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 23:22KJV
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Jeremiah 23:22 (KJV)

What 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.

Where else these words appear

“evil” Hebrew H7455 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 41:19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
  • Isaiah 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
  • Jeremiah 24:8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

“counsel” Hebrew H5475 · used in 21 verses

  • Genesis 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
  • Psalms 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
  • Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

“doings” Hebrew H4611 · used in 41 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:20 The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
  • Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
  • Jeremiah 32:19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: