Jeremiah 29:31 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 29:31 mean?

Jeremiah 29:31 records God’s message, delivered through Jeremiah, warning the Jewish exiles in Babylon about Shemaiah the Nehelamite. God says Shemaiah has falsely claimed to speak for Him, leading the people to believe lies, even though God did not send him.

In this verse, Jeremiah is told by God to send a message to all the people taken into captivity in Babylon. The message specifically addresses Shemaiah, who has been spreading false prophecies among the exiles. God makes it clear that Shemaiah’s words are not from Him and that trusting Shemaiah’s message is trusting in something untrue.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 29:31

• Captivity (גּוֹלָה, golah): This word refers to those who have been exiled or carried away from their homeland. Here, it highlights that Jeremiah’s audience is the group of Judeans living in Babylon, far from Jerusalem.
• Prophesied (נָבָא, nava’): This verb means to speak as a prophet or claim to deliver God’s message. The verse emphasizes that Shemaiah is claiming this role without God’s authorization.
• Trust (בָּטַח, batach): This word means to rely on or put confidence in. The verse points out that the people have put their trust in Shemaiah’s message, which is actually a lie.
• Lie (שֶׁקֶר, sheqer): This term means falsehood or deception. God is clear that Shemaiah’s prophecy is not just mistaken, but deliberately false.

Why Jeremiah 29:31 matters

• Jeremiah 29:31 clarifies that not everyone who claims to speak for God is truly sent by Him, urging careful discernment among the exiles.
• The verse highlights the danger of trusting in messages that sound spiritual or authoritative but are not rooted in God’s actual word.
• This warning fits into the larger context of Jeremiah 29, where God addresses the hopes and fears of the exiles, showing His concern for their spiritual well-being and the importance of true prophecy.