Jeremiah 23:11

11 “Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:11 in Other Translations

KJV
11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
ESV
11 "Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their evil, declares the LORD.
NLT
11 “Even the priests and prophets are ungodly, wicked men. I have seen their despicable acts right here in my own Temple,” says the LORD .
MSG
11 Prophets and priests devoted to desecration. They have nothing to do with me as their God. My very own Temple, mind you - mud-spattered with their crimes." God's Decree.
CSB
11 because both prophet and priest are ungodly, even in My house I have found their evil. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.

Jeremiah 23:11 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:11

For both prophet and priest are profane
Being guilty of the afore mentioned sins. The Targum is,

``the scribe and the priest;''
and such were the scribes and priests in the time of our Lord; they played "the hypocrite" F17, as some render the word here; and are often charged with the sin of hypocrisy, and called hypocrites, ( Matthew 22:18 ) ( Matthew 23:13-15 Matthew 23:23 Matthew 23:25 Matthew 23:27 Matthew 23:29 ) ; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord;
where they officiated in holy things, or should have done so; where the one should have instructed the people, and the other offered sacrifices for them, according to the will of God; there they committed wickedness, which was an aggravation of their sin, as was the case of Eli's sons, ( 1 Samuel 2:22-24 ) ; perhaps the same sin was committed by these men; or idolatry may be meant; setting up images, and building altars for them in the house of God; see ( Jeremiah 7:30 ) ; or carrying on traffic and merchandise, whereby the temple was made a house of merchandise, as it was in the times of Christ, ( John 2:14-16 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

F17 (wpnx) "hypocritae fuerunt", Vatablus, Montanus; "hypocritas agunt", Piscator; "hypocrisin exercent", Schmidt, Cocceius.

Jeremiah 23:11 In-Context

9 Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a strong man overcome by wine, because of the LORDand his holy words.
10 The land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land lies parched and the pastures in the wilderness are withered. The prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly.
11 “Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness,” declares the LORD.
12 “Therefore their path will become slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished,” declares the LORD.
13 “Among the prophets of Samaria I saw this repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Jeremiah 6:13; S Jeremiah 8:10; Zephaniah 3:4
  • 2. S 2 Kings 21:4; S Jeremiah 7:10
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.