Adultery in the Prophets, Part 2

If I look now at the word group from which πορνεία is derived the idea that Jesus, Paul and the New Testament writers had idolatrous worship with its drunken sexual practices in mind when they used it, is not as strange as it first sounded.  Here are the words as they are listed and defined in Strong’s Concordance:

G4205 πόρνος pornos por’-nos From πέρνημι pernēmi (to sell; akin to the base of G4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine):—fornicator, whoremonger.

From πόρνος comes the feminine πόρνη.

G4204 πόρνη pornē por’-nay Feminine of G4205; a strumpet; figuratively an idolater:—harlot, whore.

From πόρνη comes the verb πορνεύω.

G4203 πορνεύω porneuō porn-yoo’-o From G4204; to act the harlot, that is, (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry:—commit (fornication).

And finally from the verb πορνεύω, the activity of πόρνος and πόρνη, comes the noun πορνεία.

G4202 πορνεία porneia por-ni’-ah From G4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry:—fornication.

I left the narrative of adultery in the Prophets with God’s warning to the southern kingdom of Judah not to follow in the footsteps of the northern kingdom of Israel.  Although you, O Israel, commit adultery (zānâ, זנה), do not let Judah become guilty!1  I pick up the thread again later in the southern kingdom of Judah with the prophet Jeremiah (3:6-11 NET):

When Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord said to me, “Jeremiah, you have no doubt seen what wayward (mᵊšûḇâ, משבה) Israel has done.  You have seen how she went up to every high hill and under every green tree to give herself like a prostitute (zānâ, ותזני; Greek: ἐπόρνευσαν, a form of πορνεύω) to other gods [Table].  Yet even after she had done [Greek: πορνεῦσαι, another form of πορνεύω] all that, I thought that she might come back to me.  But she did not.  Her sister, unfaithful (bāḡôḏ, בגודה) Judah, saw what she did [Table].  She also saw that I gave wayward (mᵊšûḇâ, משבה) Israel her divorce papers and sent her away because of her adulterous (nā’ap̄, נאפה) worship of other gods.  Even after her unfaithful (bāḡaḏ, בגדה) sister Judah had seen this, she still was not afraid, and she too went and gave herself like a prostitute (zānâ, ותזן; Greek: ἐπόρνευσε[ν], another form of πορνεύω) to other gods [Table].  Because she took her prostitution (zᵊnûṯ, זנותה; Greek: πορνεία) so lightly, she defiled the land through her adulterous (nā’ap̄, ותנאף) worship of gods made of wood and stone [Table].  In spite of all this, Israel’s sister, unfaithful (bāḡôḏ, בגודה) Judah, has not turned back (šûḇ, שבה)2 to me with any sincerity; she has only pretended to do so,” says the Lord [Table].  Then the Lord said to me, “Under the circumstances, wayward (mᵊšûḇâ, משבה) Israel could even be considered less guilty than unfaithful (bāḡaḏ, מבגדה) Judah [Table].

Judah like Israel engaged in idolatrous worship, which was not merely figurative adultery but involved worshippers in actual sexual sacrifices with both professional cultic prostitutes and eager amateurs at festivals (Jeremiah 5:7-9 NET).

The Lord asked, “How can I leave you unpunished, Jerusalem [capital of the southern kingdom of Judah]?   Your people have rejected me and have worshiped gods that are not gods at all.  Even though I supplied all their needs, they were like an unfaithful wife (nā’ap̄, וינאפו) to me.  They went flocking to the houses of prostitutes (zānâ, זונה; Greek: πορνῶν, a form of πόρνη).  They are like lusty, well-fed stallions.  Each of them lusts after his neighbor’s wife.  I will surely punish (pāqaḏ, אפקד) them for doing such things!” says the Lord.  “I will surely bring retribution (nāqam, תתנקם) on such a nation as this!”

