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Jeremiah 23 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. ²Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD. ³Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply. ⁴I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any go missing, declares the LORD. ⁵Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. ⁶In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. ⁷So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.’ ⁸Instead they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel up out of the land of the north and all the other lands to which He had banished them.’ Then they will dwell once more in their own land.” ⁹As for the prophets: My heart is broken within me, and all my bones tremble. I have become like a drunkard, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD, because of His holy words. ¹⁰For the land is full of adulterers— because of the curse, the land mourns and the pastures of the wilderness have dried up— their course is evil and their power is misused. ¹¹“For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD. ¹²“Therefore their path will become slick; they will be driven away into the darkness and fall into it. For I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD. ¹³“Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray. ¹⁴And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.” ¹⁵Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” ¹⁶This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. ¹⁷They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’ ¹⁸But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and obeyed it? ¹⁹Behold, the storm of the LORD has gone out with fury, a whirlwind swirling down upon the heads of the wicked. ²⁰The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this clearly. ²¹I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. ²²But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them back from their evil ways and deeds.” ²³“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?” ²⁴“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD. ²⁵“I have heard the sayings of the prophets who prophesy lies in My name: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ ²⁶How long will this continue in the hearts of these prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the delusion of their own minds? ²⁷They suppose the dreams that they tell one another will make My people forget My name, just as their fathers forgot My name through the worship of Baal. ²⁸Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD. ²⁹“Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?” ³⁰“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.” ³¹“Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’ ” ³²“Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD. ³³“Now when this people or a prophet or priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the LORD?’ you are to say to them, ‘What burden? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’ ³⁴As for the prophet or priest or anyone who claims, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ I will punish that man and his household. ³⁵This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother: ‘What has the LORD answered?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ ³⁶But refer no more to the burden of the LORD, for each man’s word becomes the burden, so that you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God. ³⁷Thus you are to say to the prophet: ‘What has the LORD answered you?’ and ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ ³⁸But if you claim, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ then this is what the LORD says: Because you have said, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ and I specifically told you not to make this claim, ³⁹therefore I will surely forget you and will cast you out of My presence, both you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers. ⁴⁰And I will bring upon you everlasting shame and perpetual humiliation that will never be forgotten.”

Berean Standard Bible · public domain. More versions and languages in the Reading Plan.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 23

The Shepherds’ Judgment and the Righteous Branch

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Objective

To expose the failure of Israel’s false shepherds, proclaim God’s judgment upon them, and to reveal the coming righteous King who will restore and rule with justice.

Overview

Jeremiah 23 opens with a solemn woe against the leaders who have scattered God’s flock, highlighting their neglect and corruption. God promises to gather the remnant and raise faithful shepherds. The chapter then prophesies the coming of a righteous Branch from David’s line who will reign with justice and bring salvation. The prophet’s anguish over false prophets who deceive the people with lies and empty peace is laid bare. God declares His sovereign knowledge and judgment against these false teachers who misuse His name and words, warning that their deceit will bring ruin upon them and the people.

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

The LORD pronounces woe upon the pastors who destroy and scatter His sheep, His people. These leaders have driven the flock away through neglect and failure to care. God declares He will bring judgment upon their evil deeds. Yet, He promises to gather the remnant from all lands and appoint shepherds who will feed and protect them, so they will no longer fear or lack.

Central Themes

Divine judgment on unfaithful leaders

God’s care for His scattered people

Hope in restoration through faithful shepherds

Cultural & Historical Context

Shepherd imagery was deeply rooted in Israel’s agrarian culture, symbolizing leadership and care. False shepherds were often kings or priests who abused power, leading to exile and suffering (Ezekiel 34). The promise of gathering the remnant echoes God’s covenant faithfulness despite Israel’s unfaithfulness (Isaiah 11:11-12).

Key Verse

Jeremiah 23:1-4

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

Woe to the False Shepherds

A desolate pasture under a darkened sky, scattered sheep wandering lost and frightened. The shepherds stand aloof, their staffs broken or cast aside, while a distant light promises gathering and restoration.

The Righteous Branch from David

A vibrant green branch emerging from a weathered stump beneath a radiant sun. A majestic king in robes of justice stands with open arms over a peaceful land where people dwell securely, bathed in golden light.

The Prophet’s Grief Over False Prophets

A solitary figure trembling, surrounded by shadows shaped like false prophets whispering deceit. The ground beneath is cracked and barren, with ghostly images of Sodom and Gomorrah looming in the distance.

Judgment on False Prophets and Their Lies

Bitter waters of wormwood and gall flowing from cracked lips of false prophets, while a fierce whirlwind swirls overhead, darkening the sky and sweeping away the deceitful words like chaff in the wind.

God’s Sovereignty and the Call to Faithfulness

An all-seeing eye shining through the vast heavens and earth, illuminating hidden places. A hammer striking a rock, breaking it into pieces, symbolizing the power and purity of God’s word, while false prophets are cast into shadow.

Song

Jeremiah 23 Song

Verse 1:

Woe to those who lead astray, Shepherds who have lost their way, Scattering the flock in fear, Leaving hearts in deep despair.

Verse 2:

False prophets speak with lying tongue, Promising peace where none belongs, Their visions born of selfish heart, Tearing God’s own people apart.

Chorus:

But the Branch will rise in glory, Justice flowing in His story, Righteous King, our hope restored, Shepherd true, forevermore.

Bridge:

Yet God sees all hidden things, His word a fire that fiercely rings, Against deceit He stands alone, Calling us to faith alone.

Final Chorus:

The Branch will rise in glory, Justice flowing in His story, Righteous King, our hope restored, Shepherd true, forevermore.

Practical Application

Personal Life

Examine your heart for faithfulness to God’s word and avoid self-deception.

Seek the true Shepherd who leads with justice and righteousness.

Guard against false teachings that promise peace apart from repentance.

Community & Society

Encourage leaders who shepherd with care and integrity.

Hold accountable those who misuse spiritual authority.

Foster communities grounded in God’s truth and justice.

Global Perspective

Pray for nations to recognize the coming righteous King and His reign.

Support efforts to expose falsehood and promote gospel truth worldwide.

Advocate for justice and peace rooted in God’s righteousness.

Conclusion

Jeremiah 23 confronts the grievous failure of Israel’s leaders and false prophets who have scattered God’s flock and led the people astray. Yet amid judgment, God promises restoration through a righteous Branch from David who will reign with justice and bring salvation. The chapter calls for discernment, faithfulness, and hope in God’s sovereign plan to gather, judge, and renew His people. His word is a refining fire and hammer that breaks deception and establishes truth everlasting.