Jeremiah 5:13 Study Bible: The prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them."

◄ Jeremiah 5:13 ►

The prophets are but wind, for the word is not in them. So let their own predictions befall them."

The prophets
In the context of ancient Israel, prophets were considered messengers of God, tasked with delivering His word to the people. The Hebrew term for prophet, "navi," implies one who is called or appointed. Historically, prophets played a crucial role in guiding the spiritual and moral direction of the nation. However, in this verse, the prophets being referred to are false prophets, those who claim divine inspiration but lack true connection to God.

are but wind
The Hebrew word for "wind" is "ruach," which can also mean spirit or breath. Here, it signifies emptiness or lack of substance. The false prophets' messages are compared to wind, suggesting they are fleeting, insubstantial, and without true power or authority. This metaphor underscores the futility and deception of their words, which are not grounded in divine truth.

for the word is not in them
The "word" refers to the divine message or revelation from God. In Hebrew, "dabar" is often used to denote God's word, which carries authority and power. The absence of God's word in these prophets indicates their lack of legitimacy and divine commission. They speak from their own imaginations rather than from divine inspiration, leading the people astray.

So let their own predictions befall them
This phrase is a declaration of divine justice. The false prophets' predictions, which are not rooted in God's truth, will ultimately turn against them. The Hebrew concept of justice, "mishpat," often involves a reversal of fortunes for those who deceive or oppress. This statement serves as a warning that those who misuse the prophetic office will face the consequences of their falsehoods.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings and was marked by themes of judgment and restoration.

2. Prophets
In this context, refers to the false prophets in Judah who were misleading the people with messages that contradicted God's true word. They claimed to speak for God but were not inspired by Him.

3. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which was facing impending judgment due to its persistent sin and rebellion against God. Jeremiah's prophecies were directed primarily at this kingdom.

4. Wind
Symbolically used here to describe the emptiness and lack of substance in the false prophets' messages. The Hebrew word (ruach) can mean wind, spirit, or breath, emphasizing the insubstantial nature of their words.

5. Predictions
The false assurances and prophecies given by the false prophets, which were not based on God's truth and therefore destined to fail.

Teaching Points

Discernment in Leadership
Believers must exercise discernment in evaluating spiritual leaders and their teachings. Not all who claim to speak for God are truly inspired by Him.

The Authority of God's Word
The Bible is the ultimate authority for truth. Any teaching or prophecy must align with Scripture to be considered valid.

Consequences of False Prophecy
False prophets will face judgment for misleading God's people. Believers should be cautious and seek God's guidance to avoid being led astray.

The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth. Relying on the Spirit's leading is essential for understanding and applying God's word correctly.

Accountability in Teaching
Those who teach or lead in the church are held to a high standard of accountability. They must ensure their messages are rooted in Scripture and reflect God's truth.

Bible Study Questions

1. How can we discern between true and false prophets in today's context, and what role does Scripture play in this process?

2. In what ways can believers ensure they are not led astray by teachings that are not rooted in God's word?

3. How does the concept of "wind" in Jeremiah 5:13 relate to the emptiness of false teachings, and how can we apply this understanding to our spiritual lives?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to hold spiritual leaders accountable to the truth of Scripture?

5. How does the warning against false prophets in Jeremiah 5:13 connect with Jesus' teachings in the New Testament, and what implications does this have for the church today?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Deuteronomy 18:20-22
This passage outlines the test of a true prophet, emphasizing that a prophet whose predictions do not come to pass is not sent by God. This connection highlights the accountability of prophets to speak God's true word.

Ezekiel 13:3-9
Similar to Jeremiah, Ezekiel condemns false prophets who speak from their own imaginations rather than from God. This reinforces the theme of divine judgment against those who mislead God's people.

Matthew 7:15-20
Jesus warns about false prophets, teaching that they can be recognized by their fruits. This New Testament connection underscores the importance of discernment in identifying true and false teachings.

Sermons

The Vineyard Spoiled Because of the Degenerate Branches

People

Places

Topics

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Jeremiah 5:13

Library

A Question for the Beginning
'What will ye do in the end?'--JER. v. 31. I find that I preached to the young from this text just thirty years since--nearly a generation ago. How few of my then congregation are here to-night! how changed they and I are! and how much nearer the close we have drifted! How many of the young men and women of that evening have gone to meet the end, and how many of them have wrecked their lives because they would not face and answer this question! Ah, dear young friends, if I could bring some of the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Storming the Battlements
Jerusalem had sinned against God; she had rebelled against the most High, had set up for herself false gods, and bowed before them; and when God threatened her with chastisement, she built around herself strong battlements and bastions. She said "I am safe and secure. What though Jehovah hath gone away, I will trust in the gods of nations. Though the Temple is cast down, yet we will rely upon these bulwarks and strong fortifications that we have erected." "Ah!" says God, "Jerusalem, I will punish …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

