King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 23:33 Mean?

Jeremiah 23:33 in the King James Version says “And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt th...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.”

Jeremiah 23:33 · KJV

Context

31

Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. that: or, that smooth their tongues

32

Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.

33

And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.

34

And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house. punish: Heb. visit upon

35

Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?

Read Jeremiah 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? The Hebrew מַשָּׂא (massa, 'burden/oracle/pronouncement') is a wordplay—it means both 'prophetic oracle' and 'heavy burden.' False prophets trivialized this term, using it casually. God responds: What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD (מַה־מַשָּׂא וְנָטַשְׁתִּי אֶתְכֶם נְאֻם־יְהוָה, mah-massa v'natashti etkhem ne'um-YHWH). The pun suggests: 'You want a burden? The burden is that I will abandon you!'

The verb נָטַשׁ (natash, 'forsake/abandon/cast off') represents covenant divorce—God withdrawing His presence. This is the ultimate burden: not judgment itself but God's absence. The flippant use of sacred terminology (מַשָּׂא) provokes divine anger. When people treat prophecy as entertainment or casual conversation ('What's God's latest oracle?'), they profane holy things. The severest judgment is divine abandonment—'I will forsake you.' Paul echoes this: 'God gave them over' (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). Nothing is more terrifying than getting what you demand—a God who leaves you alone.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

By Jeremiah's era, the term massa had become common religious jargon, emptied of weight and reverence. People asked 'What is the massa of the LORD?' like asking for gossip or news. This casual treatment of prophetic oracles reflected broader covenant disregard. God's response—'I will forsake you'—predicted the exile when divine presence would depart the temple (Ezekiel 10:18-19) and God would abandon Jerusalem to Babylon.

Reflection Questions

  1. How might you be treating divine revelation casually, as religious trivia rather than weighty truth?
  2. What would it mean for God to 'forsake' you—withdrawing His presence and leaving you to your choices?
  3. In what ways does flippant religious language profane sacred realities?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וְכִי1 of 21
H3588

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

יִשְׁאָלְךָ֩2 of 21

“shall ask”

H7592

to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

הָעָ֨ם3 of 21

“And when this people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

הַזֶּ֜ה4 of 21
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

אֽוֹ5 of 21
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

הַנָּבִ֤יא6 of 21

“or the prophet”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

אֽוֹ7 of 21
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

כֹהֵן֙8 of 21

“or a priest”

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

וְאָמַרְתָּ֤9 of 21

“thee saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מַה10 of 21
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

מַשָּׂ֔א11 of 21

“What is the burden”

H4853

a burden; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire

יְהוָֽה׃12 of 21

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

וְאָמַרְתָּ֤13 of 21

“thee saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲלֵיהֶם֙14 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֶת15 of 21
H853

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

מַה16 of 21
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

מַשָּׂ֔א17 of 21

“What is the burden”

H4853

a burden; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire

וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֥י18 of 21

“I will even forsake”

H5203

properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive

אֶתְכֶ֖ם19 of 21
H853

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

נְאֻם20 of 21

“you saith”

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָֽה׃21 of 21

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

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 23:33 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 23:33 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Malachi 1:1Habakkuk 1:1Hosea 9:12Nahum 1:1Jeremiah 12:7Isaiah 13:1

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