Jeremiah 23:32 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

False dreams. — The words may mean either actual dreams, which have nothing answering to them in the world of facts, or dreams which are not really such, but simply, as in Jeremiah 23:31, the form in which the deceiver seeks to work out his plans.

By their lightness. — The Hebrew word is the same in meaning as the “unstable as water” of Genesis 49:4, the light persons” of Judges 9:4; Zephaniah 3:4, and points primarily to the gushing or spurting forth of water. Here it points to what we may call the “babbling” of the false prophets. We are almost reminded of the words in which an English poet describes a hollow and pretentious eloquence as poured out —

“In one weak, washy, everlasting flood.”

Therefore... — Better, simply, and they shall not profit.

Jeremiah 23:32

32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.