King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 23:9 Mean?

Jeremiah 23:9 in the King James Version says “Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.”

Jeremiah 23:9 · KJV

Context

7

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

8

But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

9

Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.

10

For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. swearing: or, cursing course: or, violence

11

For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.

Read Jeremiah 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets—Jeremiah's visceral response to false prophets uses shabar (שָׁבַר), meaning shattered, crushed, or broken into pieces. This isn't mere sadness but profound spiritual anguish. All my bones shake employs rahash (רָחַשׁ), meaning to quake or tremble, the same word used for earthquakes. I am like a drunken man describes disorientation and loss of control, not from intoxication but from encountering the LORD, and... the words of his holiness (qodesh, קֹדֶשׁ—set-apartness, moral purity).

This verse introduces Jeremiah 23:9-40, God's devastating oracle against false prophets who claimed divine authority while leading Judah to destruction. Jeremiah's physical symptoms—broken heart, shaking bones, staggering gait—reveal how deeply spiritual corruption affected him. He couldn't remain emotionally detached from the prophets' wickedness because he knew God's holy character and coming judgment. This passage anticipates Jesus weeping over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and Paul's anguish over Israel's unbelief (Romans 9:1-3). True prophets grieve over sin; false prophets minimize it.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This oracle dates to the final years before Jerusalem's destruction (605-586 BC). False prophets like Hananiah (Jeremiah 28) and those mentioned in chapter 23 dominated Judah's religious landscape, promising peace when God had decreed judgment. They prophesied from their own hearts rather than God's council (23:16-18), committing adultery and lies while strengthening evildoers (23:14). Jeremiah stood virtually alone against this prophetic establishment, experiencing isolation, imprisonment, and death threats. The cultural context made false prophecy lucrative—kings paid prophets to validate policies, and people preferred comforting lies to uncomfortable truth. Jeremiah's physical response demonstrates the cost of maintaining prophetic integrity in a corrupt religious system.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Jeremiah's physical reaction to false prophecy teach about how deeply we should be affected by spiritual deception?
  2. How can we distinguish between prophets who genuinely grieve over sin and those who minimize or excuse it?
  3. Why does encountering God's holiness produce such profound distress when confronting religious corruption?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
לַנְּבִאִ֞ים1 of 18

“because of the prophets”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

נִשְׁבַּ֧ר2 of 18

“me is broken”

H7665

to burst (literally or figuratively)

לִבִּ֣י3 of 18

“Mine heart”

H3820

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

בְקִרְבִּ֗י4 of 18

“within”

H7130

properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)

רָֽחֲפוּ֙5 of 18

“shake”

H7363

to brood

כָּל6 of 18
H3605

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

עַצְמוֹתַ֔י7 of 18

“all my bones”

H6106

a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame

הָיִ֙יתִי֙8 of 18
H1961

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

כְּאִ֣ישׁ9 of 18

“man”

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)

שִׁכּ֔וֹר10 of 18

“I am like a drunken”

H7910

intoxicated, as a state or a habit

וּכְגֶ֖בֶר11 of 18

“and like a man”

H1397

properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply

עֲבָ֣רוֹ12 of 18

“hath overcome”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

יָ֑יִן13 of 18

“whom wine”

H3196

wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication

וּמִפְּנֵ֖י14 of 18

“because”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

יְהוָ֔ה15 of 18

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

וּמִפְּנֵ֖י16 of 18

“because”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

דִּבְרֵ֥י17 of 18

“and because of the words”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃18 of 18

“of his holiness”

H6944

a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity

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 23:9 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 23:9 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Habakkuk 3:16Daniel 8:27Psalms 60:3Lamentations 3:15Isaiah 51:21Romans 7:9

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