This led to a false view of the world (Jeremiah 7:8-11 NET):

But just look at you!  You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you.  You steal (gānaḇ, הגנב).  You murder (rāṣaḥ, רצח).  You commit adultery (nā’ap̄, ונאף).  You lie when you swear on oath.  You sacrifice to the god Baal.  You pay allegiance to other gods whom you have not previously known.  Then you come and stand in my presence in this temple I have claimed as my own and say, “We are safe!”  You think you are so safe that you go on doing all those hateful sins (tôʿēḇâ, התועבות)!  Do you think this temple I have claimed as my own is to be a hideout for robbers (pārîṣ, פרצים)?  You had better take note!  I have seen for myself what you have done! says the Lord.

There were prophets in Jerusalem who encouraged the people to continue in these hateful sins, or abominations3 (Jeremiah 23:13-18 NET).

The Lord says, “I saw the prophets of Samaria doing something that was disgusting.  They prophesied in the name of the god Baal and led my people Israel astray.  But I see the prophets of Jerusalem doing something just as shocking.  They are unfaithful (nā’ap̄, נאוף; Greek: μοιχωμένους, a form of μοιχάω) to me and continually prophesy lies.  So they give encouragement to people who are doing evil, with the result that they do not stop their evildoing.  I consider all of them as bad as the people of Sodom, and the citizens of Jerusalem as bad as the people of Gomorrah.  So then I, the Lord who rules over all, have something to say concerning the prophets of Jerusalem: ‘I will make these prophets eat the bitter food of suffering and drink the poison water of judgment.  For the prophets of Jerusalem are the reason that ungodliness (ḥănupâ, חנפה) has spread throughout the land.’”  The Lord who rules over all says to the people of Jerusalem: “Do not listen to what those prophets are saying to you.  They are filling you with false hopes.  They are reporting visions of their own imaginations, not something the Lord has given them to say.  They continually say to those who reject what the Lord has said, ‘Things will go well for you!’  They say to all those who follow the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts, ‘Nothing bad will happen to you [See Addendum below]!’  Yet which of them has ever stood in the Lord’s inner circle so they could see and hear what he has to say?  Which of them have ever paid attention or listened to what he has said?”

People wanted to kill Jeremiah for the things he prophesied.  Then the Lord told me about some men from Anathoth who were threatening to kill me.  They had threatened, “Stop prophesying in the name of the Lord or we will kill you!”4  As a matter of fact, even your own brothers and the members of your own family have betrayed you too.  Even they have plotted to do away with you.  So do not trust them even when they say kind things to you.5  But I’m quoting from Jeremiah’s prophecies because they were preserved in Hebrew Scripture.  Jeremiah’s prophecies of judgment and destruction came to pass.  The prophecies of those who said, Things will go well for you, and, Nothing bad will happen to you, did not.

 

Addendum: January 7, 2022
There is a clause in the Septuagint not found in the Masoretic text of Jeremiah 23:17.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Jeremiah 23:17 (Tanakh/KJV) Jeremiah 23:17 (NET) Jeremiah 23:17 (NETS)

Jeremiah 23:17 (Elpenor English)

They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination (בִּשְׁרִר֚וּת) of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. They continually say to those who reject what the Lord has said [note 56], ‘Things will go well for you!’  They say to all those who follow the stubborn inclinations (šᵊrîrûṯ, בשררות) of their own hearts, ‘Nothing bad will happen to you!’ They say to those who reject the word of the Lord, “There shall be peace for you,” and to all who walk by their own will (τοῗς θελήμασιν αὐτῶν), [to every one who walks by the error (πλάνῃ) of his own heart,] they said, “No evil shall come upon you”— They say to them that reject the word of the Lord, There shall be peace to you; and to all that walk after their own lusts (τοῖς θελήμασιν αὐτῶν), and to everyone that walks in the error (πλάνῃ) of his heart, they have said, No evil shall come upon thee.

The Greek word translated will (NETS) and lusts (English Elpenor) above was the noun θελήμασιν, a form of θέλημα.  In Jesus’ purpose statement recorded by John below will was θέλημα, and again in Luke’s account of what is arguably the essence of Jesus’ relationship to God his Father.  The other Gospel writers chose the related verb θέλω for this same prayer.

