Jeremiah 28:15 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 28:15 mean?

Jeremiah 28:15 shows the prophet Jeremiah directly confronting Hananiah, telling him that the LORD did not send him and that Hananiah is causing the people to trust in something false. Jeremiah makes it clear that Hananiah’s message is not from God, but is misleading the people.

In this verse, Jeremiah is speaking to Hananiah, another man called a prophet, during a public dispute. Hananiah had just given a message claiming God would soon deliver Judah from Babylon, but Jeremiah refutes this, saying Hananiah is not truly sent by the LORD (the personal name for God, often written as יהוה / YHWH / Yahweh). Jeremiah accuses Hananiah of making the people trust in a “lie,” warning that his message is not only untrue but also dangerous because it gives the people false hope.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 28:15

• “LORD” (יהוה / YHWH / Yahweh): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that Jeremiah’s authority comes from the true God, not just any deity or power.
• “Lie” (שֶׁקֶר / sheqer): This word means a deliberate falsehood or deception. Jeremiah is not just saying Hananiah is mistaken, but that he is actively leading the people astray with something untrue.
• “Trust” (בָּטַח / batach): This word carries the sense of putting confidence or security in something. Jeremiah’s concern is that Hananiah’s message is causing the people to place their hope and security in something that will not hold up.

Why Jeremiah 28:15 matters

• Jeremiah 28:15 clarifies that not everyone who claims to speak for God is actually sent by Him, highlighting the need for discernment about spiritual messages.
• The verse shows the real danger of false prophecy: it can lead people to put their trust in something that is not true, which can have serious consequences for a whole community.
• This confrontation sets up the seriousness of the conflict between true and false prophets in Jeremiah’s time, and it helps explain why Jeremiah’s warnings were so urgent.