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Trinity/After Pentecost · The Eighth Sunday after Trinity

Jeremiah 23:16-29

Against the False Prophets Who Speak Their Own Dreams

July 26, 2026

Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem, Rembrandt van Rijn
Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1630Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
An early Rembrandt. Jeremiah leans on a book with the city burning in the background, so small and so far off that it takes a moment to find it.Jeremiah's complaint is that he was right and it did him no good, and the painting puts the proof of it behind his shoulder where he is not looking.Rembrandt van RijnRembrandt (1606-1669) painted scripture as if it had happened in a room he had been in, and returned to the same stories across forty years, changing his mind about them in public.Rijksmuseum, AmsterdamThe Netherlands' national museum, built around the Dutch Golden Age and reopened in 2013 after a ten-year rebuilding.Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 7:15-23Mt 7:15-23
EpistleRom. 8:12-17Rom 8:12-17Alt. EpistleActs 20:27-38
Old TestamentJer. 23:16-29Jer 23:16-29
PsalterPs. 26Ps 26

Overview & Insights

"Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29)

The Lord warns his people not to listen to prophets who fill them with false hope and speak visions of their own hearts rather than words from his mouth. He asks whether anyone can hide where he cannot see, since he fills heaven and earth, and contrasts the empty dream with his word that burns like fire and shatters rock.

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Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 23:23-29Commentary on Jer 23:23-29 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary exegesis of the God who fills heaven and earth and the word that burns like fire against false dreams.

Enduring Word Bible Commentary Jeremiah Chapter 23Enduring Word Bible Commentary Jer Chapter 23 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on the false shepherds, false prophets, and the word like fire.

Jeremiah 23 CommentaryJer 23 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep gathering of word studies and cross references worked verse by verse through the oracle against the prophets.

Jeremiah 23:16 CommentariesJer 23:16 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries on the prophets who speak visions of their own minds in one place.

Jeremiah 23, Expository NotesJer 23, Expository Notes StudyLight

Thomas Constable's expository notes on the condemnation of the false prophets and the word like a hammer.

Background & Word Study

Jeremiah 23 in HebrewJer 23 in Hebrew Sefaria

The Hebrew text with English alongside and traditional Jewish commentary links for the oracle against the prophets.

Jeremiah 23:16 Hebrew InterlinearJer 23:16 Hebrew Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, useful for dream, vision, and the word like fire.

The Church Fathers

Commentary on Jeremiah 23 from the Church FathersCommentary on Jer 23 from the Church Fathers Catena

Patristic comment gathered verse by verse on the false prophets and the word that breaks rock.

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