John 6:38 (NET) Table Luke 22:42 (NET) Table Matthew 26:39 (NET) Table

Mark 14:36 (NET)

For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will (θέλημα) but the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me. “Father, if you are willing (βούλει), take this cup away from me.  Yet not my will (θέλημα) but yours be done.” Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass6 from me!  Yet not what I will (θέλω), but what you will.” He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.  Take this cup away from me.  Yet not what I will (θέλω), but what you will.”

It is interesting to note that the clause καὶ πᾶσι(ν) τοῗς πορευομένοις τοῗς θελήμασιν αὐτῶν (NETS: and to all who walk by their own will) was apparently in the Hebrew Scriptures when the rabbis translated them into Greek before Jesus was born, and absent from the Masoretes’ edit of the Scriptures after Israel rejected Jesus as Messiah.

Tables comparing Jeremiah 5:7; 5:8; 5:9; 7:8; 7:9; 7:10; 7:11; 23:13; 23:14; 23:15; 23:16; 23:17; 23:18; 11:21 and 12:6 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Jeremiah 5:7; 5:8; 5:9; 7:8; 7:9; 7:10; 7:11; 23:13; 23:14; 23:15; 23:16; 23:17; 23:18; 11:21 and 12:6 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Jeremiah 5:7 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 5:7 (KJV)

Jeremiah 5:7 (NET)

How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses. How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses. The Lord asked, “How can I leave you unpunished, Jerusalem?  Your people have rejected me and have worshiped gods that are not gods at all.  Even though I supplied all their needs, they were like an unfaithful wife to me.  They went flocking to the houses of prostitutes.

Jeremiah 5:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 5:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ποίᾳ τούτων ἵλεως γένωμαί σοι οἱ υἱοί σου ἐγκατέλιπόν με καὶ ὤμνυον ἐν τοῗς οὐκ οὖσιν θεοῗς καὶ ἐχόρτασα αὐτούς καὶ ἐμοιχῶντο καὶ ἐν οἴκοις πορνῶν κατέλυον ποίᾳ τούτων ἵλεως γένωμαί σοι; οἱ υἱοί σου ἐγκατέλιπόν με καὶ ὤμνυον ἐν τοῖς οὐκ οὖσι θεοῖς· καὶ ἐχόρτασα αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐμοιχῶντο καὶ ἐν οἴκοις πορνῶν κατέλυον

Jeremiah 5:7 (NETS)

Jeremiah 5:7 (English Elpenor)

For which of these should I be merciful to you?  Your sons have forsaken me and would swear by those who are no gods.  And I fed them, and they were committing adultery and would lodge in houses of prostitutes. In what [way] shall I forgive thee for these things? Thy sons have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: and I fed them to the full, and they committed adultery, and lodged in harlots’ houses.

Jeremiah 5:8 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 5:8 (KJV)

Jeremiah 5:8 (NET)

They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife. They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife. They are like lusty, well-fed stallions.  Each of them lusts after his neighbor’s wife.

Jeremiah 5:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 5:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἵπποι θηλυμανεῗς ἐγενήθησαν ἕκαστος ἐπὶ τὴν γυναῗκα τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἐχρεμέτιζον ἵπποι θηλυμανεῖς ἐγενήθησαν, ἕκαστος ἐπὶ τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἐχρεμέτιζον

Jeremiah 5:8 (NETS)

Jeremiah 5:8 (English Elpenor)

They were lusty stallions, each neighing for his fellow’s wife. They became as wanton horses: they neighed each one after his neighbour’s wife.

Jeremiah 5:9 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 5:9 (KJV)

Jeremiah 5:9 (NET)

Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? I will surely punish them for doing such things!” says the Lord.  “I will surely bring retribution on such a nation as this!”