God's Barriers against Man's Sin
I am slowly rallying. My great struggle now is with weakness. I feel as if my frail bark had weathered a heavy storm which has made every timber creak. Do not attribute this illness to my having laboured too hard for my Master. For his dear sake, I would that I may yet be able to labour more. Such toils as might be hardly noticed in the ramp for the service of one's country, would excite astonishment in the church for the service of our God. And now, I entreat you for love's sake to continue in prayer …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Tithing
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Mal. 3:10). Down deep in the heart of every Christian there is undoubtedly the conviction that he ought to tithe. There is an uneasy feeling that this is a duty which has been neglected, or, if you prefer it, a privilege that has not been …
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing

How those who Fear Scourges and those who Contemn them are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 14.) Differently to be admonished are those who fear scourges, and on that account live innocently, and those who have grown so hard in wickedness as not to be corrected even by scourges. For those who fear scourges are to be told by no means to desire temporal goods as being of great account, seeing that bad men also have them, and by no means to shun present evils as intolerable, seeing they are not ignorant how for the most part good men also are touched by them. They are to be admonished …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Purpose in the Coming of Jesus.
God Spelling Himself out in Jesus: change in the original language--bother in spelling Jesus out--sticklers for the old forms--Jesus' new spelling of old words. Jesus is God following us up: God heart-broken--man's native air--bad choice affected man's will--the wrong lane--God following us up. The Early Eden Picture, Genesis 1:26-31. 2:7-25: unfallen man--like God--the breath of God in man--a spirit, infinite, eternal--love--holy--wise--sovereign over creation, Psalm 8:5-8--in his own will--summary--God's …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

Purposes of God.
In discussing this subject I shall endeavor to show, I. What I understand by the purposes of God. Purposes, in this discussion, I shall use as synonymous with design, intention. The purposes of God must be ultimate and proximate. That is, God has and must have an ultimate end. He must purpose to accomplish something by his works and providence, which he regards as a good in itself, or as valuable to himself, and to being in general. This I call his ultimate end. That God has such an end or purpose, …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

"And Hereby we do Know that we Know Him, if we Keep his Commandments. "
1 John ii. 3.--"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." This age pretends to much knowledge beyond former ages, knowledge, I say, not only in other natural arts and sciences, but especially in religion. Whether there be any great advancement in other knowledge, and improvement of that which was, to a further extent and clearness, I cannot judge, but I believe there is not much of it in this nation, nor do we so much pretend to it. But, we talk of the enlargements of …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
Since every revealed purpose of God, implying that obedience to his law will be given, is a demand of that obedience, the announcement of his Covenant, as in his sovereignty decreed, claims, not less effectively than an explicit law, the fulfilment of its duties. A representation of a system of things pre-determined in order that the obligations of the Covenant might be discharged; various exhibitions of the Covenant as ordained; and a description of the children of the Covenant as predestinated …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
THE FALL OF NINEVEH AND THE RISE OF THE CHALDAEAN AND MEDIAN EMPIRES--THE XXVIth EGYPTIAN DYNASTY: CYAXARES, ALYATTES, AND NEBUCHADREZZAR. The legendary history of the kings of Media and the first contact of the Medes with the Assyrians: the alleged Iranian migrations of the Avesta--Media-proper, its fauna and flora; Phraortes and the beginning of the Median empire--Persia proper and the Persians; conquest of Persia by the Medes--The last monuments of Assur-bani-pal: the library of Kouyunjik--Phraortes …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, He is None of His. "
Rom. viii. 9.--"If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?" 2 Chron. vi. 18. It was the wonder of one of the wisest of men, and indeed, considering his infinite highness above the height of heavens, his immense and incomprehensible greatness, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him, and then the baseness, emptiness, and worthlessness of man, it may be a wonder to the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a covenant people, various signs were in sovereignty vouchsafed. The lights in the firmament of heaven were appointed to be for signs, affording direction to the mariner, the husbandman, and others. Miracles wrought on memorable occasions, were constituted signs or tokens of God's universal government. The gracious grant of covenant signs was made in order to proclaim the truth of the existence of God's covenant with his people, to urge the performance …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN LONDON. London: Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgates, 1692. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The very excellent preface to this treatise, written by George Cokayn, will inform the reader of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Of the Nature of Regeneration, and Particularly of the Change it Produces in Men's Apprehensions.
2 COR. v. 17. 2 COR. v. 17. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. THE knowledge of our true state in religion, is at once a matter of so great importance, and so great difficulty that, in order to obtain it, it is necessary we should have line upon line and precept upon precept. The plain discourse, which you before heard, was intended to lead you into it; and I question not but I then said enough to convince many, that they were …
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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