The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.

JEREMIAH 23:28KJV
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Jeremiah 23:28 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 23:28 mean?

Jeremiah 23:28 draws a sharp line between true and false messages: those who claim to have a dream or vision should share it, but those who truly have God’s word must speak it faithfully and honestly. The verse ends with a question from God, comparing worthless things (“chaff”) to what is nourishing and real (“wheat”), showing the great difference between empty claims and genuine truth.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, addressing a time when many false prophets were spreading their own dreams and ideas as if they were from God. The verse uses the image of chaff and wheat—common in ancient farming—to show that God’s true word (like wheat) is valuable and life-giving, while false messages (like chaff) are empty and useless.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 23:28

  • חָלוֹם (chalom, “dream”): This word refers to a dream or vision, often used for messages people claimed to receive from God. Here, it highlights what the false prophets were sharing.
  • דָּבָר (davar, “word”): This means a word, message, or matter. In this verse, it stands for God’s actual message, which is to be spoken faithfully.
  • אֱמוּנָה (emunah, “faithfully”): This word carries the sense of steadiness, reliability, and truthfulness. It emphasizes that God’s message should be delivered with integrity.
  • תֶּבֶן (teven, “chaff”) and בָּר (bar, “wheat”): These farming terms create a vivid contrast. Chaff is the useless husk separated from the grain, while wheat is the nourishing part. The comparison underlines how empty words differ from God’s real message.

Why Jeremiah 23:28 matters

  • Jeremiah 23:28 makes clear that not every spiritual message or vision is equal—God’s true word stands apart from human invention or imagination.
  • The verse warns against confusing personal ideas or dreams with God’s actual message, a problem Jeremiah’s audience faced with many false prophets.
  • The chaff and wheat image helps readers see that God’s word brings real substance and benefit, while other messages may sound impressive but ultimately lack value.