Jeremiah 5:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 5:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μὴ ἐπὶ τούτοις οὐκ ἐπισκέψομαι λέγει κύριος ἢ ἐν ἔθνει τοιούτῳ οὐκ ἐκδικήσει ἡ ψυχή μου μὴ ἐπὶ τούτοις οὐκ ἐπισκέψομαι; λέγει Κύριος. ἢ ἐν ἔθνει τοιούτῳ οὐκ ἐκδικήσει ἡ ψυχή μου

Jeremiah 5:9 (NETS)

Jeremiah 5:9 (English Elpenor)

Surely I shall not fail to visit for these things? says the Lord, or shall my soul not take vengeance on such a nation? Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this.

Jeremiah 7:8 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 7:8 (KJV)

Jeremiah 7:8 (NET)

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. “‘But just look at you!  You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you.

Jeremiah 7:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 7:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰ δὲ ὑμεῗς πεποίθατε ἐπὶ λόγοις ψευδέσιν ὅθεν οὐκ ὠφεληθήσεσθε εἰ δὲ ὑμεῖς πεποίθατε ἐπὶ λόγοις ψευδέσιν, ὅθεν οὐκ ὠφεληθήσεσθε

Jeremiah 7:9 (NETS)

Jeremiah 7:9 (English Elpenor)

But if you trust in deceptive words, whereby you will not benefit, But whereas ye have trusted in lying words, whereby ye shall not be profited;

Jeremiah 7:9 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 7:9 (KJV)

Jeremiah 7:9 (NET)

Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; You steal.  You murder.  You commit adultery.  You lie when you swear on oath.  You sacrifice to the god Baal.  You pay allegiance to other gods whom you have not previously known.

Jeremiah 7:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 7:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ φονεύετε καὶ μοιχᾶσθε καὶ κλέπτετε καὶ ὀμνύετε ἐπ᾽ ἀδίκῳ καὶ ἐθυμιᾶτε τῇ Βααλ καὶ ἐπορεύεσθε ὀπίσω θεῶν ἀλλοτρίων ὧν οὐκ οἴδατε τοῦ κακῶς εἶναι ὑμῗν καὶ φονεύετε καὶ μοιχᾶσθε καὶ κλέπτετε καὶ ὀμνύετε ἐπ’ ἀδίκῳ καὶ θυμιᾶτε τῇ Βάαλ καὶ ἐπορεύεσθε ὀπίσω θεῶν ἀλλοτρίων, ὧν οὐκ οἴδατε, τοῦ κακῶς εἶναι ὑμῖν

Jeremiah 7:9 (NETS)

Jeremiah 7:9 (English Elpenor)

and murder and commit adultery and steal and swear wrongly and offer incense to the goddess Baal and go after foreign gods that you do not know, and ye murder, and commit adultery, and steal, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and are gone after strange gods whom ye know not,

Jeremiah 7:10 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 7:10 (KJV)

Jeremiah 7:10 (NET)

And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Then you come and stand in my presence in this temple I have claimed as my own and say, “We are safe!”  You think you are so safe that you go on doing all those hateful sins!

Jeremiah 7:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 7:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἤλθετε καὶ ἔστητε ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ οὗ ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ καὶ εἴπατε ἀπεσχήμεθα τοῦ μὴ ποιεῗν πάντα τὰ βδελύγματα ταῦτα καὶ ἤλθετε καὶ ἔστητε ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ, οὗ ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ’ αὐτῷ, καὶ εἴπατε· ἀπεσχήμεθα τοῦ μὴ ποιεῖν πάντα τὰ βδελύγματα ταῦτα

Jeremiah 7:10 (NETS)

Jeremiah 7:10 (English Elpenor)

so that it be ill for you, and if you came and stood before me in the house, where my name has been called on it, and you said, “We have kept away from doing all these abominations”— so that it is evil with you; yet have ye come, and stood before me in the house, whereon my name is called, and ye have said, We have refrained from doing all these abominations.

Jeremiah 7:11 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 7:11 (KJV)

Jeremiah 7:11 (NET)

Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?  Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?  Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. Do you think this temple I have claimed as my own is to be a hideout for robbers?  You had better take note!  I have seen for myself what you have done! says the Lord.

