Jeremiah 23:17
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.
Original Language Analysis
לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י
unto them that despise
H5006
לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י
unto them that despise
Strong's:
H5006
Word #:
3 of 17
to scorn; or (in ecclesiastes 12:5), by interchange for h5132, to bloom
דִּבֶּ֣ר
hath said
H1696
דִּבֶּ֣ר
hath said
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
4 of 17
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
יְהוָ֔ה
me The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
me The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
שָׁל֖וֹם
Ye shall have peace
H7965
שָׁל֖וֹם
Ye shall have peace
Strong's:
H7965
Word #:
6 of 17
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה
H1961
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
7 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וְ֠כֹל
H3605
וְ֠כֹל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
9 of 17
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הֹלֵ֞ךְ
unto every one that walketh
H1980
הֹלֵ֞ךְ
unto every one that walketh
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
10 of 17
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
לִבּוֹ֙
of his own heart
H3820
לִבּוֹ֙
of his own heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
12 of 17
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
14 of 17
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תָב֥וֹא
shall come
H935
תָב֥וֹא
shall come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
15 of 17
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Micah 3:11The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.Jeremiah 13:10This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.Amos 9:10All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.Jeremiah 5:12They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:Jeremiah 8:11For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.Jeremiah 9:14But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:Deuteronomy 29:19And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:Micah 3:5Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.Jeremiah 3:17At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.Jeremiah 18:18Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
Historical Context
This was a perennial problem in Israel—prophets declaring 'Peace, peace' when no peace existed (Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11). During 609-586 BC, as Babylon's threat grew, Judah's court prophets insisted God would never allow Jerusalem's destruction because of the temple's presence. They reinterpreted covenant promises to guarantee security regardless of faithfulness, a deadly theological error.
Questions for Reflection
- What false peace are you proclaiming to yourself while walking in stubbornness?
- How does contemporary Christianity sometimes promise blessing without obedience?
- What would it mean for you to hear God's authentic word rather than comfortable lies?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace—the Hebrew נֹאמְרִים (no'mrim, 'they keep saying') indicates continual, repetitive proclamation. To those who despise me (מְנַאֲצַי, m'na'atsai—active scorners of Yahweh), the false prophets promise שָׁלוֹם (shalom, 'peace/wholeness/prosperity'). And they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. The phrase שְׁרִרוּת לִבּוֹ (sh'rirut libbo, 'stubbornness/imagination of his heart') describes willful rebellion disguised as independence.
The false prophets commit theological malpractice: promising covenant blessings to covenant breakers. They divorce blessing from obedience, creating a prosperity gospel disconnected from holiness. Jesus warned against false prophets who cry 'Lord, Lord' yet practice lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23). The modern equivalent says 'God loves you' while ignoring repentance, cheap grace without discipleship. Authentic prophets comfort the afflicted but afflict the comfortable—false prophets reverse this.