme wickedness and subsequent destruction, serves as a symbol of moral depravity and divine judgment. By likening the prophets and the people of Jerusalem to Sodom, God is expressing the depth of their corruption and the seriousness of their impending judgment. This comparison would have been shocking to the original audience, highlighting the urgent need for repentance.

and her residents like Gomorrah
Gomorrah, alongside Sodom, was destroyed due to its great sinfulness. By equating the residents of Jerusalem with those of Gomorrah, the verse emphasizes the widespread nature of the corruption and the inevitability of judgment if there is no change. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of persistent sin and the need for a return to righteousness. The historical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah would have been a well-known warning to the people of Jerusalem about the dangers of ignoring God's call to holiness.

(14) They commit adultery, and walk in lies . . .--The union of the claim to prophesy in the name of Jehovah with these flagrant breaches of His law was more hateful in the prophet's eyes even than the open recognition of Baal. In the terrible language of Isaiah (Isaiah 1:10), prophets and people had become like the dwellers in the cities of the plain. Here, also, the language of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 29:23; Deuteronomy 32:32) probably influenced that of the prophet.

Verse 14. - I have seen also, etc.; rather, But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen. Horrible; as in Jeremiah 5:30. They commit adultery, etc.; literally, the committing adultery and the walking in lies - a much more forcible way of putting it. They are all of them; rather, They have become all of them; vie. either the prophets or the people in general. The inhabitants thereof; viz. of Jerusalem.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And among the prophets
וּבִנְבִאֵ֨י (ū·ḇin·ḇi·’ê)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

of Jerusalem
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

I have seen
רָאִ֣יתִי (rā·’î·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

a horrible thing:
שַׁעֲרוּרָ֗ה (ša·‘ă·rū·rāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8186: A horror, horrible thing

They commit adultery
נָא֞וֹף (nā·’ō·wp̄)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5003: To commit adultery, to apostatize

and walk
וְהָלֹ֤ךְ (wə·hā·lōḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in lies.
בַּשֶּׁ֙קֶר֙ (baš·še·qer)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8267: Deception, disappointment, falsehood

They strengthen
וְחִזְּקוּ֙ (wə·ḥiz·zə·qū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

the hands
יְדֵ֣י (yə·ḏê)
Noun - fdc
Strong's 3027: A hand

of evildoers,
מְרֵעִ֔ים (mə·rê·‘îm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

so that no
לְבִ֨לְתִּי־ (lə·ḇil·tî-)
Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

one
אִ֖ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

turns his back
שָׁ֔בוּ (šā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

on wickedness.
מֵרָֽעָת֑וֹ (mê·rā·‘ā·ṯōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

They are
הָֽיוּ־ (hā·yū-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

all
כֻלָּם֙ (ḵul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

like Sodom to Me;
כִּסְדֹ֔ם (kis·ḏōm)
Preposition-k | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5467: Sodom -- a Canaanite city near the Dead Sea

the people of Jerusalem
וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ (wə·yō·šə·ḇe·hā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

are like Gomorrah.”
כַּעֲמֹרָֽה׃ (ka·‘ă·mō·rāh)
Preposition-k | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6017: Gomorrah -- a city in the Jordan Valley


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 23:14 In the prophets of Jerusalem also (Jer.)
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