Jeremiah 29:31
Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:
Original Language Analysis
שְׁלַחְתִּ֔יו
Send
H7971
שְׁלַחְתִּ֔יו
Send
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
1 of 23
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
3 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹלָה֙
to all them of the captivity
H1473
הַגּוֹלָה֙
to all them of the captivity
Strong's:
H1473
Word #:
4 of 23
exile; concretely and collectively exiles
כֹּ֚ה
H3541
כֹּ֚ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
6 of 23
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
שְׁמַעְיָ֗ה
Because that Shemaiah
H8098
שְׁמַעְיָ֗ה
Because that Shemaiah
Strong's:
H8098
Word #:
10 of 23
shemajah, the name of twenty-five israelites
הַנֶּחֱלָמִ֑י
the Nehelamite
H5161
הַנֶּחֱלָמִ֑י
the Nehelamite
Strong's:
H5161
Word #:
11 of 23
a nechelamite, or descendant of nechlam
יַ֡עַן
H3282
יַ֡עַן
Strong's:
H3282
Word #:
12 of 23
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
13 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִבָּ֨א
hath prophesied
H5012
נִבָּ֨א
hath prophesied
Strong's:
H5012
Word #:
14 of 23
to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
שְׁמַעְיָ֗ה
Because that Shemaiah
H8098
שְׁמַעְיָ֗ה
Because that Shemaiah
Strong's:
H8098
Word #:
16 of 23
shemajah, the name of twenty-five israelites
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
18 of 23
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שְׁלַחְתִּ֔יו
Send
H7971
שְׁלַחְתִּ֔יו
Send
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
19 of 23
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
וַיַּבְטַ֥ח
him not and he caused you to trust
H982
וַיַּבְטַ֥ח
him not and he caused you to trust
Strong's:
H982
Word #:
20 of 23
properly, to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as h2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure
אֶתְכֶ֖ם
H853
אֶתְכֶ֖ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
21 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Shemaiah's lie was that exile would end quickly, contradicting the '70 years' prophecy. Those who trusted this built their lives on false hope, unprepared for generations of displacement. When Jerusalem fell (586 BC), Shemaiah's followers faced shattered expectations—the inevitable fruit of trusting lies.
Questions for Reflection
- How can you test whether teaching comes from divine sending or human presumption—what marks distinguish them?
- When has trusting a 'lie' about God's promises or timing caused spiritual damage in your life or others'?
- What responsibility do teachers bear not just for truth-content but for the trust their words create in listeners?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not—the devastating verdict וַאֲנִי לֹא שְׁלַחְתִּיו (va'ani lo shelachtiv, 'and I did not send him') exposes the core issue. True prophecy requires divine שְׁלִיחוּת (shlichut, 'sending/commission'). Without it, religious speech is unauthorized presumption, however sincere or eloquent.
He caused you to trust in a lie (שֶׁקֶר, sheqer)—false prophecy's damage isn't merely incorrect prediction but moral corruption, teaching people to trust falsehood. The causative הִבְטִיחַ (hivtiach, 'caused to trust') emphasizes Shemaiah's active culpability: he didn't merely speak error but built false confidence. This recalls Eden's serpent causing Eve to trust God's word was restrictive rather than protective (Genesis 3:1-5). False teaching always invites trust in something other than God's revealed truth.