What is the context of Jeremiah 23:15?

Jeremiah 23:15 is part of Jeremiah chapter 23, which contains 40 verses. This verse has 6 cross-references to other scriptures, showing its connections throughout the Bible.

King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 23:15 Mean?

Jeremiah 23:15 in the King James Version says “Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them dr...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Jeremiah 23:15 · KJV

Context

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

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

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.

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. imagination: or, stubbornness

Read Jeremiah 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary

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. This divine judgment oracle targets false prophets. "LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Tseva'ot, יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) invokes God's military might—the commander of heavenly armies pronounces sentence. "Behold" (hineni, הִנְנִי, "here I am") signals imminent divine action.

"Wormwood" (la'anah, לַעֲנָה) is a bitter, potentially poisonous plant symbolizing bitterness and sorrow (Deuteronomy 29:18, Amos 5:7). "Water of gall" (mei-rosh, מֵי־רֹאשׁ) refers to poisoned water, possibly hemlock. Together they depict divine judgment as the prophets will taste the bitter fruit of their false teaching—they fed people lies, now God feeds them poison.

The charge is devastating: "from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land." The Hebrew chanuphah (חֲנֻפָּה, "profaneness") means godlessness, pollution, or hypocrisy. These religious leaders, who should have been fountains of truth, became sources of corruption spreading throughout Judah. This echoes Jesus' condemnation of scribes and Pharisees as "blind guides" (Matthew 23:16). False teaching poisons communities and nations, making its purveyors doubly accountable (James 3:1).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Jeremiah prophesied during Judah's final decades before Babylonian exile (627-586 BC). Chapter 23 condemns false prophets who proclaimed peace when judgment was imminent (v. 17). While Jeremiah warned of coming destruction due to covenant unfaithfulness, popular prophets like Hananiah contradicted him, promising quick deliverance (Jeremiah 28).

These false prophets were often court officials or temple functionaries who told kings what they wanted to hear rather than God's truth. Their lies had catastrophic consequences—the nation refused to repent, believing false assurances of safety, and consequently faced Babylonian conquest and exile. Archaeological evidence from this period shows Judah's fortified cities were violently destroyed, confirming Jeremiah's warnings came true.

The metaphor of wormwood and gall was visceral to Jeremiah's audience. These substances were associated with divine judgment throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 29:18, Lamentations 3:15, 19). The ironic justice is striking—prophets who fed people spiritual poison will themselves drink literal poison. This judgment fulfilled when false prophets were among those killed or exiled by Babylon. The passage warns every generation against preferring pleasant lies to uncomfortable truth.

Reflection Questions

How can you discern between true biblical teaching and false prophets who tell people what they want to hear?
What 'profaneness' might be spreading in contemporary Christian circles that resembles Jerusalem's false prophets?
How does this verse challenge the modern tendency to avoid 'negative' preaching about sin and judgment?
What responsibility do spiritual leaders bear for the health or corruption of communities under their influence?
How can we cultivate hunger for God's truth even when it's uncomfortable, rather than preferring comforting lies?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words

לָכֵ֞ן1 of 22

H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

כֹּֽה2 of 22

H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֨ר3 of 22

“Therefore thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֤ה4 of 22

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

צְבָאוֹת֙5 of 22

“of hosts”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

עַל6 of 22

H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

נְבִיאֵ֣י7 of 22

“concerning the prophets”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

הִנְנִ֨י8 of 22

H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

מַאֲכִ֤יל9 of 22

“Behold I will feed”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

אוֹתָם֙10 of 22

H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לַֽעֲנָ֔ה11 of 22

“them with wormwood”

H3939

wormwood (regarded as poisonous, and therefore accursed)

וְהִשְׁקִתִ֖ים12 of 22

“and make them drink”

H8248

to quaff, i.e., (causatively) to irrigate or furnish a potion to

מֵי13 of 22

“the water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

רֹ֑אשׁ14 of 22

“of gall”

H7219

a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous head); generally poison (even of serpents)

כִּ֗י15 of 22

H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

מֵאֵת֙16 of 22

H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

נְבִיאֵ֣י17 of 22

“concerning the prophets”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם18 of 22

“of Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

יָצְאָ֥ה19 of 22

“gone forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

חֲנֻפָּ֖ה20 of 22

“is profaneness”

H2613

impiety

לְכָל21 of 22

H3605

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

הָאָֽרֶץ׃22 of 22

“into all the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

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 23:15 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 23:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 8:14 Jeremiah 9:15 Lamentations 3:15 Lamentations 3:5 Psalms 69:21 Matthew 27:34

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books

View all places in Jeremiah 23 →

Test Your Knowledge

Jeremiah 23 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter Jeremiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Jeremiah 23 with Commentary All Jeremiah Chapters Complete Jeremiah Quiz Bible Characters Nave's Topical Bible All Bible Quizzes