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Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Christian Standard Bible ®

Jeremiah 23:16

This is what the Lord of Armies says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are deluding you. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the Lord’s mouth.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Minister, Christian;   Vision;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Leaders;   Ministers;   Prophets;   Religious;   Wicked, the;   The Topic Concordance - Heart;   Prophecy and Prophets;   Sending and Those Sent;   Speech/communication;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Doctrines, False;   Prophets, False;   Visions;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Preaching;   Prophecy, prophet;   Vision;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - False Prophet;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ezekiel;   Morter;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jeremiah;   Lamentations, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Prophecy, Prophets;   Wormwood;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Vision;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Prophets, False;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Lie;   Micaiah;   Prophecy;   Revelation;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Thus says the LORD of Hosts, Don't listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
King James Version
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord .
English Standard Version
Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord .
New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD of armies says: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They tell a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the LORD.
New Century Version
This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: "Don't pay attention to what those prophets are saying to you. They are trying to fool you. They talk about visions their own minds made up, not about visions from me.
Amplified Bible
Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Do not listen to the words of the [false] prophets who prophesy to you. They are teaching you worthless things and are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own mind and imagination And not [truth] from the mouth of the LORD.
World English Bible
Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, Don't listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thus sayth ye Lord of hosts, Heare not the wordes of the prophets that prophecie vnto you, and teach you vanitie: they speake the vision of their owne heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lorde.
Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh of hosts,"Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you.They are leading you into vanity;They speak a vision of their own heart,Not from the mouth of Yahweh.
Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord said: Don't listen to the lies of these false prophets, you people of Judah! The message they preach is something they imagined; it did not come from me, the Lord All-Powerful.
Complete Jewish Bible
Adonai -Tzva'ot says: "Don't listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are making you act foolishly, telling you visions from their own minds and not from the mouth of Adonai .
Darby Translation
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they lead you to vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, not out of the mouth of Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: "Don't pay attention to what those prophets are saying to you. They are trying to fool you. They talk about visions, but they did not get their visions from me. Their visions come from their own minds.
George Lamsa Translation
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Do not hearken to the words of the false prophets who prophesy to you and mislead you; they tell a vision of the imagination of their own hearts, and not from the mouth of the LORD.
Good News Translation
The Lord Almighty said to the people of Jerusalem, "Do not listen to what the prophets say; they are filling you with false hopes. They tell you what they have imagined and not what I have said.
Lexham English Bible
Thus says Yahweh of hosts, "You must not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are deluding you with visions of their mind, They do not speak from the mouth of Yahweh.
Literal Translation
So says Jehovah of Hosts, Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they make you vain; they speak a vision of their own heart, not out of the mouth of Jehovah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And therfore the LORDE of hoostes geueth you this warnynge: Heare not the wordes of the prophetes, that preach vnto you, and disceaue you: for they speake the meanynge of their owne herte, and not out of the mouth of the LORDE.
American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Jehovah.
Bible in Basic English
This is what the Lord of armies has said: Do not give ear to the words which the prophets say to you: they give you teaching of no value: it is from themselves that their vision comes, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you, they lead you unto vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
King James Version (1611)
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not vnto the wordes of the prophets that prophecie vnto you; they make you vaine: they speake a vision of their owne heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And therfore the Lorde of hoastes geueth you this warning: Heare not the wordes of the prophetes that preache vnto you and deceaue you, truely they reache you vanitie: for they speake the meaning of their owne heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lorde.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Thus saith the Lord Almighty, Hearken not to the words of the prophets: for they frame a vain vision for themselves; they speak from their own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord.
English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you; they teach you vanity: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord of oostis seith these thingis, Nyle ye here the wordis of profetis, that profesien to you, and disseyuen you; thei speken the visioun of her herte, not of the mouth of the Lord.
Update Bible Version
Thus says Yahweh of hosts, Don't listen to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, [and] not from the mouth of the LORD.
New English Translation
The Lord who rules over all says to the people of Jerusalem: "Do not listen to what those prophets are saying to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They are reporting visions of their own imaginations, not something the Lord has given them to say.
New King James Version
Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the LORD.
New Living Translation
This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says to his people: "Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the Lord !
New Life Bible
The Lord of All says, "Do not listen to the words of those who are telling you what will happen in the future. They are filling you with empty hopes. They tell of dreams from their own thoughts, not from the mouth of the Lord.
New Revised Standard
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord .
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, - Do not hearken unto the words of the prophets who are prophesying unto you, They are filling you, with vain hopes, - The vision of their own hearts, do they speak, Not from the mouth of Yahweh!
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you, and deceive you: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes; they speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Ye do not hearken unto the words Of the prophets who are prophesying to you, They are making you vain things, A vision of their own heart they speak, Not from the mouth of Jehovah.
THE MESSAGE
A Message from God -of-the-Angel-Armies: "Don't listen to the sermons of the prophets. It's all hot air. Lies, lies, and more lies. They make it all up. Not a word they speak comes from me. They preach their ‘Everything Will Turn Out Fine' sermon to congregations with no taste for God, Their ‘Nothing Bad Will Ever Happen to You' sermon to people who are set in their own ways.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the LORD.

