Jeremiah 23:17
New International Version
They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’

New Living Translation
They keep saying to those who despise my word, ‘Don’t worry! The LORD says you will have peace!’ And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires, they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’

English Standard Version
They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

Berean Standard Bible
They 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.’

King James Bible
They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

New King James Version
They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD has said, “You shall have peace” ’; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
“They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD has said, “You will have peace”’; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, ‘Disaster will not come on you.’

NASB 1995
“They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD has said, “You will have peace “’ And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, ‘Calamity will not come upon you.’

NASB 1977
“They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD has said, “You will have peace”’; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, ‘Calamity will not come upon you.’

Legacy Standard Bible
They keep saying to those who spurn Me, ‘Yahweh has said, “You will have peace”’; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, ‘Evil will not come upon you.’

Amplified Bible
“They are continually saying to those who despise Me [and My word], ‘The Lord has said, “You will have peace”’; And they say to everyone who walks after the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No evil will come on you.’

Christian Standard Bible
They keep on saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD has spoken: You will have peace.’ They have said to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They keep on saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD has said: You will have peace.’ They have said to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’”

American Standard Version
They say continually unto them that despise me, Jehovah hath said, Ye shall have peace; and unto every one that walketh in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, No evil shall come upon you.

Contemporary English Version
These prophets go to people who refuse to respect me and who are stubborn and do whatever they please. The prophets tell them, "The LORD has promised everything will be fine."

English Revised Version
They say continually unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and unto every one that walketh in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, No evil shall come upon you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They keep saying to those who despise me, "The LORD says, 'Everything will go well for you.' " They tell all who live by their own stubborn ways, "Nothing bad will happen to you."

Good News Translation
To the people who refuse to listen to what I have said, they keep saying that all will go well with them. And they tell everyone who is stubborn that disaster will never touch them."

International Standard Version
They keep on saying to those who despise me, 'The LORD has said, "You will have peace."' To all who stubbornly follow their own desires they say, 'Disaster won't come upon you.'

Majority Standard Bible
They 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.’

NET Bible
They continually say to those who reject what the LORD has said, 'Things will go well for you!' They say to all those who follow the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts, 'Nothing bad will happen to you!'

New Heart English Bible
They say continually to those who despise me, "The LORD has said, 'You shall have peace'"; and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, "No evil shall come on you."

Webster's Bible Translation
They say still to them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say to every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

World English Bible
They say continually to those who despise me, ‘Yahweh has said, “You will have peace;”’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, ‘No evil will come on you.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Diligently saying to those despising, "" The word of YHWH: Peace is for you, "" And [to] everyone walking in the stubbornness of his heart, they have said: Evil does not come to you.”

Young's Literal Translation
Saying diligently to those despising The word of Jehovah: Peace is for you, And to every one walking in the stubbornness of his heart they have said: Evil doth not come in unto you.

Smith's Literal Translation
Saying to say to those despising the word of Jehovah, There shall be peace to you; and every one going in the stubbornness of his heart, they said, Evil shall not come to you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They say tothem that blaspheme me: The Lord hath said: You shall have peace: and to every one that walketh in the perverseness of his own heart, they have said: No evil shall come to you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
To those who blaspheme me, they say: ‘The Lord has said: You shall have peace.’ And to every one who walks in the depravity of his own heart, they have said: ‘No evil will overwhelm you.’ ”

New American Bible
They say to those who despise the word of the LORD, “Peace shall be yours”; And to everyone who walks in hardness of heart, “No evil shall overtake you.”

New Revised Standard Version
They keep saying to those who despise the word of the LORD, “It shall be well with you”; and to all who stubbornly follow their own stubborn hearts, they say, “No calamity shall come upon you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They say still to those who provoke me, The LORD has said, You shall have peace; and they say to every one who walks after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they are saying to those who anger THE WORD of LORD JEHOVAH: ‘Peace shall be to you!’, and to everyone who walks in the will of his heart, they say, ‘Evil will not come upon you!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They say continually unto them that despise Me: 'The LORD hath said: Ye shall have peace'; And unto every one that walketh in the stubbornness of his own heart they say: 'No evil shall come upon you';

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They say to them that reject the word of the Lord, There shall be peace to you; and to all that walk after their own lusts, and to everyone that walks in the error of his heart, they have said, No evil shall come upon thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Lying Prophets
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?…

Cross References
Ezekiel 13:10-16
Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built, / tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth. / Surely when the wall has fallen, you will not be asked, ‘Where is the whitewash with which you covered it?’ ...

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

Isaiah 30:10
They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.

