The Meaning of Jeremiah 23:18 Explained

Jeremiah 23:18

KJV: For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

YLT: For who hath stood in the counsel of Jehovah, And seeth and heareth His word? Who hath regarded My word, and hearkeneth?

Darby: For who hath stood in the council of Jehovah, so that he hath perceived and heard his word? who hath hearkened to his word and listened?

ASV: For who hath stood in the council of Jehovah, that he should perceive and hear his word? who hath marked my word, and heard it?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For who hath stood  in the counsel  of the LORD,  and hath perceived  and heard  his word?  who hath marked  his word,  and heard  [it]? 

What does Jeremiah 23:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

They had not taken counsel from Yahweh or received His prophetic messages. They had not listened to Him or obeyed Him (cf. Matthew 11:27; John 1:18; John 8:38; John 8:40). The picture of the heavenly throne-room of God is common in the Old Testament (e.g, 1 Kings 22:19-22; Job 1:1 to Job 2:7; Psalm 82; Isaiah 6; Ezekiel 1).
"It is a word of judgment and not peace that should be proclaimed by one who really knows the mind of Yahweh. But one needs to stand in Yahweh"s council, see what goes on there, hear and pay attention to Yahweh"s word and obey it, to give such a word." [1]

Context Summary

Jeremiah 23:1-40 - Shepherds That Mislead God's Flock
It is God's purpose to care for His people through shepherds (pastors) who are responsible to Him. Jesus our Lord is the Branch into which we may be grafted. He is our King who saves us and clothes us with His own spotless righteousness. God finds us in Him, Philippians 3:9. Because He reigns, we are saved and dwell in safety. When we are brought into contact with false shepherds, whether the failure be in doctrine or example, let us ask for the broken heart of Jeremiah 23:9.
God is everywhere present; as the latter paragraph indicates, He is near at hand to overhear the blasphemy of those who deride religion, and to be a very present help in time of trouble. If He fills heaven and earth, can He not fill thy heart? If His Word is like fire, let it cleanse thee! If it is as a hammer, let it pulverize thy pride! Let those of us who essay to teach and preach, not steal our words from our neighbors, or utter our own, but receive them from the source of all truth. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 23

1  He prophesies a restoration of the scattered flock
5  Christ shall rule and save them
9  Against false prophets;
33  and mockers of the true prophets

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 23:18 mean?

For who has stood in the counsel of Yahweh and has perceived and heard - His word who has marked - His word and heard [it] -
כִּ֣י מִ֤י עָמַד֙ בְּס֣וֹד יְהוָ֔ה וְיֵ֖רֶא וְיִשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־ ؟ דְּבָר֑וֹ מִֽי־ הִקְשִׁ֥יב [דברי] (דְּבָר֖וֹ) וַיִּשְׁמָֽע ס

עָמַד֙  has  stood 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
בְּס֣וֹד  in  the  counsel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סׄוד  
Sense: council, counsel, assembly.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְיֵ֖רֶא  and  has  perceived 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְיִשְׁמַ֣ע  and  heard 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
؟ דְּבָר֑וֹ  His  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הִקְשִׁ֥יב  has  marked 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָשַׁב  
Sense: to hear, be attentive, heed, incline (of ears), attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen.
[דברי]  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
(דְּבָר֖וֹ)  His  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
וַיִּשְׁמָֽע  and  heard  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation