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 23:15KJVWhat 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.