Jeremiah 23:33
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Jeremiah 23:33
33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.
Chapter Context
Jeremiah 23 is a prophetic oracle chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of mercy, hope, sacrifice. Written during the final years of Judah and early exile (c. 627-580 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Prophesied during Judah's final years as Babylon became the dominant power.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-40: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Jeremiah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Jeremiah 23:33
33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.
Analysis
And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? The Hebrew מַשָּׂא (massa, 'burden/oracle/pronouncement') is a wordplay—it means both 'prophetic oracle' and 'heavy burden.' False prophets trivialized this term, using it casually. God responds: What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD (מַה־מַשָּׂא וְנָטַשְׁתִּי אֶתְכֶם נְאֻם־יְהוָה, mah-massa v'natashti etkhem ne'um-YHWH). The pun suggests: 'You want a burden? The burden is that I will abandon you!'
The verb נָטַשׁ (natash, 'forsake/abandon/cast off') represents covenant divorce—God withdrawing His presence. This is the ultimate burden: not judgment itself but God's absence. The flippant use of sacred terminology (מַשָּׂא) provokes divine anger. When people treat prophecy as entertainment or casual conversation ('What's God's latest oracle?'), they profane holy things. The severest judgment is divine abandonment—'I will forsake you.' Paul echoes this: 'God gave them over' (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). Nothing is more terrifying than getting what you demand—a God who leaves you alone.
Historical Context
By Jeremiah's era, the term massa had become common religious jargon, emptied of weight and reverence. People asked 'What is the massa of the LORD?' like asking for gossip or news. This casual treatment of prophetic oracles reflected broader covenant disregard. God's response—'I will forsake you'—predicted the exile when divine presence would depart the temple (Ezekiel 10:18-19) and God would abandon Jerusalem to Babylon.
Reflection
- How might you be treating divine revelation casually, as religious trivia rather than weighty truth?
- What would it mean for God to 'forsake' you—withdrawing His presence and leaving you to your choices?
- In what ways does flippant religious language profane sacred realities?
Word Studies
- Prophet: נָבִיא (Navi) H5030 - Prophet, spokesman
Cross-References
- Prophecy: Habakkuk 1:1
- References Lord: Malachi 1:1
- Parallel theme: Jeremiah 12:7, Isaiah 13:1, Hosea 9:12, Nahum 1:1