What Does Jeremiah 23:26 Mean in the King James?
How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
A prophet’s own heart can become the source of a message that sounds like revelation while carrying deceit.
THE MEANING
A voice can carry sacred certainty while still rising from the speaker’s own distortion. This verse names the heart as a source: what is spoken outwardly can be shaped by what is hidden within. Its “How long?” holds such deception open as an ongoing condition, not a harmless mistake.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A prophetic title does not make a message truthful; this verse names prophets whose speech rises from the deceit of their own heart.
THE ROOT
תַּרְמִת
tarmit
GROWS FROM
רמה
r-m-h
to deceive, trick, or deal treacherously
“deceit” in this verse is tarmit. The word belongs to a family for active deception, not merely an inaccurate thought. It portrays a heart generating a misleading message and giving it prophetic voice.
ALSO GROWS
mirmah: deceit, fraud
מִרְמָה
This noun makes the deceptive act in the verse part of a wider Hebrew word family.
ramah: to deceive, deal treacherously
רָמָה
The verb shows deceit as something done, not simply a mistaken idea held.
נְבִיאִים
nevi’im
GROWS FROM
נבא
n-b-ʾ
to prophesy or speak as a prophet
“Prophets” and “prophesy” in this verse share the same root: the title and the act of speaking grow from one seed. Yet their speech is called falsehood and deceit, so the role itself does not guarantee the message’s source is true.
ALSO GROWS
navi: prophet
נָבִיא
This is the singular form of the title repeated in the verse.
nevuah: prophecy
נְבוּאָה
This noun names the prophetic speech whose source the verse calls into question.
THE PATTERN
A spiritual title or voice does not authenticate its source; the message must be seen in relation to what generates it.
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.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;Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.THE THREAD
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 14:14 uses שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, falsehood), the same word family behind “lies” here, and also names “the deceit of their heart.” It sharpens the present verse: a claim spoken in God’s name can still arise from speakers who have not been sent or addressed by God.
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