Jeremiah 7:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 7:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μὴ σπήλαιον λῃστῶν ὁ οἶκός μου οὗ ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ ἐκεῗ ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν καὶ ἐγὼ ἰδοὺ ἑώρακα λέγει κύριος μὴ σπήλαιον λῃστῶν ὁ οἶκός μου, οὗ ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ’ αὐτῷ ἐκεῖ, ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν; καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἑώρακα, λέγει Κύριος

Jeremiah 7:11 (NETS)

Jeremiah 7:11 (English Elpenor)

surely my house, there where my name has been called on it, has not become a den of robbers before you?  And I, behold, I have seen it, says the Lord, Is my house, whereon my name is called, a den of robbers in your eyes? And, behold, I have seen [it], saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:13 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 23:13 (KJV)

Jeremiah 23:13 (NET)

And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. The Lord says, “I saw the prophets of Samaria doing something that was disgusting.  They prophesied in the name of the god Baal and led my people Israel astray.

Jeremiah 23:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 23:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐν τοῗς προφήταις Σαμαρείας εἶδον ἀνομήματα ἐπροφήτευσαν διὰ τῆς Βααλ καὶ ἐπλάνησαν τὸν λαόν μου Ισραηλ καὶ ἐν τοῖς προφήταις Σαμαρείας εἶδον ἀνομήματα· ἐπροφήτευσαν διὰ τῆς Βάαλ καὶ ἐπλάνησαν τὸν λαόν μου ᾿Ισραήλ

Jeremiah 23:13 (NETS)

Jeremiah 23:13 (English Elpenor)

And in the prophets of Samaria I saw lawless deeds: they prophesied by the goddess Baal and led my people Israel astray. And in the prophets of Samaria I have seen lawless deeds; they prophesied by Baal, and led my people Israel astray.

Jeremiah 23:14 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 23:14 (KJV)

Jeremiah 23:14 (NET)

I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. But I see the prophets of Jerusalem doing something just as shocking.  They are unfaithful to me and continually prophesy lies.  So they give encouragement to people who are doing evil, with the result that they do not stop their evildoing.  I consider all of them as bad as the people of Sodom, and the citizens of Jerusalem as bad as the people of Gomorrah.

Jeremiah 23:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 23:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐν τοῗς προφήταις Ιερουσαλημ ἑώρακα φρικτά μοιχωμένους καὶ πορευομένους ἐν ψεύδεσι καὶ ἀντιλαμβανομένους χειρῶν πονηρῶν τοῦ μὴ ἀποστραφῆναι ἕκαστον ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ τῆς πονηρᾶς ἐγενήθησάν μοι πάντες ὡς Σοδομα καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες αὐτὴν ὥσπερ Γομορρα καὶ ἐν τοῖς προφήταις ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἑώρακα φρικτά, μοιχωμένους καὶ πορευομένους ἐν ψεύδεσι καὶ ἀντιλαμβανομένους χειρῶν πονηρῶν τοῦ μὴ ἀποστραφῆναι ἕκαστον ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ τῆς πονηρᾶς· ἐγενήθησάν μοι πάντες ὡς Σόδομα καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες αὐτὴν ὥσπερ Γόμορρα

Jeremiah 23:14 (NETS)

Jeremiah 23:14 (English Elpenor)

And in the prophets of Ierousalem I have seen shocking things: people committing adultery and walking in lies and strengthening the hands of evildoers so that no one turns, each from his wicked way; all have become like Sodoma to me, and its inhabitants just like Gomorra. Also in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen horrible things: as they committed adultery, and walked in lies, and strengthened the hands of many, that they should not return each from his evil way: they are all become to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrha.

Jeremiah 23:15 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 23:15 (KJV)

Jeremiah 23:15 (NET)

Therefore thus saith 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 is profaneness gone forth into all the land. Therefore thus saith 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 is profaneness gone forth into all the land. So then I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have something to say concerning the prophets of Jerusalem: ‘I will make these prophets eat the bitter food of suffering and drink the poison water of judgment.  For the prophets of Jerusalem are the reason that ungodliness has spread throughout the land.’”

