Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?

JEREMIAH 29:27KJV
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Jeremiah 29:27 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 29:27 mean?

Jeremiah 29:27 records a complaint against Jeremiah from someone who rejected his claim to speak for God. The writer presses a priest in Jerusalem to take action against Jeremiah, treating his public messages as something that should have been stopped.

The question comes from a letter written by Shemaiah to Zephaniah the priest. Calling Jeremiah “of Anathoth” identifies his hometown, while “maketh himself a prophet” presents Jeremiah’s role as a claim Shemaiah refuses to accept.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 29:27

  • “reproved” — גָּעַר (gaʿar): This word can mean to rebuke or speak sharply against someone. Here the complaint comes after a description of the priest’s authority to restrain people who claimed to be prophets.

  • “prophet” — נָבִיא (navi): This word refers to someone who delivers messages as a spokesperson for God. In this sentence, the accusation is that Jeremiah has appointed himself to that role.

Why Jeremiah 29:27 matters

  • The question is part of a dispute over messages sent to people living away from Judah. Verse 28 identifies the message Shemaiah objects to: Jeremiah had told them that their stay would be long and that they should build houses and settle down.

  • The complaint shows an attempt to use the priest’s position to silence Jeremiah. In verse 26, Shemaiah describes the priest as responsible for putting a person who acts like a prophet in restraints.

  • Readers should distinguish Shemaiah’s accusation from the account’s own judgment of Jeremiah. Later in the passage, the Lord says that Shemaiah himself was not sent and had caused the people to trust a lie (verse 31).

Where else these words appear

“Anathoth” Hebrew H6069 · used in 5 verses

  • 2 Samuel 23:27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
  • 1 Chronicles 11:28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite,
  • 1 Chronicles 12:3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,

“reproved” Hebrew H1605 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
  • Psalms 106:9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
  • Nahum 1:4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

“prophet” 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.

“Jeremiah” Hebrew H3414 · used in 133 verses

  • 2 Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
  • Jeremiah 28:15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
  • Jeremiah 38:9 My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.