But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
JEREMIAH 23:22KJVWhat does Jeremiah 23:22 mean?
Jeremiah 23:22 says that if the false prophets had truly listened to God’s guidance and shared His real message with the people, the people would have turned away from their wrong actions and ways. The verse highlights that genuine words from God bring real change, but these prophets failed to deliver them.
In this verse, God is speaking through Jeremiah to criticize prophets who claimed to speak for Him but did not actually listen to His counsel. The situation is that many leaders in Judah were misleading the people, and God points out that if these prophets had truly stood in His presence and delivered His words, the people would have repented. The verse underscores the difference between empty claims of authority and the real effect of God’s message.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 23:22
- "stood" (עָמַד, 'amad): This word means to stand or remain, and here it suggests being present in God’s counsel—truly listening and paying attention, not just physically being there.
- "counsel" (סוֹד, sod): This word refers to a close, confidential meeting or circle. It emphasizes the idea of intimate communication with God, not just public preaching.
- "turned" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means to return or turn back. It is often used for repentance, showing that God’s real message leads people to change direction in their lives.
- Two different words for "evil" appear: רַע (ra‘, H7451) for "evil way" and רֹעַ (roa‘, H7455) for "evil doings." The first points to the general path or lifestyle, while the second focuses on specific actions.
Why Jeremiah 23:22 matters
- Jeremiah 23:22 clears up the idea that simply claiming to speak for God is not enough; real authority comes from actually listening to Him and sharing His true message.
- The verse emphasizes that God’s words have the power to bring about real change, not just inspire or comfort but actually turn people away from wrongdoing.
- In the wider context, this verse helps explain why God is so critical of the false prophets throughout Jeremiah 23—they failed in their most basic duty: to connect people with God’s will.