Jeremiah 23:10
New International Version
The land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land lies parched and the pastures in the wilderness are withered. The prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly.

New Living Translation
For the land is full of adultery, and it lies under a curse. The land itself is in mourning— its wilderness pastures are dried up. For they all do evil and abuse what power they have.

English Standard Version
For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right.

Berean Standard Bible
For 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.

King James Bible
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.

New King James Version
For the land is full of adulterers; For because of a curse the land mourns. The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up. Their course of life is evil, And their might is not right.

New American Standard Bible
For the land is full of adulterers; For the land mourns because of the curse. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course is evil And their might is not right.

NASB 1995
For the land is full of adulterers; For the land mourns because of the curse. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course also is evil And their might is not right.

NASB 1977
For the land is full of adulterers; For the land mourns because of the curse. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course also is evil, And their might is not right.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the land is full of adulterers; For the land mourns because of the curse. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course also is evil, And their might is not right.

Amplified Bible
For the land is full of adulterers (unfaithful to God); The land mourns because of the curse [of God upon it]. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. The course of action [of the false prophets] is evil and they rush into wickedness; And their power is not right.

Christian Standard Bible
For the land is full of adulterers; the land mourns because of the curse, and the grazing lands in the wilderness have dried up. Their way of life has become evil, and their power is not rightly used

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the land is full of adulterers; the land mourns because of the curse, and the grazing lands in the wilderness have dried up. Their way of life has become evil, and their power is not rightly used

American Standard Version
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. And their course is evil, and their might is not right;

Contemporary English Version
Those unfaithful prophets misuse their power all over the country. So God turned the pasturelands into scorching deserts.

English Revised Version
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pastures of the wilderness are dried up; and their course is evil, and their force is not right.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The land is filled with adulterers. The land mourns because of the curse. Pastures in the wilderness have dried up. The people are evil, and they use their strength to do the wrong things.

Good News Translation
The land is full of people unfaithful to the LORD; they live wicked lives and misuse their power. Because of the LORD's curse the land mourns and the pastures are dry.

International Standard Version
Indeed, the land is full of adulterers. Indeed, the land mourns because of the curse; the pastures of the wilderness have dried up. The adulterers' lifestyles are evil, and they use their strength for what is not right.

Majority Standard Bible
For 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.

NET Bible
For the land is full of people unfaithful to him. They live wicked lives and they misuse their power. So the land is dried up because it is under his curse. The pastures in the wilderness are withered.

New Heart English Bible
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourns; the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. "Their course is evil, and their might is not right;

Webster's Bible Translation
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.

World English Bible
“For the land is full of adulterers; for because of the curse the land mourns. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For the land has been full of adulterers, "" For the land has mourned because of these, "" The pleasant places of the wilderness have dried up, "" And their course is evil, and their might—not right.

Young's Literal Translation
For of adulterers hath the land been full, For because of these hath the land mourned, Dried up hath been the pleasant places of the wilderness, And their course is evil, and their might -- not right.

Smith's Literal Translation
For the land was filled from adulteries, for from the face of these the land mourned, the beautiful things of the desert were dried up, and their race will be evil, and their strength not right.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because the land is full of adulterers, because the land hath mourned by reason of cursing, the fields of the desert are dried up: and their course is become evil, and their strength unlike.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the earth is full of adulterers! And the earth has mourned before the face of evil talk. The plains of the desert have dried up, and their course has become hazardous, and their firmness has become uneven.”

New American Bible
The land is filled with adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, the pastures of the wilderness are withered. Theirs is an evil course, theirs is unjust power.

New Revised Standard Version
For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course has been evil, and their might is not right.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the land is full of adulterers and robbers; because of these men the land mourns and the pastures of the shepherds in the wilderness are dried up, and their yield has been poor, and they did not flourish.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because adulterers and rapists have filled the land; because of these, the land has mourned and the pastures of the wilderness have dried up, and their hard labor was evil, and they did not prosper by their fortitude
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the land is full of adulterers; For because of swearing the land mourneth, The pastures of the wilderness are dried up; And their course is evil, And their force is not right.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For because of these things the land mourns; the pastures of the wilderness are dried up; and their course is become evil, and so also their strength.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Lying Prophets
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.…

Cross References
Hosea 4:1-3
Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. / Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.

Isaiah 24:5-6
The earth is defiled by its people; they have transgressed the laws; they have overstepped the decrees and broken the everlasting covenant. / Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants must bear the guilt; the earth’s dwellers have been burned, and only a few survive.

Ezekiel 13:22
Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,

Micah 2:11
If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!

Zephaniah 3:4
Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.

Amos 2:4
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.

Isaiah 9:17
Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

Ezekiel 22:25-28
The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her. / Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. / Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. ...

Hosea 7:16
They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.

Isaiah 5:20-23
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. / Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. / Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing strong drink, ...

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Romans 1:18-32
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. / For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. / For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. ...

2 Peter 2:1-3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ...

Matthew 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. / By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ...


Treasury of Scripture

For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourns; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.

full.

Jeremiah 5:7,8
How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses…

Jeremiah 7:9
Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

Jeremiah 9:2
Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

because.

Zechariah 5:3,4
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it…

1 Timothy 1:10
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

swearing.

Jeremiah 12:3,4
But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter…

Jeremiah 14:2
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.

Lamentations 1:2-4
She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies…

the pleasant.

Jeremiah 9:10
For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.

Psalm 107:34
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

Isaiah 24:6
Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

course.