Lamentations 2:14
The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.

Zechariah 10:2
For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

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.

Isaiah 28:15
For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”

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,

Jeremiah 6:14
They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Jeremiah 8:11
They dress the wound of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.


Treasury of Scripture

They say still to them that despise me, The LORD has said, You shall have peace; and they say to every one that walks after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come on you.

that despise.

Numbers 11:20
But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

1 Samuel 2:30
Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

2 Samuel 12:10
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

ye.

Jeremiah 4:10
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

Jeremiah 6:14
They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 8:11
For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

imagination.

Jeremiah 3:17
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

Jeremiah 7:24
But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

Jeremiah 9:14
But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:

no.

Jeremiah 18:18
Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

Amos 9:10
All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.

Micah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

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Calamity Continually Despise Evil Follows Goes Heart Hearts Imagination Peace Stubbornly Stubbornness Walketh Walks Way Word
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Calamity Continually Despise Evil Follows Goes Heart Hearts Imagination Peace Stubbornly Stubbornness Walketh Walks Way Word
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.














They keep saying
This phrase indicates a continuous action, suggesting that the false prophets persistently deliver a message contrary to God's truth. The Hebrew root here implies a habitual declaration, emphasizing the relentless nature of their misleading assurances. Historically, this reflects a time when false prophets were prevalent, offering deceptive comfort to the people of Judah, who were facing impending judgment due to their disobedience.

to those who despise Me
The word "despise" in Hebrew conveys a strong sense of contempt or disdain. It is not merely a passive disregard but an active rejection of God and His commandments. This phrase highlights the audience of the false prophets—those who have turned their backs on God. In a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a warning against the dangers of rejecting divine authority and the consequences that follow.

‘The LORD says that you will have peace.’
This false assurance of peace is a direct contradiction to the true message of God delivered by Jeremiah. The Hebrew word for "peace" is "shalom," which encompasses not just the absence of conflict but a holistic sense of well-being and harmony. The false prophets misuse this profound concept, offering a counterfeit peace that ignores the reality of sin and judgment. This reflects a broader biblical theme where true peace is only found in alignment with God's will.

And to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart
The phrase "walks in the stubbornness" suggests a deliberate and ongoing choice to follow one's own desires rather than God's commands. The Hebrew word for "stubbornness" can also be translated as "hardness" or "obstinacy," indicating a willful resistance to divine guidance. This highlights the human tendency to prioritize personal autonomy over submission to God, a recurring issue throughout biblical history.

they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’
This false promise of safety is a dangerous lie, as it contradicts the warnings of impending judgment due to sin. The Hebrew word for "harm" can also mean "evil" or "disaster," underscoring the severity of the consequences that the people are being falsely assured they will avoid. In a conservative Christian view, this serves as a reminder of the importance of heeding God's warnings and the peril of ignoring His truth.

(17) Imagination.--As before (Jeremiah 3:17 and elsewhere), stubbornness. The tendency of all that the false prophets uttered was to confirm the people in their sins, not to lead them to repentance. It is noticeable that the Hebrew verb for "hath said" is not the same as the received formula of the true prophets, "The Lord hath spoken." The prophet seems to indicate in this way that those whom he condemns placed the Divine message on a level with a man's every-day utterance. They were self-convicted by the very phrase they used.

Verse 17. - Unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said. The Septuagint and the Syriac render the same text (the consonants are alone the text) with different vowels, thus: "Unto those who despise the word of the Lord." In favor of this it may be urged that the phrase, "The Lord hath said," is nowhere else used in this abrupt way to introduce a real or supposed revelation, and Hitzig and Graf accordingly accept it. Ye shall have peace; as Jeremiah 6:14. After the imagination; rather, in the stubbornness (see on Jeremiah 3:17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They keep saying
אֹמְרִ֤ים (’ō·mə·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to those who despise Me,
לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י (lim·na·’ă·ṣay)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5006: To spurn, treat with contempt

‘The LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says that
דִּבֶּ֣ר (dib·ber)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

you will have
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

peace,’
שָׁל֖וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

[and]
אָֽמְר֔וּ (’ā·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to everyone
וְ֠כֹל (wə·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who walks
הֹלֵ֞ךְ (hō·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in the stubbornness
בִּשְׁרִר֤וּת (biš·ri·rūṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8307: Firmness, stubbornness

of his own heart,
לִבּוֹ֙ (lib·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

‘No
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

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

will come
תָב֥וֹא (ṯā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to you.’
עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 23:17 They say continually to those who despise (Jer.)
Jeremiah 23:16
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