Lamentations 2:14

KJV1611 – Modern English

Your prophets have seen vain and foolish things for you: and they have not revealed your iniquity, to turn away your captivity; but have seen for you false burdens and causes of banishment.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

נְבִיאַ֗יִךְ חָ֤זוּ לָךְ֙ שָׁ֣וְא וְתָפֵ֔ל וְלֹֽא־גִלּ֥וּ עַל־עֲוֺנֵ֖ךְ לְהָשִׁ֣יב *שביתך **שְׁבוּתֵ֑ךְ וַיֶּ֣חֱזוּ לָ֔ךְ מַשְׂא֥וֹת שָׁ֖וְא וּמַדּוּחִֽים׃

Transliteration

nəḇîʾayiḵ ḥāzû for-you šāwəʾ and-tāp̄ēl and-not-gillû on-ʿăwōnēḵ to-hāšîḇ šəḇûṯēḵ and-wayyeḥĕzû for-you maśʾôṯ šāwəʾ and-maddûḥîm

Grammar Details

• *nəḇîʾayiḵ*: noun, masculine plural + 2nd feminine singular suffix - your prophets
• *ḥāzû*: qal perfect, 3rd common plural - they have seen
• *lāḵ*: preposition + 2nd feminine singular suffix - for you
• *šāwəʾ*: noun, masculine singular - falsehood
• *wəṯāp̄ēl*: conjunction + noun, masculine singular - and folly/tastelessness
• *wəlōʾ-gillû*: conjunction + negative particle + piel perfect, 3rd common plural - and they have not uncovered
• *ʿal-ʿăwōnēḵ*: preposition + noun, masculine singular + 2nd feminine singular suffix - concerning your iniquity
• *ləhāšîḇ*: preposition + hiphil infinitive construct - to turn back/restore
• *šəḇûṯēḵ*: noun, feminine singular + 2nd feminine singular suffix - your captivity
• *wayyeḥĕzû*: conjunction + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine plural - and they have seen
• *maśʾôṯ*: noun, feminine plural construct - oracles/burdens of
• *ûmaddûḥîm*: conjunction + noun, masculine plural - and deceit/seductions

Word Meanings

• *nəḇîʾayiḵ*: prophets/seers
• *ḥāzû*: see/perceive/prophesy
• *šāwəʾ*: vanity/emptiness/falsehood/worthlessness
• *tāp̄ēl*: whitewash/plaster/tasteless/unseasoned
• *gillû*: uncover/reveal/expose
• *ʿăwōnēḵ*: iniquity/guilt/punishment
• *hāšîḇ*: turn back/restore/bring back
• *šəḇûṯēḵ*: captivity/fortunes/restoration
• *maśʾôṯ*: burdens/oracles/utterances
• *maddûḥîm*: enticements/deceptions/seductions

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  The visions of your prophets were false and empty; they did not expose your iniquity to restore your fortunes. Instead, they saw false and misleading oracles for you.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thy prophets{H5030} have seen{H2372} for thee false{H7723} and foolish visions;{H8602} And they have not uncovered{H1540} thine iniquity,{H5771} to bring back{H7725} thy captivity,{H7622} But have seen{H2372} for thee false{H7723} oracles{H4864} and causes of banishment.{H4065}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thy prophets{H5030} have seen{H2372}{(H8804)} vain{H7723} and foolish things{H8602} for thee: and they have not discovered{H1540}{(H8765)} thine iniquity{H5771}, to turn away{H7725}{(H8687)} thy captivity{H7622}{(H8675)}{H7622}; but have seen{H2372}{(H8799)} for thee false{H7723} burdens{H4864} and causes of banishment{H4065}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Thy prophetes haue loked out vayne & folish thinges for the, they haue not shewed the of thy wickednesse, to kepe the from captiuyte: but haue ouerladen the, and thorow falsede scatred the abrode.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Thy Prophets haue looked out vayne, & foolish things for thee, and they haue not discouered thine iniquitie, to turne away thy captiuitie, but haue looked out for thee false prophesies, & causes of banishment.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Thy prophetes haue looke dout vayne and foolish thinges for thee, they haue not shewed thee of thy wickednesse, to kepe thee from captiuitie: but they haue seene out for thee burthens of vanitie and banishment.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captivity, But have seen for you false oracles and causes of banishment.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Thy prophets have seen for thee a false and insipid thing, And have not revealed concerning thine iniquity, To turn back thy captivity, And they see for thee false burdens and causes of expulsion.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thy prophets have seen for thee false and foolish visions; And they have not uncovered thine iniquity, to bring back thy captivity, But have seen for thee false oracles and causes of banishment.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thy prophets have seen for thee false and foolish visions; And they have not uncovered thine iniquity, to bring back thy captivity, But have seen for thee false oracles and causes of banishment.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  The visions which your prophets have seen for you are false and foolish; they have not made clear to you your sin so that your fate might be changed: but they have seen for you false words, driving you away.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captivity, but have seen for you false oracles and causes of banishment.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  נ(Nun) Your prophets saw visions for you that were worthless whitewash. They failed to expose your sin so as to restore your fortunes. They saw oracles for you that were worthless lies.

