Jeremiah 23:17 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Comforting religious words can be deeply harmful when they detach peace from truth, repentance, and reverence for God. Jeremiah 23:17 matters because it identifies a false assurance by its audience and effect: it settles those whom God is calling to turn. The verse invites careful listening whenever someone speaks confidently in the LORD's name.
Jeremiah exposes prophets who claimed the LORD promised peace to people who despised him and followed their own hearts. Their assurances hid the coming judgment and encouraged continued rebellion.
The Context of Jeremiah 23:17
Jeremiah speaks the LORD's indictment against corrupt prophets in Jerusalem. The chapter begins with failed shepherds who scatter God's flock, then holds out hope in the righteous Branch from David's line and in God's future gathering of Israel. From verse 9 onward, Jeremiah grieves over prophets and priests whose evil has spread through the land. Verses 16-17 warn the people away from visions arising from human hearts. The following verses ask who has truly stood in the LORD's counsel and declare that these prophets were neither sent nor commanded by him.
What Does Jeremiah 23:17 Mean?
The prophets "say still," meaning that they keep repeating their message. They address those who "despise" the LORD, people who treat his will with contempt, and they attach God's own name to their promise: "The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace." They extend the same message to every person who walks after the imagination of his own heart. In the chapter, that path is joined with lies, adultery, and the strengthening of evildoers. "No evil shall come upon you" therefore offers security without any call to return. The offense is grave because these speakers present their own desired message as the word of the LORD.
This verse gives a concrete example of the warning in verse 16. False prophets make people vain because their visions come from their own heart rather than from the mouth of the LORD. Their message sounds peaceful, yet it works against God's purpose. Verse 22 explains what faithful prophets would have done: they would have caused the people to hear God's words so that they might turn from their evil way and deeds. God had already announced judgment against wrongdoing through Jeremiah. Peace in Scripture is a precious gift from God, bound to his faithful care and righteous ordering. These prophets misuse that gift by declaring it where God has announced accountability.
The chapter's earlier promise of safety has a very different source. The LORD says that the righteous Branch, the Davidic King, will execute judgment and justice, and that Judah shall be saved and Israel dwell safely in his days. Jeremiah 23:17 shows why that hope cannot be confused with a slogan approving self-directed life. The promised King bears the name "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS," placing God's righteousness at the center of lasting security. The false prophets speak peace while leaving contempt for God untouched. The chapter joins true hope to God's rule, his gathering mercy, and his truthful word, all of which call his people away from destructive ways.
Bible Verses Related to Jeremiah 23:17
“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”
- Jeremiah 6:14
“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 doings.”
- Jeremiah 23:22
“Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:”
- Ezekiel 13:10
“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”
- Isaiah 57:21
Where Jeremiah 23:17 Echoes in Scripture
Ezekiel 13:10 provides a close canonical echo. There the LORD condemns prophets who declare peace when there is no peace, while a threatened judgment remains real. Ezekiel and Jeremiah address the same spiritual danger: people may use a message of peace to cover a condition that God is exposing. The echo helps us hear Jeremiah 23:17 as a warning about false claims of divine authority, rather than a denial that God truly gives peace to his people.
How to Apply Jeremiah 23:17 Today
We can receive promises of God's peace with gratitude while also asking whether the message is faithful to God's revealed character and word. A voice that excuses contempt for God, celebrates self-will, or removes every summons to turn should not gain authority merely because it sounds reassuring. In ordinary decisions, this calls for honest prayer, patient attention to Scripture, and willingness to hear correction from trustworthy believers. It also shapes our own speech. When we comfort someone in pain, we can speak tenderly without claiming that God has promised outcomes he has not promised.
Reflection & Prayer
Where might we prefer reassurance that leaves our habits and loyalties unexamined? Let us ask whether we are listening for the LORD's word or mainly for approval of our own desires. Suggested prayer: "Lord, give us hearts that welcome your true peace and receive your correction. Keep our words faithful, humble, and healing. Amen."