Jeremiah 5 · Verse 31

Jeremiah 5:31

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?
Jeremiah 5:31, King James Version

Jeremiah 5:31 in other translations

BSBThe prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
WEBThe prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority; and my people love to have it so. What will you do in the end of it?
ASVthe 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?
YLTThe prophets have prophesied falsely, And the priests bear rule by their means, And My people have loved it so, And what do they at its latter end?
DARBYthe prophets prophesy falsehood, and the priests rule by their means; and my people love to have it so. But what will ye do in the end thereof?
BBEThe prophets give false words and the priests give decisions by their direction; and my people are glad to have it so: and what will you do in the end?
WebsterThe 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?

What does Jeremiah 5:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. bear rule by their means--literally, "according to their hands," that is, under their guidance (1Ch 25:3). As a sample of the priests lending themselves to the deceits of the false prophets, to gain influence over the people, see Jr 29:24-32. love to have it so--(Mi 2:11). end thereof--the fatal issue of this sinful course when divine judgments shall come.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 The prophets prophesy falsely - The false prophets predict favorable things, that they may please both the princes and the people. The priests bear rule by their means - The false prophets affording them all that their influence and power can procure, to enable them to keep their places, and feed on the riches of the Lord's house. And my people love to have it so - Are perfectly satisfied with this state of things, because they are permitted to continue in their sins without reproof or restraint. The prophets and the priests united to deceive and ruin the people. The prophets gave out false predictions; by their means the priests got the government of the people into their own hands; and so infatuated were the people that they willingly abandoned themselves to those blind guides, and would not hearken to the voice of any reformer. In my Old Bible the words stand thus: - Stonyng and mervailis ben made in the erthe, prophets prophecieden lesing; and prestis flappiden with joye with ther bondes, and my peple lovid siche thingis. False prophets and worldly priests have been in all ages the bane of religion, and the ruin of many souls. When profligate people stand up on behalf of profligate priests, corruption must then be at its height.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 5:19-31

Unhumbled hearts are ready to charge God with being unjust in their afflictions. But they may read their sin in their punishment. If men will inquire wherefore the Lord doeth hard things unto them, let them think of their sins. The restless waves obeyed the Divine decree, that they should not pass the sandy shores, which were as much a restraint as lofty mountains; but they burst all restraints of God's law, and…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 5:19-31 →

Jeremiah 5:31 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַנְּבִיאִ֞יםha.ne.vi.'Imthe prophetsH5030
נִבְּא֣וּ\־ni.be.'U-they have prophesiedH5012
בַשֶּׁ֗קֶרva.She.kerwith <the> falsehoodH8267
וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ve.ha.ko.ha.Nimand the priestsH3548
יִרְדּ֣וּyir.Duthey are rulingH7287
עַל\־'al-onH5921
יְדֵיהֶ֔םye.dei.Hemhands theirH3027
וְעַמִּ֖יve.'a.Miand people myH5971
אָ֣הֲבוּ'A.ha.vuthey have lovedH157
כֵ֑ןKhenthusH3651
וּמַֽה\־u.mah-and what?H4100
תַּעֲשׂ֖וּta.'a.Suwill you doH6213
לְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ\׃le.'a.cha.ri.Tahto end itsH319

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 5:31

  • Ezekiel 13:6

    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.

  • Jeremiah 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.

  • Micah 2:11

    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.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11

    Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

  • 2 Timothy 4:3-4

    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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

    For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 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 Peter 2:1-2

    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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

  • John 3:19-21

    And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

  • Deuteronomy 32:29

    O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

  • Ezekiel 22:14

    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.

  • Zephaniah 2:2-3

    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. 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.

  • Isaiah 10:3

    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?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
prophets.
14:14; 23:25,26; La 2:14; Eze 13:6; Mic 3:11; Mt 7:15-17
2Co 11:13-15; 2Pe 2:1,2
bear rule. or, take into their hands. my people.
Isa 30:10,11; Mic 2:6,11; Joh 3:19-21; 2Th 2:9-11; 2Ti 4:3,4
and what.
4:30,31; 22:22,23; De 32:29; Isa 10:3; 20:6; 33:14; La 1:9; Eze 22:14
Zep 2:2,3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 5:30

    A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;

  • Jeremiah 5:31

    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?

Read all of Jeremiah 5

Jeremiah 5:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Los profetas profetizaron mentira, y los sacerdotes dirigían por manos de ellos; y mi pueblo así lo quiso. ¿Qué pues haréis á su fin?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
les prophètes prophétisent avec mensonge, et les sacrificateurs dominent par leur moyen; et mon peuple l’aime ainsi. Et que ferez-vous à la fin?
German
Elberfelder 1871
die Propheten weissagen falsch, und die Priester herrschen unter ihrer Leitung, und mein Volk liebt es so. Was werdet ihr aber tun am Ende von dem allen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
prophetæ prophetabant mendacium, et sacerdotes applaudebant manibus suis, et populus meus dilexit talia. Quid igitur fiet in novissimo ejus?