I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
JEREMIAH 23:14KJVWhat does Jeremiah 23:14 mean?
Jeremiah 23:14 describes how God has seen terrible things among the prophets in Jerusalem: they commit adultery, tell lies, encourage wrongdoers, and prevent people from turning away from evil. God compares these prophets and the people of Jerusalem to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities known for their extreme wickedness.
In this verse, Jeremiah is speaking God's message to the people of Judah, specifically calling out the prophets in Jerusalem for their corruption. The verse highlights not only their personal sins but also how their actions influence others to continue in wrongdoing. By comparing them to Sodom and Gomorrah, Jeremiah emphasizes the seriousness of their behavior and the coming judgment.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 23:14
- "seen" (רָאָה, ra'ah): This word means to observe or witness directly. God is not acting on rumors but on what He has clearly seen among the prophets.
- "adultery" (נָאַף, na'af): This word refers to both literal unfaithfulness in marriage and, often in the prophets, spiritual unfaithfulness—turning away from God to other things.
- "strengthen" (חָזַק, chazaq) and "hands" (יָד, yad): Together, these words mean to give support or encouragement. The prophets are not just passive; they actively help those doing evil to keep doing it.
- "Sodom" (סְדֹם, Sedom) and "Gomorrah" (עֲמֹרָה, Amorah): These cities symbolize complete moral failure and divine judgment. The comparison is meant to show just how far the prophets and people have fallen.
Why Jeremiah 23:14 matters
- Jeremiah 23:14 clears up the idea that religious leaders are always trustworthy by showing that even prophets in Jerusalem could become deeply corrupt.
- The verse emphasizes that the actions of leaders have a powerful effect on the whole community, either turning people toward good or, as here, supporting evil.
- By linking the prophets to Sodom and Gomorrah, Jeremiah connects their behavior to a well-known example of judgment, warning the people of Jerusalem about the seriousness of their situation.