Referenced Verses

• Isa 58:1 : 1 Cry aloud, do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
• Ezek 22:28 : 28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, Thus says the Lord GOD, when the LORD has not spoken.
• Jer 5:31 : 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end thereof?
• Jer 2:8 : 8 The priests did not say, Where is the LORD? and those who handle the law did not know me: the shepherds also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
• Ezek 22:25 : 25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in its midst, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in its midst.
• Isa 9:15-16 : 15 The elder and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teaches lies, he is the tail. 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed.
• Mic 2:11 : 11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood lies, saying, I will prophesy to you of wine and strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
• Mic 3:5-7 : 5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who make my people err, who bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that puts not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. 6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that you shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that you shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. 7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yes, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer from God.
• Zeph 3:4 : 4 Her prophets are light and treacherous people: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
• 2 Pet 2:1-3 : 1 But there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who secretly will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their pernicious ways; by whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And through covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; their judgment is long overdue, and their destruction does not slumber.
• Jer 6:13-14 : 13 For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
• Jer 8:10-11 : 10 Therefore, I will give their wives to others, and their fields to those who shall inherit them: for everyone from the least to the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely. 11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
• Jer 14:13-15 : 13 Then I said, 'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.'' 14 Then the LORD said to me, 'The prophets prophesy lies in My name; I have not sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision and divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.' 15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, and I have not sent them, yet they say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'—by sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.
• Jer 23:11-17 : 11 For both prophet and priest are profane. Yes, in my house I have found their wickedness, says the LORD. 12 Therefore their way shall be to them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall in it; for I will bring disaster upon them, the year of their punishment, says the LORD. 13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria: they prophesied by Baal and caused my people Israel to err. 14 I have also seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that none returns from his wickedness. They are all to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants of it as Gomorrah. 15 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem profaneness has gone forth into all the land. 16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you vain; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. 17 They still say to those who despise me, 'The LORD has said, You shall have peace.' And they say to everyone who walks after the imagination of his own heart, 'No evil shall come upon you.'
• Jer 23:22 : 22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.
• Jer 23:25-29 : 25 I have heard what the prophets said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.' 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which everyone tells to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? says the LORD. 29 Is not my word like a fire? says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
• Jer 23:31-34 : 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their tongues and say, 'He says.' 32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, says the LORD, and who tell them and cause my people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says the LORD. 33 And when this people, or a prophet, or a priest, shall ask you, saying, 'What is the burden of the LORD?' you shall then say to them, 'What burden? I will even forsake you, says the LORD.' 34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people who shall say, 'The burden of the LORD,' I will even punish that man and his house.
• Jer 23:36 : 36 And the burden of the LORD you shall mention no more; for every man's word shall be his burden, for you have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.
• Jer 27:9-9 : 9 Therefore do not listen to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, who speak to you, saying, You shall not serve the king of Babylon: 10 For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and you should perish.
• Jer 27:14-16 : 14 Therefore do not listen to the words of the prophets that speak to you, saying, You shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie to you. 15 For I have not sent them, says the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that you might perish, you, and the prophets that prophesy to you. 16 Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus says the LORD; Do not listen to the words of your prophets that prophesy to you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD's house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie to you.
• Jer 28:15 : 15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah to Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD has not sent you; but you make this people to trust in a lie.
• Jer 29:8-9 : 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners, who are among you, deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in my name: I have not sent them, says the LORD.
• Jer 37:19 : 19 Where now are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?
• Ezek 13:2-9 : 2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts, 'Hear the word of the LORD.' 3 Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, your prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. 5 You have not gone up into the gaps nor built a hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the LORD. 6 They have seen falsehood and lying divination, saying, 'The LORD says'; but the LORD has not sent them. And they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. 7 Have you not seen a vain vision, and have you not spoken a lying divination, when you say, 'The LORD says it,' although I have not spoken? 8 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have spoken vanity and seen lies, behold, I am against you, says the Lord GOD. 9 My hand shall be against the prophets who see vanity and divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of my people, nor shall they be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel; and you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 10 Because, indeed, they have seduced my people, saying, 'Peace,' when there was no peace; and one builds up a wall, and others daub it with untempered mortar. 11 Say to those who daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. 12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, 'Where is the daubing with which you have daubed it?' 13 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I will rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; there shall be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. 14 So will I break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and you shall be consumed in its midst; and you shall know that I am the LORD. 15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall and upon those who daubed it with untempered mortar, and will say to you, 'The wall is no more, nor are those who daubed it.' 16 This is concerning the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and see visions of peace for her, when there is no peace, says the Lord GOD.
• Ezek 13:22 : 22 Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, so he should not turn from his wicked way, by promising him life.