Jeremiah 23:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 23:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

διὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ψωμιῶ αὐτοὺς ὀδύνην καὶ ποτιῶ αὐτοὺς ὕδωρ πικρόν ὅτι ἀπὸ τῶν προφητῶν Ιερουσαλημ ἐξῆλθεν μολυσμὸς πάσῃ τῇ γῇ διὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος· ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ψωμιῶ αὐτοὺς ὀδύνην καὶ ποτιῶ αὐτοὺς ὕδωρ πικρόν, ὅτι ἀπὸ τῶν προφητῶν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἐξῆλθε μολυσμὸς πάσῃ τῇ γῇ

Jeremiah 23:15 (NETS)

Jeremiah 23:15 (English Elpenor)

Therefore this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I will feed them pain and will give them bitter water to drink, because from the prophets of Ierousalem defilement went out to the whole land.” Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will feed them with pain, and give them bitter water to drink: for from the prophets of Jerusalem has defilement gone forth [into] all the land.

Jeremiah 23:16 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 23:16 (KJV)

Jeremiah 23:16 (NET)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the people of Jerusalem: “Do not listen to what those prophets are saying to you.   They are filling you with false hopes.   They are reporting visions of their own imaginations, not something the Lord has given them to say.

Jeremiah 23:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 23:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὕτως λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ μὴ ἀκούετε τοὺς λόγους τῶν προφητῶν ὅτι ματαιοῦσιν ἑαυτοῗς ὅρασιν ἀπὸ καρδίας αὐτῶν λαλοῦσιν καὶ οὐκ ἀπὸ στόματος κυρίου οὕτως λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ· μὴ ἀκούετε τοὺς λόγους τῶν προφητῶν, ὅτι ματαιοῦσιν ἑαυτοῖς ὅρασιν, ἀπὸ καρδίας αὐτῶν λαλοῦσι καὶ οὐκ ἀπὸ στόματος Κυρίου

Jeremiah 23:16 (NETS)

Jeremiah 23:16 (English Elpenor)

Thus says the Lord Almighty: Do not hear the words of the prophets, because they are rendering a vision empty.  They speak from their own heart and not from the mouth of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord Almighty, Hearken not to the words of the prophets: for they frame a vain vision for themselves; they speak from their own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:17 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 23:17 (KJV)

Jeremiah 23:17 (NET)

They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. They continually say to those who reject what the Lord has said, ‘Things will go well for you!’  They say to all those who follow the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts, ‘Nothing bad will happen to you!’

Jeremiah 23:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 23:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

λέγουσιν τοῗς ἀπωθουμένοις τὸν λόγον κυρίου εἰρήνη ἔσται ὑμῗν καὶ πᾶσιν τοῗς πορευομένοις τοῗς θελήμασιν αὐτῶν παντὶ τῷ πορευομένῳ πλάνῃ καρδίας αὐτοῦ εἶπαν οὐχ ἥξει ἐπὶ σὲ κακά λέγουσι τοῖς ἀπωθουμένοις τὸν λόγον Κυρίου· εἰρήνη ἔσται ὑμῖν· καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς πορευομένοις τοῖς θελήμασιν αὐτῶν, παντὶ τῷ πορευομένῳ πλάνῃ καρδίας αὐτοῦ εἶπαν· οὐχ ἥξει ἐπὶ σὲ κακά

Jeremiah 23:17 (NETS)

Jeremiah 23:17 (English Elpenor)

They say to those who reject the word of the Lord, “There shall be peace for you,” and to all who walk by their own will, [to every one who walks by the error of his own heart,] they said, “No evil shall come upon you”— They say to them that reject the word of the Lord, There shall be peace to you; and to all that walk after their own lusts, and to everyone that walks in the error of his heart, they have said, No evil shall come upon thee.

Jeremiah 23:18 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 23:18 (KJV)

Jeremiah 23:18 (NET)

For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Yet which of them has ever stood in the Lord’s inner circle so they could see and hear what he has to say?  Which of them have ever paid attention or listened to what he has said?

