Jeremiah 23:30
New International Version
“Therefore,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.

New Living Translation
“Therefore,” says the LORD, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me.

English Standard Version
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another.

Berean Standard Bible
“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.”

King James Bible
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

New King James Version
“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says the LORD, “who steal My words every one from his neighbor.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the LORD, “who steal My words from each other.

NASB 1995
“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the LORD, “who steal My words from each other.

NASB 1977
“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the LORD, “who steal My words from each other.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares Yahweh, “who steal My words from each other.

Amplified Bible
Therefore behold (hear this), I am against the [counterfeit] prophets,” says the LORD, “[I am descending on them with punishment, these prophets] who steal My words from one another [imitating the words of the true prophets].

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets” —the LORD’s declaration—“who steal my words from each other.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets"—the LORD’s declaration—"who steal My words from each other.

American Standard Version
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.

English Revised Version
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I'm against the prophets who steal my words from each other," declares the LORD.

Good News Translation
I am against those prophets who take each other's words and proclaim them as my message.

International Standard Version
"Therefore, look, I'm against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who steal my words from each other.

Majority Standard Bible
“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.”

NET Bible
So I, the LORD, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who steal messages from one another that they claim are from me.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore look, I am against the prophets,' says the LORD, 'who steal my words everyone from his neighbor.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.

World English Bible
“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who each steal my words from his neighbor.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Therefore, behold, I [am] against the prophets,” "" A declaration of YHWH, "" “Each stealing My words from his neighbor.

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, lo, I am against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Stealing My words each from his neighbour.

Smith's Literal Translation
For this, behold me against the prophets, says Jehovah, stealing my words, a man from his neighbor.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord: who steal my words every one from his neighbor.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, behold: I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who steal my words, each one from his neighbor.

New American Bible
Therefore I am against the prophets—oracle of the LORD—those who steal my words from each other.

New Revised Standard Version
See, therefore, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words from one another.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words, every one from his neighbor.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, behold, I am against the Prophets, says LORD JEHOVAH, who conceal my words, each man from his neighbor
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal My words every one from his neighbour.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Behold, I am therefore against the prophets, saith the Lord God, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Lying Prophets
29“Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?” 30“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.” 31“Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’ ”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 18:20
But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.”

Ezekiel 13:3
This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.

Ezekiel 13:9
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 22:28
Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken.

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

2 Peter 2:1
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.

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.

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

Zechariah 13:3
And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

Romans 16:17-18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. / For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, said the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.

Jeremiah 14:14,15
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…

Jeremiah 44:11,29
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah…

Leviticus 20:3
And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

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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.














Therefore behold
The phrase "Therefore behold" serves as a divine alert, a call to attention from God Himself. In Hebrew, "behold" is often translated from the word "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which is used to draw the listener's focus to something significant. It is a divine exclamation point, emphasizing the seriousness of the message that follows. This introduction sets the stage for a pronouncement of judgment, urging the audience to pay close attention to the words of the LORD.

I am against the prophets
This declaration is a direct and powerful statement of opposition from God. The Hebrew word for "against" is "אֶל" (el), which conveys a sense of direct confrontation. The prophets in question are those who have deviated from their divine calling. Historically, prophets were meant to be God's mouthpieces, delivering His messages to the people. However, these prophets have become adversaries to God by their actions, prompting this stern rebuke.

declares the LORD
This phrase underscores the authority and authenticity of the message. "Declares" is translated from the Hebrew word "נְאֻם" (ne'um), which is often used in prophetic literature to affirm that the message is not of human origin but is a divine utterance. The use of "the LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, reminding the audience of His sovereignty and faithfulness, even in judgment.

who steal My words from each other
The imagery of "stealing" here is potent and condemning. The Hebrew root for "steal" is "גָּנַב" (ganab), which implies taking something deceitfully or without permission. In this context, it suggests that the prophets are not receiving genuine revelations from God but are instead plagiarizing or mimicking each other's false messages. This act of spiritual theft undermines the integrity of God's word and misleads the people. Historically, this reflects a time when false prophets were prevalent, leading the people astray with messages that did not originate from God. The phrase serves as a warning against the dangers of false teachings and the importance of discerning true divine revelation.

(30) That steal my words . . .--Another note of the counterfeit prophet is found in the want of any living personal originality. The oracles of the dreamers were patchworks of plagiarism, and they borrowed, not as men might do legitimately, and as Jeremiah himself did, from the words of the great teachers of the past, but from men of their own time, false and unreal as themselves. What we should call the "clique" of false prophets went on repeating each other's phrases with a wearisome iteration. In "my words" we have, probably, the fact that, in part also, they decked out their teaching with the borrowed plumes of phrases from true prophets.

Verses 30-32. - The punishment solemnly introduced by a three times repeated, Behold, I am against, etc., corresponding to three several features of the conduct of the false prophets. First we are told that the prophets steal my words every one from his neighbor. The latter part of the phrase reminds us of ver. 27, but the neighbor in this case must mean, at any rate primarily, a fellow-prophet, one who has really received a revelation at first-hand from Jehovah. The "false prophets," not trusting to their "dreams" alone, listen greedily to the discourses of men like Jeremiah, not with a view to spiritual profit, but to making their own utterances more effective. We must remember that they lived by their prophesying (Micah 3:5).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Therefore
לָכֵ֛ן (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

behold,”
הִנְנִ֥י (hin·nî)
Interjection | first person common singular
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

“I am against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the prophets
הַנְּבִאִ֖ים (han·nə·ḇi·’îm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

who steal
מְגַנְּבֵ֣י (mə·ḡan·nə·ḇê)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1589: To thieve, to deceive

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

other
רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

words [they attribute] to Me.”
דְבָרַ֔י (ḏə·ḇā·ray)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 23:30 Therefore behold I am against the prophets (Jer.)
Jeremiah 23:29
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