King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 27:10 Mean?

Jeremiah 27:10 in the King James Version says “For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should peris...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.”

Jeremiah 27:10 · KJV

Salvation

Context

And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: dreamers: Heb. dreams

For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

Read Jeremiah 27 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary

For they prophesy a lie unto you—The verdict is unambiguous: sheker (שֶׁקֶר, lie/falsehood/deception). These weren't honest mistakes but deliberate deception, whether self-deceived or consciously fraudulent. The consequence follows: to remove you far from your land (lema'an harkhiq etkhem me'al admatkem, לְמַעַן הַרְחִיק אֶתְכֶם מֵעַל אַדְמַתְכֶם). The false prophecy would lead to the opposite of its promise—instead of preserving independence, rebellion would result in destruction and deportation farther from homeland.

And that I should drive you out, and ye should perish—God takes responsibility for the judgment: I should drive you out (ve-hidhakhti etkhem, וְהִדַּחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם). The verb nadakh (נָדַח) means to thrust away, banish, drive out—covenant curse language from Deuteronomy 28:63-64. The result would be perish (va-avadtem, וַאֲבַדְתֶּם), from avad (אָבַד, to be destroyed, vanish, die). This demonstrates the deadly consequences of false teaching: it leads people to act against God's will, bringing judgment rather than blessing. The ironic tragedy is that following false prophets promising deliverance would result in the very catastrophe being avoided. Truth saves; lies destroy.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy was precisely fulfilled. The nations that rebelled against Babylon were crushed. When Zedekiah eventually broke his oath to Nebuchadnezzar (despite Jeremiah's warnings), Babylon besieged Jerusalem for 18 months, causing famine, disease, and death. When the city fell (586 BC), Nebuchadnezzar executed Zedekiah's sons before his eyes, blinded him, and deported him to Babylon where he died (2 Kings 25:1-7; Jeremiah 52:1-11). The population was either killed, deported, or scattered as refugees. Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon all suffered similar fates under Babylonian campaigns. Archaeological evidence shows destruction layers at multiple sites dating to this period, confirming the devastation wrought by resisting Babylon contrary to God's word through Jeremiah.

Reflection Questions

How does this verse illustrate that following false teaching leads to the opposite of what it promises?
In what ways might we be tempted to follow voices that promise easy solutions or pleasant outcomes contrary to Scripture?
What is the relationship between truth and life, falsehood and death, as demonstrated in this passage?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words

כִּ֣י1 of 13

H3588

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

שֶׁ֔קֶר2 of 13

“a lie”

H8267

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

הֵ֖ם3 of 13

H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

נִבְּאִ֣ים4 of 13

“For they prophesy”

H5012

to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)

לָכֶ֑ם5 of 13

לְמַ֨עַן6 of 13

H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

הַרְחִ֤יק7 of 13

“unto you to remove you far”

H7368

to widen (in any direction), i.e., (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)

אֶתְכֶם֙8 of 13

H853

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

מֵעַ֣ל9 of 13

H5921

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

אַדְמַתְכֶ֔ם10 of 13

“from your land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

וְהִדַּחְתִּ֥י11 of 13

“and that I should drive you out”

H5080

to push off; used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (to expel, mislead, strike, inflict, etc.)

אֶתְכֶ֖ם12 of 13