Jump to Previous
Adulterers Course Curse Desert Dried Dry Evil Execration Fields Follow Force Full Green Grief Lies Mourned Mourneth Mourns Parched Pastures Places Pleasant Power Prophets Right Strength Swearing Untrue Use Waste Wilderness Withered Wives
Jump to Next
Adulterers Course Curse Desert Dried Dry Evil Execration Fields Follow Force Full Green Grief Lies Mourned Mourneth Mourns Parched Pastures Places Pleasant Power Prophets Right Strength Swearing Untrue Use Waste Wilderness Withered Wives
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.














For the land is full of adulterers
The Hebrew word for "adulterers" here is "נָאֲפִים" (na'aphim), which refers not only to physical adultery but also to spiritual unfaithfulness. In the context of Jeremiah, this term is often used metaphorically to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and alliances with foreign nations. Historically, this period was marked by widespread idolatry and moral decay, as the people turned away from the covenant with Yahweh. The land being "full" indicates the pervasive nature of this sin, suggesting a society deeply entrenched in practices contrary to God's commandments.

because of the curse
The "curse" here refers to the consequences of breaking the covenant with God. In Deuteronomy 28, God outlines blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The Hebrew word "אָלָה" (alah) signifies an oath or a solemn pronouncement of judgment. The land suffers because the people have invoked these curses upon themselves through their actions. This highlights the principle of divine justice and the inevitable consequences of turning away from God's laws.

the land mourns
The phrase "the land mourns" uses the Hebrew word "אָבַל" (abal), which means to mourn or lament. This personification of the land reflects the deep connection between the people's spiritual state and the physical condition of the land. In ancient Israel, the land was seen as a living entity that responded to the people's faithfulness or unfaithfulness. The mourning of the land signifies the disruption of harmony and blessing due to sin.

and the pastures of the wilderness have dried up
The "pastures of the wilderness" refer to the grazing lands that were essential for the livelihood of the people. The Hebrew word "נָבַל" (nabal) for "dried up" conveys a sense of withering or fading away. This imagery of desolation underscores the tangible impact of spiritual adultery on the environment. It serves as a vivid reminder of the interconnectedness of spiritual and physical realities, where the land's fertility is directly linked to the people's covenantal faithfulness.

Their course is evil
The word "course" in Hebrew is "מַרְצוּם" (martsum), which can be understood as their way or conduct. The term "evil" is "רָעָה" (ra'ah), indicating moral wickedness or wrongdoing. This phrase highlights the deliberate and persistent nature of the people's sinful behavior. It suggests a chosen path of rebellion against God's righteous standards, emphasizing the need for repentance and a return to godly living.

and their power is misused
The Hebrew word for "power" is "גְּבוּרָה" (gevurah), which can also mean might or strength. The misuse of power here implies that those in positions of authority or influence are acting unjustly or oppressively. This reflects a broader theme in Jeremiah, where leaders are often criticized for leading the people astray. The misuse of power is a grave sin, as it not only harms individuals but also corrupts the social and spiritual fabric of the nation. This calls for leaders to exercise their authority with integrity and in alignment with God's will.

(10) The land is full of adulterers.--The context shows that the words must be taken literally, and not of the spiritual adultery of the worship of other Gods. The false prophets and their followers were personally profligates, like those of 2Peter 2:14. (Comp. Jeremiah 5:7-8; Jeremiah 29:23.)

Because of swearing.--Better, because of the curse--i.e., that which comes from Jehovah on account of the wickedness of the people.

The land mourneth.--This, and the "drying up" of the "pleasant places" or "pastures," refers apparently to the drought described in Jeremiah 12:4; Jeremiah 14:2, or to some similar visitation. . . .

Verse 10. - The land is full of adulterers. The false prophets connive at flagrant immoralities, one of which is mentioned as a typical sin. As to the nature of the adultery, see note on Jeremiah 5:7. Because of swearing; rather, because of the curse; the curse, namely, with which God punishes the guilty earth (comp. Zechariah 5:3; Daniel 9:11; and especially Isaiah 24:6, where in the original there is a paronomasia very similar to that here). The land mourneth; a figurative expression, suggested partly by the assonance of the word for "curse." Drought is what is meant (comp. Jeremiah 12:4; Jeremiah 14:1, 2). The pleasant places of the wilderness; rather, the pastures of the prairie-land ("wilderness" suggests ideas very alien to the context). Their course; literally, their running (comp. Jeremiah 8:6). The subject is "the inhabitants of the land." Their force is not right; rather, their might (or, heroism) is untruth. They are "mighty men" only in telling untruths (comp. Jeremiah 9:3; Isaiah 5:22).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the land
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

is full of
מָלְאָ֣ה (mā·lə·’āh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

adulterers—
מְנָֽאֲפִים֙ (mə·nā·’ă·p̄îm)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5003: To commit adultery, to apostatize

because of
מִפְּנֵ֤י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the curse
אָלָה֙ (’ā·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 423: An imprecation

the land
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

mourns,
אָבְלָ֣ה (’ā·ḇə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 56: To bewail

and the pastures
נְא֣וֹת (nə·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4999: Habitation, house, pasture, pleasant place

of the wilderness
מִדְבָּ֑ר (miḏ·bār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

have dried up—
יָבְשׁ֖וּ (yā·ḇə·šū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3001: To be ashamed, confused, disappointed, to dry up, wither

their course
מְרֽוּצָתָם֙ (mə·rū·ṣā·ṯām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4794: A running, course

is
וַתְּהִ֤י (wat·tə·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

evil
רָעָ֔ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

and their power
וּגְבוּרָתָ֖ם (ū·ḡə·ḇū·rā·ṯām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1369: Force, valor, victory

is misused.
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 23:10 For the land is full of adulterers (Jer.)
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