The Meaning of Jeremiah 23:25 Explained

Jeremiah 23:25

KJV: I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

YLT: I have heard that which the prophets said, Who prophesy in My name falsehood, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.'

Darby: I have heard what the prophets say, who prophesy falsehood in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

ASV: I have heard what the prophets have said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I have heard  what the prophets  said,  that prophesy  lies  in my name,  saying,  I have dreamed,  I have dreamed. 

What does Jeremiah 23:25 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord was aware that the prophets were falsely claiming to have had dreams in which they received messages from Him (cf. Zechariah 10:2).
Dreams were one way that Yahweh communicated His revelations to people in ancient times (cf. Genesis 28:10-17; Genesis 37:5-11; Genesis 40; Genesis 41:1-45; Numbers 12:6-8; 1 Kings 3:5-15; Daniel 2; Daniel 4:4-27; Daniel 7; Joel 2:28; Zechariah 1:7 to Zechariah 6:8). The pagans also viewed dreams as a way the gods communicated with them. Consequently it was possible to claim a revelation in a dream and to obtain an audience. The person who received a revelation from Yahweh in a dream knew it, but it was very difficult for someone else to know if the dream that a prophet claimed as divine really came from Yahweh.

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 23:25 mean?

I have heard - what have said the prophets who prophesy in My name lies saying I have dreamed I have dreamed
שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־ אָֽמְרוּ֙ הַנְּבִאִ֔ים הַֽנִּבְּאִ֥ים בִּשְׁמִ֛י שֶׁ֖קֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר חָלַ֖מְתִּי חָלָֽמְתִּי

שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי  I  have  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֵ֤ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אָֽמְרוּ֙  have  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַנְּבִאִ֔ים  the  prophets 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
הַֽנִּבְּאִ֥ים  who  prophesy 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָבָא  
Sense: to prophesy.
בִּשְׁמִ֛י  in  My  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
שֶׁ֖קֶר  lies 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁקֶר  
Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
חָלַ֖מְתִּי  I  have  dreamed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָלַם 
Sense: to dream.
חָלָֽמְתִּי  I  have  dreamed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָלַם 
Sense: to dream.