For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD." For they have committed an outrage in IsraelThis phrase highlights the severity of the sin committed by the false prophets. In the context of ancient Israel, an "outrage" refers to a grievous sin that violates the covenant relationship with God. The term underscores the moral and spiritual corruption present among the people. The prophets were expected to uphold God's law, and their failure to do so was a significant breach of trust. by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors
Adultery is a direct violation of the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14) and was considered a serious offense in Israelite society. It symbolizes unfaithfulness not only in marriage but also in the people's relationship with God. The prophets' actions were a metaphor for Israel's spiritual adultery, as seen in other prophetic books like Hosea, where Israel's idolatry is likened to marital unfaithfulness. and speaking lies in My name
The false prophets claimed to speak for God, yet they delivered messages that were not from Him. This is a direct violation of the commandment against taking the Lord's name in vain (Exodus 20:7). It also reflects the broader theme of false prophecy found throughout the Old Testament, where true prophets like Jeremiah often stood in opposition to those who falsely claimed divine authority (Jeremiah 23:16-18). which I did not command them to do
This phrase emphasizes God's sovereignty and the importance of true prophecy. The false prophets acted on their own authority, not God's. This distinction is crucial, as true prophets are called and sent by God, as seen in the calling of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-10). The false prophets' actions were a direct challenge to God's authority and order. I am He who knows, and I am a witness
God's omniscience and omnipresence are highlighted here. He is aware of all actions and intentions, and nothing is hidden from Him. This assurance is a comfort to the faithful and a warning to the unfaithful. The idea of God as a witness is echoed in other scriptures, such as Psalm 139:1-4, where God's intimate knowledge of human actions is described. declares the LORD.
This phrase reaffirms the authority and finality of God's pronouncement. The use of "declares the LORD" is a common prophetic formula that underscores the divine origin of the message. It serves as a reminder that the words spoken are not merely human opinions but are the authoritative word of God, as seen throughout the prophetic literature. Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. 2. Shemaiah the NehelamiteA false prophet who opposed Jeremiah and sent letters to Jerusalem, attempting to discredit Jeremiah's prophecies. 3. Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of MaaseiahFalse prophets mentioned in the context of Jeremiah 29, who were accused of committing adultery and speaking lies in God's name. 4. BabylonThe place where the Israelites were exiled, and where Jeremiah's letter was sent to the exiles. 5. The LORD (Yahweh)The God of Israel, who is the ultimate judge and witness to the actions of His people. Teaching Points The Seriousness of SinAdultery and lying, especially in God's name, are grave sins that have serious consequences. Believers must strive to live in truth and purity. God's OmniscienceGod sees and knows all things. We cannot hide our actions from Him, and He will hold us accountable. This should encourage us to live with integrity. The Danger of False ProphetsFalse prophets can lead people astray. We must be discerning and test all teachings against the truth of Scripture. The Importance of God's WitnessKnowing that God is a witness to our lives should inspire us to live in a way that honors Him, understanding that He is both just and merciful. Repentance and RestorationWhile God judges sin, He also offers forgiveness and restoration to those who repent. We should seek His grace and strive to align our lives with His will. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding God's omniscience affect the way you live your daily life? 2. In what ways can you guard against the influence of false teachings in today's world? 3. Reflect on a time when you were tempted to compromise your integrity. How can Jeremiah 29:23 encourage you to remain faithful? 4. How can the church community support each other in living lives of truth and purity? 5. What steps can you take to ensure that your actions and words align with God's commands, especially in areas where you struggle? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20:14This verse connects to the commandment against adultery, highlighting the moral law that Ahab and Zedekiah violated. Deuteronomy 18:20-22These verses discuss the consequences for false prophets, which relate to the actions of Ahab and Zedekiah. Psalm 139:1-4This passage emphasizes God's omniscience, reinforcing the idea that God is a witness to all actions, as stated in Jeremiah 29:23. Matthew 7:15-20Jesus warns about false prophets, which parallels the situation with Ahab and Zedekiah. Hebrews 4:13This verse speaks to God's ability to see all things, connecting to His role as a witness in Jeremiah 29:23. People Ahab, Anathoth, David, Elasah, Eleasah, Gemariah, Hilkiah, Jeconiah, Jehoiada, Jeremiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar, Shaphan, Shemaiah, Zedekiah, ZephaniahPlaces Anathoth, Babylon, Jerusalem, NehelamTopics FALSE, Adultery, Affirmation, Command, Commanded, Commit, Committed, Declares, Deeds, Didn't, Falsehood, Falsely, Folly, Foolishly, Infamy, Knoweth, Lies, Lying, Myself, Neighbors, Neighbor's, Neighbours, Orders, Says, Shame, Speak, Spoken, Vile, Villainy, Villany, Witness, Wives, Worked, WroughtDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 29:23 5027 knowledge, God's of humanity
6189 immorality, examples
6242 adultery Jeremiah 29:21-23 7774 prophets, false Library Finding God
Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.' (Jeremiah xxix. 13.) The words of Jeremiah in their relation to God are very appropriate for men and women in whose hearts there is any longing after personal Holiness. Look at them: 'Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart'. I like this word, because it turns our minds to the true and only source of light and life and power. We speak of seeking and getting the blessing; but, …
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and ServiceThe Secret of Effectual Prayer
"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall have them."--MARK xi. 24. Here we have a summary of the teaching of our Lord Jesus on prayer. Nothing will so much help to convince us of the sin of our remissness in prayer, to discover its causes, and to give us courage to expect entire deliverance, as the careful study and then the believing acceptance of that teaching. The more heartily we enter into the mind of our blessed Lord, and set ourselves simply …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession The Spirit of Prayer.
Text.--Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God.--Romans viii. 26, 27. My last lecture but one was on the subject of Effectual Prayer; in which I observed that one of the most important attributes of effectual …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion The Costliness of Prayer
"Lord, teach us to pray."--Luke xi. 1. "And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart."--Jer. xxix. 13. IN his fine book on Benefits, Seneca says that nothing is so costly to us as that is which we purchase by prayer. When we come on that hard-to-be-understood saying of his for the first time, we set it down as another of the well-known paradoxes of the Stoics. For He who is far more to us than all the Stoics taken together has said to us on the subject of prayer,--"Ask, …
Alexander Whyte—Lord Teach Us To Pray Putting God to Work
"For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God beside thee who worketh for him that waiteth for him."--Isaiah 64:4. The assertion voiced in the title given this chapter is but another way of declaring that God has of His own motion placed Himself under the law of prayer, and has obligated Himself to answer the prayers of men. He has ordained prayer as a means whereby He will do things through men as they pray, which He would not otherwise do. Prayer …
Edward M. Bounds—The Weapon of Prayer The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 The Seventh Commandment
Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Exod 20: 14. God is a pure, holy spirit, and has an infinite antipathy against all uncleanness. In this commandment he has entered his caution against it; non moechaberis, Thou shalt not commit adultery.' The sum of this commandment is, The preservations of corporal purity. We must take heed of running on the rock of uncleanness, and so making shipwreck of our chastity. In this commandment there is something tacitly implied, and something expressly forbidden. 1. The …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED, 1. WHAT PRAYER IS. 2. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. WRITTEN IN PRISON, 1662. PUBLISHED, 1663. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:--the Spirit--helpeth our infirmities" (Rom 8:26). ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. There is no subject of more solemn importance to human happiness than prayer. It is the only medium of intercourse with heaven. "It is …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Jeremiah 29:23 NIVJeremiah 29:23 NLTJeremiah 29:23 ESVJeremiah 29:23 NASBJeremiah 29:23 KJV
Jeremiah 29:23 Commentaries
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