Jeremiah 5:31

King James Version 1611 (Original)

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הַנְּבִיאִ֞ים נִבְּא֣וּ־בַשֶּׁ֗קֶר וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ יִרְדּ֣וּ עַל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַמִּ֖י אָ֣הֲבוּ כֵ֑ן וּמַֽה־תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ לְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ׃

Transliteration

The nəbî'îm nibbə'û-in the šeqer, and the kōhănîm yirdû upon-their yədêhem, and my 'ammî 'āhăbû thus; and what-you will ta'ăśû for its 'aḥărîtāh?

Grammar Details

• *ha*: article - the
• *nəbî'îm*: noun, masculine plural - prophets
• *nibbə'û*: perfect, 3rd plural, niphal - they prophesied
• *ba*: preposition + article - in the
• *šeqer*: noun, masculine singular - falsehood/lie
• *wə*: conjunction - and
• *kōhănîm*: noun, masculine plural - priests
• *yirdû*: imperfect, 3rd masculine plural - they rule
• *'al*: preposition - upon/according to
• *yədêhem*: noun, feminine dual construct + 3rd masculine plural suffix - their hands
• *'ammî*: noun, masculine singular + 1st singular suffix - my people
• *'āhăbû*: perfect, 3rd plural - they loved
• *kēn*: adverb - so/thus
• *mah*: interrogative - what
• *ta'ăśû*: imperfect, 2nd masculine plural - you will do
• *lə*: preposition - for/to
• *'aḥărîtāh*: noun, feminine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - its end

Word Meanings

• *nibbə'û-baššeqer*: they prophesied falsely/prophesied lies
• *yirdû 'al-yədêhem*: they rule at their direction/rule by their authority
• *'āhăbû kēn*: loved it so/preferred it that way
• *'aḥărîtāh*: its end/outcome/aftermath

Referenced Verses

• Ezek 13:6 : 6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
• Mic 2:11 : 11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
• Jer 14:14 : 14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
• Deut 32:29 : 29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
• Isa 10:3 : 3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
• John 3:19-21 : 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
• 2 Cor 11:13-15 : 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
• 2 Thess 2:9-9 : 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
• 2 Tim 4:3-4 : 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
• 2 Pet 2:1-2 : 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
• Zeph 2:2-3 : 2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. 3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
• Matt 7:15-17 : 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
• Mic 3:11 : 11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
• Ezek 22:14 : 14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.
• Mic 2:6 : 6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.
• Isa 20:6 : 6 And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
• Isa 30:10-11 : 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
• Isa 33:14 : 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
• Jer 4:30-31 : 30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life. 31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.
• Jer 22:22-23 : 22 The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness. 23 O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!
• Jer 23:25-26 : 25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
• Lam 1:9 : 9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
• Lam 2:14 : 14 Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.