Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.

JEREMIAH 23:9KJV
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Jeremiah 23:9 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 23:9 mean?

Jeremiah 23:9 describes the prophet Jeremiah’s deep distress and physical trembling because of the false prophets and the words God has spoken about them. Jeremiah feels overwhelmed, like a man who is drunk, because of the seriousness of the LORD’s message and the holiness of God’s words.

In this verse, Jeremiah is speaking personally, expressing his reaction to the situation in Judah where many prophets are misleading the people. Jeremiah’s heart is “broken” and his body physically reacts—his bones shake—because he is so affected by what God has revealed to him. The comparison to a drunken man shows how powerful and unsettling God’s message is to Jeremiah, especially as he considers the holiness of God and the unfaithfulness of the prophets.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 23:9

  • “Heart” (לֵב, lev; H3820): In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of emotion and thought. Jeremiah’s “heart within me is broken” shows that his grief is deep and personal, not just an outward show.
  • “Broken” (שָׁבַר, shavar; H7665): This word often means shattered or crushed. Jeremiah is not just sad—he feels completely undone by what he hears from God.
  • “Prophets” (נָבִיא, navi’; H5030): The distress is specifically “because of the prophets,” meaning the false prophets leading people astray, not just general trouble.
  • “Drunken” (שָׁכַר, shakar; H7910): The image of being like a drunken man (not literally drunk) highlights how overwhelming and disorienting Jeremiah finds God’s message.

Why Jeremiah 23:9 matters

  • This verse shows that true prophets like Jeremiah are deeply affected by God’s words, especially when those words are about judgment or unfaithfulness.
  • Jeremiah’s reaction is not just emotional but physical, underlining the seriousness of the situation and the weight of God’s message.
  • The verse sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, where Jeremiah will speak against the false prophets and warn about the consequences of misleading the people.

Where else these words appear

“shake” Hebrew H7363 · used in 3 verses

  • Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
  • Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

“drunken” Hebrew H7910 · used in 13 verses

  • 1 Samuel 1:13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
  • Job 12:25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
  • Isaiah 24:20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

“man” Hebrew H1397 · used in 64 verses

  • Exodus 10:11 Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
  • Job 33:17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
  • Proverbs 29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

“bones” Hebrew H6106 · used in 108 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • 1 Kings 13:31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:
  • Psalms 141:7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.