Jeremiah 23:24
New International Version
Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.

New Living Translation
Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the LORD.

English Standard Version
Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
“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.

King James Bible
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

New King James Version
Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the LORD; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
“Can a person hide himself in hiding places So that I do not see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

NASB 1995
“Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

NASB 1977
“Can a man hide himself in hiding places, So I do not see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares Yahweh. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
“Can anyone hide himself in secret places So that I cannot see him?” says the LORD. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
Can a person hide in secret places where I cannot see him? ” —the LORD’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? ” —the LORD’s declaration.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Can a man hide himself in secret places where I cannot see him?"—the LORD’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?"—the LORD’s declaration.

American Standard Version
Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
in heaven and on earth. There are no secret places where you can hide from me.

English Revised Version
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"No one can hide so that I can't see him," declares the LORD. "I fill heaven and earth!" declares the LORD.

Good News Translation
No one can hide where I cannot see them. Do you not know that I am everywhere in heaven and on earth?

International Standard Version
If a person hides himself in secret places, will I not see him?" declares the LORD. "I fill the heavens and the earth, do I not?" declares the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
“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.

NET Bible
"Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?" the LORD asks. "Do you not know that I am everywhere?" the LORD asks.

New Heart English Bible
Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him?' says the LORD. 'Do I not fill heaven and earth?' says the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

World English Bible
Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I can’t see him?” says Yahweh. “Don’t I fill heaven and earth?” says Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Is anyone hidden in secret places, "" And I do not see him?” A declaration of YHWH, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” A declaration of YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
Is any one hidden in secret places, And I see him not? an affirmation of Jehovah, Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? An affirmation of Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
If a man shall hide in secret places and I shall not see him, says Jehovah. Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? says Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall a man be hid in secret places, and I not see him, saith the Lord? do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord?

Catholic Public Domain Version
If a man is hidden in concealed places, do I not see him, says the Lord? Do I not fill up heaven and earth, says the Lord?

New American Bible
Can anyone hide in secret without my seeing them?—oracle of the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth?—oracle of the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If any man should hide himself in secret places, I will see him, says the LORD; behold, heaven and earth are filled with me, says the LORD of hosts.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If a man will hide in secret places, am I not seeing him, says LORD JEHOVAH? Behold, Heaven and Earth are filled by me, says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Can any hide himself in secret places That I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? Saith the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Shall any one hide himself in secret places, and I not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
Audio Bible



Context
Lying Prophets
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!’…

Cross References
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? / If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. / If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, ...

Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.

Amos 9:2-4
Though they dig down to Sheol, from there My hand will take them; and though they climb up to heaven, from there I will pull them down. / Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them. / Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.”

1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

Isaiah 66:1
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

Job 34:21-22
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. / There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

Acts 17:27-28
God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. / ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Colossians 1:17
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Romans 11:33-36
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” / “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” ...

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Ephesians 4:6
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

John 14:23
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.


Treasury of Scripture

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? said the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? said the LORD.

hide.

Jeremiah 49:10
But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.

Genesis 16:13
And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Job 22:13,14
And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? …

do.

1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

2 Chronicles 2:6
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

2 Chronicles 6:18
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

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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.














Can a man hide in secret places
The phrase "Can a man hide" suggests the futility of attempting to conceal oneself from God. The Hebrew root for "hide" is "סתר" (sathar), which implies covering or concealing. Historically, this reflects the human tendency to hide from God, reminiscent of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:8. The "secret places" indicate locations thought to be beyond detection, yet the omnipresence of God makes such hiding impossible. This serves as a reminder of God's all-seeing nature and the transparency of human actions before Him.

where I cannot see him?”
The rhetorical question "where I cannot see him?" emphasizes God's omniscience. The Hebrew word for "see" is "ראה" (ra'ah), which means to perceive or understand. This highlights the divine attribute of God being all-seeing and all-knowing. Scripturally, this is consistent with passages like Psalm 139:7-12, which affirm that there is no place beyond God's sight. It reassures believers of God's constant watchfulness and presence in their lives.

declares the LORD
The phrase "declares the LORD" is a solemn affirmation of divine authority. The Hebrew term "נאם" (ne'um) is often used to convey a prophetic declaration, underscoring the certainty and seriousness of God's words. This phrase is a reminder of the authority and reliability of God's pronouncements, encouraging believers to trust in His word and promises.

Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?”
"Do I not fill" speaks to God's omnipresence. The Hebrew root "מלא" (male') means to fill or be full, indicating that God's presence permeates all of creation. The "heavens and the earth" encompass the entirety of the universe, affirming that there is no place devoid of God's presence. This is a comforting truth for believers, assuring them that God is always near, regardless of their circumstances.

declares the LORD
Reiterating "declares the LORD" at the end of the verse reinforces the authority and finality of God's statement. It serves as a bookend to the verse, emphasizing that these truths are not mere human speculation but divine revelation. This repetition underscores the importance of the message and the need for believers to heed God's words with reverence and trust.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Can
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

a man
אִ֧ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

hide
יִסָּתֵ֨ר (yis·sā·ṯêr)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5641: To hide, conceal

in secret places
בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֛ים (bam·mis·tā·rîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4565: A secret place, hiding place

where I
וַאֲנִ֥י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

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

see him?”
אֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ (’er·’en·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

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

“Do I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

not
הֲל֨וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

fill
מָלֵ֖א (mā·lê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

the heavens
הַשָּׁמַ֧יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

earth?”
הָאָ֛רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places (Jer.)
Jeremiah 23:23
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