The Church Fathers on this verse

Jeremiah 23:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I did not send prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

Douay-Rheims

לֹא־שָׁלַ֥חְתִּי אֶת־הַנְּבִאִ֖ים וְהֵ֣ם רָ֑צוּ לֹא־דִבַּ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְהֵ֥ם נִבָּֽאוּ׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

The apostle further elucidates this point to the Romans: Because they did not regard God in their thoughts, He permitted them to embrace a depraved mindset, leading them to all forms of evil, unrighteousness, sexual immorality, deceit, and various other wrongdoings (Rom. 1:28, 29). When false teachers abandon themselves to lies, swearing, and the ruin of those they lead astray, they do not tread cautiously but hasten towards their own doom and the downfall of those who are misled by them. It is not the Lord who imparts his message to them; rather, they speak as though they are representing the Lord.

Read more (160 words)

It is written of them that had they truly sought my guidance—had they earnestly strived to fulfill my will and communicated my words to the people honestly, without pandering to their desires or leading them astray with flattering claims of sinlessness and perfect righteousness—they would not have been left in impurity and disgrace, nor would they engage in shameful acts or pursue their wicked imaginations. Consider the heretics, who, in their despair for salvation, indulge in excess and revelry, consuming rich foods, visiting baths, perfumed with musk, and anointed with diverse oils, chasing after physical allure. They place no hope in the future nor believe in resurrection, and although they may not articulate it, their actions reveal their true convictions. Had they truly believed, their lives would reflect that belief. Additionally, this passage: had they sought my counsel as noted earlier, is also captured similarly by Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion, and the Seventy. Six volumes interpreting the prophet Jeremiah. Book 4.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.