Jeremiah Chapter 23 verse 31 Holy Bible
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
read chapter 23 in ASV
See, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who let their tongues say, He has said.
read chapter 23 in BBE
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He hath said.
read chapter 23 in DARBY
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
read chapter 23 in KJV
read chapter 23 in WBT
Behold, I am against the prophets, says Yahweh, who use their tongues, and say, He says.
read chapter 23 in WEB
Lo, I `am' against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Who are making smooth their tongue, And they affirm -- an affirmation.
read chapter 23 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 31. - That use their tongues; literally, that take their tongue, like a workman's tool - as if prophecy could be turned out to order. And say, He saith. The word rendered "he saith" is one which the prophets habitually used to affirm the revealed character of their teaching. It is the participle of the verb rendered "say." Adopting a Miltonic verb, we might render, and oracle oracles." The "false prophets" adopt the same forms as the true; but they are to them only forms.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(31) That use their tongues, and say, He saith.--Literally, that take their tongues. There is no adequate evidence for the marginal rendering "that smooth their tongues." The scornful phrase indicates the absence of a true inspiration. These false prophets plan their schemes, and take their tongue as an instrument for carrying them into effect. The formula which they used, "He saith," was not the word for common speaking, but that which indicated that the speaker was delivering an oracle from God. (See Note on Jeremiah 23:17.) Elsewhere the word is only used of God, but the prophet, in his stern irony, uses it of the false prophets, they say oracularly. This is an oracle.
