I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

JEREMIAH 23:25KJV
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Jeremiah 23:25 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 23:25 mean?

Jeremiah 23:25 describes how God has heard certain prophets claiming to speak for Him, but they are actually telling lies, saying they have received dreams from God when they have not. The verse highlights that these prophets are falsely using God's name to give authority to their own made-up messages.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah. The situation is one where many so-called prophets are misleading the people by claiming to have dreams and revelations from God. Jeremiah is exposing these false prophets, making it clear that their messages are not truly from God, even though they insist, "I have dreamed, I have dreamed."

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 23:25

  • "prophesy" (נָבָא, nava'): This word means to speak as a prophet or claim to deliver a message from God. Here, it emphasizes that these individuals are pretending to have a divine message.
  • "lies" (שֶׁקֶר, sheqer): This word means falsehood or deception. The verse uses it to stress that the prophets' messages are not just mistaken but deliberately untrue.
  • "name" (שֵׁם, shem): This refers to God's authority or reputation. The false prophets are invoking God's name to make their lies sound credible and trustworthy.
  • "dreamed" (חָלַם, chalam): This word means to have a dream. In the context of ancient Israel, dreams were often seen as a way God communicated, so claiming to have dreamed gave weight to their message.

Why Jeremiah 23:25 matters

  • Jeremiah 23:25 helps clear up that not everyone who claims to speak for God or claims to have a spiritual experience is actually telling the truth.
  • The verse shows how seriously God takes it when someone uses His name to support a lie, especially when it misleads others.
  • This verse sets the stage for the following verses, where Jeremiah will further expose and warn against these false prophets, highlighting the danger of trusting in messages that do not truly come from God.

Where else these words appear

“dreamed” Hebrew H2492 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
  • Genesis 41:5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
  • Job 39:4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

“prophesy” Hebrew H5012 · used in 102 verses

  • Numbers 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
  • Jeremiah 20:1 Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
  • Ezekiel 13:16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

“lies” Hebrew H8267 · used in 109 verses

  • Exodus 5:9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
  • Psalms 144:8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
  • Jeremiah 7:9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;