King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 23:17 Mean?

Jeremiah 23:17 in the King James Version says “They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walk...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Jeremiah 23:17 · KJV

Peace

Context

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.

17

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

18

For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? counsel: or, secret

19

Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

Read Jeremiah 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace—the Hebrew נֹאמְרִים (no'mrim, 'they keep saying') indicates continual, repetitive proclamation. To those who despise me (מְנַאֲצַי, m'na'atsai—active scorners of Yahweh), the false prophets promise שָׁלוֹם (shalom, 'peace/wholeness/prosperity'). And they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. The phrase שְׁרִרוּת לִבּוֹ (sh'rirut libbo, 'stubbornness/imagination of his heart') describes willful rebellion disguised as independence.

The false prophets commit theological malpractice: promising covenant blessings to covenant breakers. They divorce blessing from obedience, creating a prosperity gospel disconnected from holiness. Jesus warned against false prophets who cry 'Lord, Lord' yet practice lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23). The modern equivalent says 'God loves you' while ignoring repentance, cheap grace without discipleship. Authentic prophets comfort the afflicted but afflict the comfortable—false prophets reverse this.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This was a perennial problem in Israel—prophets declaring 'Peace, peace' when no peace existed (Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11). During 609-586 BC, as Babylon's threat grew, Judah's court prophets insisted God would never allow Jerusalem's destruction because of the temple's presence. They reinterpreted covenant promises to guarantee security regardless of faithfulness, a deadly theological error.

Reflection Questions

  1. What false peace are you proclaiming to yourself while walking in stubbornness?
  2. How does contemporary Christianity sometimes promise blessing without obedience?
  3. What would it mean for you to hear God's authentic word rather than comfortable lies?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
אָֽמְר֔וּ1 of 17

“They say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אָֽמְר֔וּ2 of 17

“They say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י3 of 17

“unto them that despise”

H5006

to scorn; or (in ecclesiastes 12:5), by interchange for h5132, to bloom

דִּבֶּ֣ר4 of 17

“hath said”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

יְהוָ֔ה5 of 17

“me The LORD”

H3068

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

שָׁל֖וֹם6 of 17

“Ye shall have peace”

H7965

safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace

יִֽהְיֶ֣ה7 of 17
H1961

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

לָכֶ֑ם8 of 17
H0
וְ֠כֹל9 of 17
H3605

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

הֹלֵ֞ךְ10 of 17

“unto every one that walketh”

H1980

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

בִּשְׁרִר֤וּת11 of 17

“after the imagination”

H8307

obstinacy

לִבּוֹ֙12 of 17

“of his own heart”

H3820

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything

אָֽמְר֔וּ13 of 17

“They say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לֹֽא14 of 17
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תָב֥וֹא15 of 17

“shall come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם16 of 17
H5921

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

רָעָֽה׃17 of 17

“No evil”

H7451

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

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 23:17 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 23:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Micah 3:11Jeremiah 13:10Amos 9:10Micah 3:5Jeremiah 9:14Jeremiah 5:12

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