King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 23:14 Mean?

Jeremiah 23:14 in the King James Version says “I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. an: or, filthiness

Jeremiah 23:14 · KJV


Context

12

Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.

13

And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. folly: or, an absurd thing: Heb. unsavoury

14

I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. an: or, filthiness

15

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. profaneness: or, hypocrisy

16

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thingsha'arurah (שַׁעֲרוּרָה) means something horrifying, appalling, or causing one's hair to stand on end. What follows justifies this extreme language: they commit adultery, and walk in lies—both literal sexual immorality (na'aph, נָאַף) and spiritual unfaithfulness, combined with habitual deception (sheker, שֶׁקֶר). They strengthen also the hands of evildoerschazaq yad (חִזְּקוּ יְדֵי) means to make firm or encourage. By not calling sin to account, they enable wickedness. That none doth return from his wickednessshuv (שׁוּב), the standard word for repentance (turning back), doesn't occur because false prophets remove motivation to change.

They are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah—the comparison to Genesis 19's paradigmatic wicked cities is devastating. God doesn't see Jerusalem as His holy city but as morally equivalent to the cities He destroyed with fire. This anticipates Jesus's warning that it will be more tolerable for Sodom in judgment than for cities that reject Him (Matthew 10:15). The verse reveals how false prophets function: their moral compromise and false assurances prevent the repentance that could avert judgment.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Jerusalem, David's city and site of Solomon's temple, considered itself immune to judgment due to God's covenant promises (Jeremiah 7:4: 'The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!'). Yet by Jeremiah's time (605-586 BC), the city's prophets practiced the very sins that destroyed Sodom: pride, complacency, neglect of the poor (Ezekiel 16:49), and sexual immorality. Archaeological evidence from this period shows widespread syncretistic worship and cultic prostitution. The prophets who should have called the city to repentance instead participated in and legitimized wickedness. Their 'strengthening the hands of evildoers' meant that righteous judgment from God became necessary because internal moral correction was impossible. Within a generation, Jerusalem experienced destruction that made Sodom's judgment look mild (Lamentations 4:6).

Reflection Questions

  1. How do false teachers 'strengthen the hands of evildoers' by removing the motivation for repentance?
  2. What does Jerusalem's comparison to Sodom teach about the insufficiency of religious heritage without moral transformation?
  3. In what ways might churches today be morally equivalent to 'Sodom and Gomorrah' despite orthodox appearance?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וּבִנְבִאֵ֨י1 of 20

also in the prophets

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם2 of 20

of Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

רָאִ֣יתִי3 of 20

I have seen

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

שַׁעֲרוּרָ֗ה4 of 20

an horrible thing

H8186

something fearful

נָא֞וֹף5 of 20

they commit adultery

H5003

to commit adultery; figuratively, to apostatize

וְהָלֹ֤ךְ6 of 20

and walk

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

בַּשֶּׁ֙קֶר֙7 of 20

in lies

H8267

an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)

וְחִזְּקוּ֙8 of 20

they strengthen

H2388

to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restra

יְדֵ֣י9 of 20

also the hands

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

מְרֵעִ֔ים10 of 20

of evildoers

H7489

properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)

לְבִ֨לְתִּי11 of 20
H1115

properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n

שָׁ֔בוּ12 of 20

doth return

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

אִ֖ישׁ13 of 20

that none

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

מֵרָֽעָת֑וֹ14 of 20

from his wickedness

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

הָֽיוּ15 of 20
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לִ֤י16 of 20
H0
כֻלָּם֙17 of 20
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

כִּסְדֹ֔ם18 of 20

they are all of them unto me as Sodom

H5467

sedom, a place near the dead sea

וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ19 of 20

and the inhabitants

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

כַּעֲמֹרָֽה׃20 of 20

thereof as Gomorrah

H6017

amorah, a place in palestine


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 23:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 23:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Places in This Verse

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study