Jeremiah 29:26
The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֔ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
1 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְנָתַתָּ֥ה
hath made
H5414
וְנָתַתָּ֥ה
hath made
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
2 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן
the priest
H3548
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן
the priest
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
3 of 20
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
תַּ֚חַת
H8478
תַּ֚חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
4 of 20
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
יְהוֹיָדָ֣ע
in the stead of Jehoiada
H3077
יְהוֹיָדָ֣ע
in the stead of Jehoiada
Strong's:
H3077
Word #:
5 of 20
jehojada, the name of three israelites
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן
the priest
H3548
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן
the priest
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
6 of 20
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
לִֽהְי֤וֹת
H1961
לִֽהְי֤וֹת
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
7 of 20
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
פְּקִדִים֙
that ye should be officers
H6496
פְּקִדִים֙
that ye should be officers
Strong's:
H6496
Word #:
8 of 20
a superintendent (civil, military or religious)
בֵּ֣ית
in the house
H1004
בֵּ֣ית
in the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
9 of 20
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְהוָ֔ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
10 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לְכָל
H3605
לְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אִ֥ישׁ
for every man
H376
אִ֥ישׁ
for every man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
12 of 20
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וּמִתְנַבֵּ֑א
and maketh himself a prophet
H5012
וּמִתְנַבֵּ֑א
and maketh himself a prophet
Strong's:
H5012
Word #:
14 of 20
to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
וְנָתַתָּ֥ה
hath made
H5414
וְנָתַתָּ֥ה
hath made
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
15 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֹת֛וֹ
H853
אֹת֛וֹ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
2 Kings 9:11Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.Acts 26:24And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.John 10:20And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?Hosea 9:7The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.Acts 16:24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.Mark 3:21And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
Historical Context
Jehoiada (835-796 BC) courageously opposed the illegitimate queen Athaliah to restore David's line. Shemaiah's appeal to his example was historically specious—Jehoiada acted with divine warrant, while Shemaiah opposed it. This shows how false teachers manipulate biblical precedent.
Questions for Reflection
- How can you tell the difference between prophetic 'madness' that challenges worldly wisdom and actual spiritual deception?
- When has historical precedent been wrongly invoked to justify silencing uncomfortable truth?
- What does Shemaiah's attempted use of state power reveal about the alliance between false religion and coercive authority?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
For every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet—the Hebrew מִשְׁתַּגֵּעַ (mishtage'a, 'acting insanely') recalls how David feigned madness (1 Samuel 21:13, same root). Shemaiah cynically equates prophetic inspiration with insanity, demanding Jeremiah be placed in prison, and in the stocks (מַהְפֶּכֶת, mahpekhet)—the same instrument used against Jeremiah in 20:2.
In the stead of Jehoiada the priest invokes the faithful priest who preserved Joash (2 Kings 11-12), establishing a supposed precedent for priestly authority to suppress dangerous 'prophets.' But Shemaiah distorts history—Jehoiada preserved God's anointed king, while Shemaiah seeks to destroy God's anointed prophet. Faithfulness requires discerning when authority serves God's purposes versus when it serves self-preservation.