Contextual Overview

9Concerning the prophets: 10For the land is full of adulterers;the land mourns because of the curse,and the grazing lands in the wilderness have dried up.Their way of life has become evil,and their power is not rightly used 11because both prophet and priest are ungodly,even in my house I have found their evil. 12Therefore, their way will seemlike slippery paths in the gloom.They will be driven away and fall down there,for I will bring disaster on them,the year of their punishment. 13Among the prophets of SamariaI saw something disgusting:They prophesied by Baaland led my people Israel astray. 14Among the prophets of Jerusalem alsoI 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. 15Therefore, this is what the Lord of Armies says concerning the prophets: 16This is what the Lord of Armies says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are deluding you. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the Lord’s mouth. 17They keep on saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord has spoken: You will have peace.’ They have said to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’” 18For who has stood in the council of the Lordto see and hear his word?Who has paid attention to his word and obeyed?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Hearken: Jeremiah 27:9, Jeremiah 27:10, Jeremiah 27:14-17, Jeremiah 29:8, Proverbs 19:27, Matthew 7:15, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Galatians 1:8, Galatians 1:9, 1 John 4:1

they make: Jeremiah 2:5, 2 Kings 17:15, Romans 1:21

a vision: Jeremiah 23:21, Jeremiah 23:26, Jeremiah 14:14, Ezekiel 13:3, Ezekiel 13:6, Ezekiel 13:16, Ezekiel 13:23, Ezekiel 22:28, Micah 2:11

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:28 - of mine Nehemiah 6:12 - God had Isaiah 1:1 - vision Isaiah 28:7 - err in Jeremiah 23:32 - to err Hosea 9:7 - the prophet John 10:1 - He Acts 15:24 - that certain 2 Timothy 4:3 - but 2 Peter 2:1 - there were

Cross-References

Genesis 23:15
“My lord, listen to me. Land worth four hundred shekels of silver—what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”
Genesis 43:21
When we came to the place where we lodged for the night and opened our bags of grain, each one’s silver was at the top of his bag! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us.
Exodus 30:13
Everyone who is registered must pay half a shekel according to the sanctuary shekel (twenty gerahs to the shekel). This half shekel is a contribution to the Lord.
Job 28:15
Gold cannot be exchanged for it,and silver cannot be weighed out for its price.
Jeremiah 32:9
So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out the silver to him—seventeen shekels of silver.
Ezekiel 45:12
The shekel will weigh twenty gerahs. Your mina will equal sixty shekels.
Zechariah 11:12
Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed my wages, thirty pieces of silver.
Matthew 7:12
Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Romans 13:8
Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Philippians 4:8
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you,.... Do not hear them; stop your ears at what they say; give no credit to them. The Targum is,

"do not receive the words of the false prophets that prophesy unto you:''

they make you vain; they filled their heads with vain and empty things, and their hearts with vain hopes, which deceived them; so the Targum,

"they deceive you;''

they taught them vain things, and made them vain and sinful in their lives and conversations; and therefore were not to be hearkened to:

they speak a vision of their own heart, [and] not out of the mouth of the Lord; what they imagined they saw was a device of their own hearts, and what was agreeable to them, which must be bad enough; a produce of their own brains; an invention of their own; mere doctrines of men, and not such as come from the mouth of God, are his revealed will, and according to his word; and therefore not to be hearkened to; for nothing is to be heard and received, in matters of religion, but what is according to the revelation of God's will in his word; see Isaiah 8:20. The Targum is,

"they speak to you the wickedness of their hearts, and not by the word of the Lord.''

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

How were the people to know the false prophets from the true? The former bring a message that fills with vain hopes, or “speak a vision” out of their own invention.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 23:16. Hearken not unto the words of the prophets — That is, of those who promise you safety, without requiring you to forsake your sins and turn unto the Lord; see Jeremiah 23:17.


 
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