The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

JEREMIAH 29:26KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 29:26 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 29:26 mean?

Jeremiah 29:26 reports that the LORD has appointed a new priest to take the place of Jehoiada, giving him authority to act as an officer in God’s house, especially to deal with anyone considered mad or claiming to be a prophet by putting them in prison or the stocks. The verse describes a system for controlling those seen as disruptive or falsely claiming to speak for God.

This verse comes from a letter written by Shemaiah, a man in exile, to the priests in Jerusalem. Shemaiah urges the new priest to use his authority to silence people like Jeremiah, whom he sees as a troublemaker claiming to be a prophet. The verse reflects the tension between true and false prophecy and the use of religious authority to suppress certain voices.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 29:26

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the authority being discussed is seen as coming directly from God.
  • priest (כֹּהֵן, kohen): This word refers to someone with religious authority in the temple, highlighting the official role given to the new leader.
  • officers (פָּקִיד, paqid): This term means an overseer or someone given responsibility, showing that the priest’s role includes maintaining order and discipline.
  • mad (מְשֻׁגָּע, meshugga): This word can mean “insane” or “out of one’s mind,” but in this context, it is used to label those who claim to be prophets in a way that is seen as disruptive or false.
  • prophet (נָבִיא, navi): The word for someone claiming to speak on God’s behalf, central to the conflict in this chapter.
  • prison (הַמַּהְפֶּכֶת, hamepheket) and stocks (הַצֵּינָק, hatzeinaq): These terms refer to physical restraints used to punish or confine someone, showing the seriousness of the measures being urged.

Why Jeremiah 29:26 matters

  • Jeremiah 29:26 shows how religious authority could be used to silence dissenting voices, especially those who claimed to speak for God but were not accepted by the religious establishment.
  • The verse highlights the conflict between Jeremiah and his opponents, who saw his prophecies as dangerous or delusional rather than genuine messages from God.
  • Understanding this verse helps clarify the broader context of Jeremiah’s ministry, where true prophecy was often met with suspicion, hostility, and attempts at suppression by those in power.

Where else these words appear

“prison” Hebrew H4115 · used in 4 verses

  • 2 Chronicles 16:10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
  • Jeremiah 20:2 Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
  • Jeremiah 20:3 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib.

“mad” Hebrew H7696 · used in 6 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:34 So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
  • 1 Samuel 21:14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
  • 2 Kings 9:11 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.

“officers” Hebrew H6496 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 41:34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
  • 2 Chronicles 31:13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
  • Nehemiah 12:42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.

“Jehoiada” Hebrew H3077 · used in 48 verses

  • 2 Samuel 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.
  • 1 Kings 4:4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
  • 2 Chronicles 23:8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.