Jeremiah 23:38

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But if you claim, 'The burden of the LORD,' this is what the LORD says: Because you have used this phrase, 'The burden of the LORD,' even though I told you not to say it,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְאִם־מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָה֮ תֹּאמֵרוּ֒ לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה יַ֧עַן אֲמָרְכֶ֛ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה מַשָּׂ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֥א תֹאמְר֖וּ מַשָּׂ֥א יְהוָֽה

Transliteration

And-if-massāʾ YHWH tōʾmērû, therefore thus ʾāmar YHWH: Because ʾămārkem ʾet-the-dābār the-this, "massāʾ YHWH," and-ʾešlaḥ to-you lēʾmōr, "Not tōʾmerû massāʾ YHWH,"

Grammar Details

• *massāʾ*: noun, masculine singular - burden/oracle
• *tōʾmērû*: qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural - you say
• *ʾāmar*: qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular - he said
• *ʾămārkem*: qal infinitive construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix - your saying
• *dābār*: noun, masculine singular - word
• *ʾešlaḥ*: qal imperfect 1st person singular with waw consecutive - and I sent
• *lēʾmōr*: preposition + qal infinitive construct - to say
• *tōʾmerû*: qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural - you shall say

Word Meanings

• *massāʾ*: burden/oracle/pronouncement
• *tōʾmērû*: you say/you pronounce/you declare
• *ʾāmar*: he said/he declared/he commanded
• *ʾămārkem*: your saying/your speaking
• *dābār*: word/matter/thing
• *ʾešlaḥ*: and I sent/and I dispatched/and I commanded
• *lēʾmōr*: saying/to say

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But since you say, 'The burden of the LORD'; therefore, thus says the LORD: Because you say this word, 'The burden of the LORD,' and I have sent to you, saying, 'You shall not say, The burden of the LORD';

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{H518} if ye say,{H559} The burden{H4853} of Jehovah;{H3068} therefore thus saith{H559} Jehovah:{H3068} Because ye say{H559} this word,{H1697} The burden{H4853} of Jehovah,{H3068} and I have sent{H7971} unto you, saying,{H559} Ye shall not say,{H559} The burden{H4853} of Jehovah;{H3068}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{H518} since ye say{H559}{(H8799)}, The burden{H4853} of the LORD{H3068}; therefore thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}; Because ye say{H559}{(H8800)} this word{H1697}, The burden{H4853} of the LORD{H3068}, and I have sent{H7971}{(H8799)} unto you, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Ye shall not say{H559}{(H8799)}, The burden{H4853} of the LORD{H3068};

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And not once to name the burthen of the LORDE. Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: For so moch as ye haue vsed this terme (the burthen of the LORDE) where as I notwithstondinge sent vnto you, and forbade you to speake of the LORDES burthen:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And if you say, The burden of the Lorde, Then thus saith the Lorde, Because yee say this word, The burden of the Lorde, and I haue sent vnto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lorde,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And not once to name the burthen of the Lorde. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Forasmuch as ye haue vsed this terme (the burthen of the Lord) where as I notwithstanding sent vnto you and forbad you to speake of the Lordes burthen:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But if you say, The burden of Yahweh; therefore thus says Yahweh: Because you say this word, The burden of Yahweh, and I have sent to you, saying, You shall not say, The burden of Yahweh;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And if the burden of Jehovah ye say, Therefore thus said Jehovah: Because of your saying this word, The burden of Jehovah, And I do send unto you, saying, Ye do not say, The burden of Jehovah.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But if ye say, The burden of Jehovah; therefore thus saith Jehovah: Because ye say this word, The burden of Jehovah, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of Jehovah;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But if ye say, The burden of Jehovah; therefore thus saith Jehovah: Because ye say this word, The burden of Jehovah, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of Jehovah;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But if you say, The word of weight of the Lord; this is what the Lord has said: Because you say, The weight of the Lord, and I have sent to you, saying, You are not to say, The weight of the Lord;

• World English Bible (2000)

  But if you say, The burden of Yahweh; therefore thus says Yahweh: Because you say this word, The burden of Yahweh, and I have sent to you, saying, You shall not say, The burden of Yahweh;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But just suppose you continue to say,‘The message of the LORD is burdensome.’ Here is what the LORD says will happen:‘I sent word to you that you must not say,“The LORD’s message is burdensome.” But you used the words“The LORD’s message is burdensome” anyway.

Referenced Verses

• 2 Chr 11:13-14 : 13 The priests and Levites throughout Israel took their stand with Rehoboam out of all their territories. 14 For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests of the LORD.