Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

JEREMIAH 23:15KJV
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Jeremiah 23:15 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 23:15 mean?

Jeremiah 23:15 says that God will punish the prophets in Jerusalem by giving them bitter suffering, described as feeding them "wormwood" and making them drink "the water of gall," because their corrupt influence has spread evil throughout the land. The verse highlights how the wrongdoing of these prophets has led to widespread moral decay.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, specifically about the prophets in Jerusalem who were misleading others. The language of "wormwood" and "gall" uses strong imagery from everyday life to show the bitterness and harm that will come as a result of their actions. The verse is part of a larger passage where Jeremiah warns about false prophets and the damage they cause to the nation.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 23:15

  • "Wormwood" (לַעֲנָה, la'anah) refers to a bitter plant, often used as a symbol for something extremely unpleasant or poisonous. By saying God will "feed" the prophets with wormwood, the verse paints a picture of severe judgment and suffering.
  • "Gall" (רֹאשׁ, rosh) means a bitter or poisonous substance, sometimes associated with poison or venom. The phrase "water of gall" intensifies the idea of bitterness and harm, showing that the consequences for these prophets will be deeply unpleasant.
  • "Profaneness" (חֲנֻפָּה, chanuphah) means defilement or godlessness. The verse points out that this moral corruption did not stay local but "has gone forth into all the land," showing the far-reaching effects of the prophets’ falsehoods.

Why Jeremiah 23:15 matters

  • Jeremiah 23:15 clarifies that God holds spiritual leaders accountable for the influence they have on others, especially when their actions lead to widespread harm.
  • The verse uses vivid, everyday images of bitterness and poison to help readers grasp the seriousness of the prophets’ wrongdoing and the severity of God’s response.
  • This verse connects to the wider context of Jeremiah 23, where the prophet warns against false prophets and stresses the need for true, faithful leadership among God’s people.

Where else these words appear

“wormwood” Hebrew H3939 · used in 8 verses

  • Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
  • Jeremiah 9:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
  • Lamentations 3:19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

“gall” Hebrew H7219 · used in 12 verses

  • Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
  • Job 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
  • Lamentations 3:5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

“drink” Hebrew H8248 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 2:6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
  • Genesis 40:20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
  • Psalms 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.