Jeremiah 23:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 23:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι τίς ἔστη ἐν ὑποστήματι κυρίου καὶ εἶδεν τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ τίς ἐνωτίσατο καὶ ἤκουσεν ὅτι τίς ἔστη ἐν ὑποστήματι Κυρίου καὶ εἶδε τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ; τίς ἠνωτίσατο καὶ ἤκουσεν

Jeremiah 23:18 (NETS)

Jeremiah 23:18 (English Elpenor)

because who has stood in support of the Lord and seen his word?  Who has given ear and obeyed? For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and seen his word? who has hearkened, and heard?

Jeremiah 11:21 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 11:21 (KJV)

Jeremiah 11:21 (NET)

Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand: Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand: Then the Lord told me about some men from Anathoth who were threatening to kill me.  They had threatened, “Stop prophesying in the name of the Lord or we will kill you!”

Jeremiah 11:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 11:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

διὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας Αναθωθ τοὺς ζητοῦντας τὴν ψυχήν μου τοὺς λέγοντας οὐ μὴ προφητεύσῃς ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι κυρίου εἰ δὲ μή ἀποθανῇ ἐν ταῗς χερσὶν ἡμῶν διὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας ᾿Αναθὼθ τοὺς ζητοῦντας τὴν ψυχήν μου, τοὺς λέγοντας· οὐ μὴ προφητεύσεις ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου, εἰ δὲ μή, ἀποθάνῃ ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ἡμῶν

Jeremiah 11:21 (NETS)

Jeremiah 11:21 (English Elpenor)

Therefore this is what the Lord says in reference to the men of Anathoth, who seek my soul, who say, “You shall not prophesy in the name of the Lord; otherwise you will die by our hands”— Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek my life, that say, Thou shalt not prophesy at all in the name of the Lord, but if thou dost, thou shalt die by our hands:

Jeremiah 12:6 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 12:6 (KJV)

Jeremiah 12:6 (NET)

For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee. For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee. As a matter of fact, even your own brothers and the members of your own family have betrayed you as well.  Even they have plotted to do away with you.  So do not trust them even when they say kind things to you.

Jeremiah 12:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 12:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί σου καὶ ὁ οἶκος τοῦ πατρός σου καὶ οὗτοι ἠθέτησάν σε καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐβόησαν ἐκ τῶν ὀπίσω σου ἐπισυνήχθησαν μὴ πιστεύσῃς ἐν αὐτοῗς ὅτι λαλήσουσιν πρὸς σὲ καλά ὅτι καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί σου καὶ ὁ οἶκος τοῦ πατρός σου, καὶ οὗτοι ἠθέτησάν σε, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐβόησαν, ἐκ τῶν ὀπίσω σου ἐπισυνήχθησαν· μὴ πιστεύσῃς ἐν αὐτοῖς, ὅτι λαλήσουσι πρός σε καλά

Jeremiah 12:6 (NETS)

Jeremiah 12:6 (English Elpenor)

because even your kinsfolk and the household of your father, even they have dealt faithlessly with you; they too shouted; they were gathered behind you; do not believe them, because they will speak good things to you. For even thy brethren and the house of thy father, even these have dealt treacherously with thee; and they have cried out, they are gathered together in pursuit of thee; trust not thou in them, though they shall speak fair [words] to thee.

1 Hosea 4:15a (NET) Table

2 This is the same word Jephthah used when he said to his daughter, I made an oath to the Lord, and I cannot break (šûḇ, לשוב) it (Judges 11:35b NET).  Or in the King James Version: …for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back (šûḇ, לשוב).

3 The Hebrew word translated hateful sins in Jeremiah 7:10 (NET) is the same as that translated abomination in Leviticus 20:13 (NET) [Table]: If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination (tôʿēḇâ, תועבה).

4 Jeremiah 11:21 (NET)

5 Jeremiah 12:6 (NET)