Jeremiah 23:22

Authorized King James Version

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But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

Original Language Analysis

וְאִֽם H518
וְאִֽם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 1 of 12
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
עָמְד֖וּ But if they had stood H5975
עָמְד֖וּ But if they had stood
Strong's: H5975
Word #: 2 of 12
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
בְּסוֹדִ֑י in my counsel H5475
בְּסוֹדִ֑י in my counsel
Strong's: H5475
Word #: 3 of 12
a session, i.e., company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication, intimacy, consultation, a secret
וְיַשְׁמִ֤עוּ to hear H8085
וְיַשְׁמִ֤עוּ to hear
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 4 of 12
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דְבָרַי֙ my words H1697
דְבָרַי֙ my words
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 5 of 12
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 6 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עַמִּ֔י and had caused my people H5971
עַמִּ֔י and had caused my people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 7 of 12
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וִֽישִׁבוּם֙ then they should have turned H7725
וִֽישִׁבוּם֙ then they should have turned
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 8 of 12
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם way H1870
מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם way
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 9 of 12
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
הָרָ֔ע them from their evil H7451
הָרָ֔ע them from their evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 10 of 12
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
וּמֵרֹ֖עַ and from the evil H7455
וּמֵרֹ֖עַ and from the evil
Strong's: H7455
Word #: 11 of 12
badness (as marring), physically or morally
מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ of their doings H4611
מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ of their doings
Strong's: H4611
Word #: 12 of 12
an act (good or bad)

Analysis & Commentary

But if they had stood in my counsel...then they should have turned them from their evil way—the conditional 'if' (לוּ, lu) introduces contrary-to-fact reality. Genuine access to God's counsel (סוֹד, sod) produces repentance (שׁוּב, shuv). True prophecy transforms behavior, calling people back from their evil way (מִדַּרְכָּם הָרָעָה, midarkam hara'ah).

This establishes the pragmatic test: Does prophecy produce repentance and transformation? False prophecy leaves people comfortable in sin. The prophet's role isn't entertainment but covenant enforcement. James wrote that faith without works is dead (James 2:26); similarly, prophecy without behavioral change is fraudulent. The test is transformative power, not mere correctness.

Historical Context

Throughout 626-586 BC, false prophets proclaimed messages requiring no lifestyle changes—'The temple is here, continue as you are.' Jeremiah demanded radical repentance and submission to Babylon. False prophets' words proved powerless to prevent catastrophe because they came from imagination, not God.

Questions for Reflection

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