Yeremia 5:13

5:13 The prophets will prove to be full of wind. ¹ 

The Lord has not spoken through them. ² 

So, let what they say happen to them.’”

Yeremia 23:21

23:21 I did not send those prophets.

Yet they were in a hurry to give their message. ³ 

I did not tell them anything.

Yet they prophesied anyway.

Yeremia 27:14

27:14 Do not listen to the prophets who are telling you that you do not need to serve ⁴  the king of Babylon. For they are prophesying lies to you.

Yeremia 37:19

37:19 Where now are the prophets who prophesied to you that ⁵  the king of Babylon would not attack you or this land?

[5:13]  ¹ tn Heb “will be wind.”

[5:13]  sn There is a wordplay on the Hebrew word translated “wind” (רוּחַ, ruakh) which also means “spirit.” The prophets spoke by inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord (cf., e.g., 2 Chr 20:14); hence the prophet was sometimes called “the man of the spirit” (cf. Hos 9:7). The people were claiming that the prophets were speaking lies and hence were full of wind, not the Spirit.

[5:13]  ² tc Heb “the word is not in them.” The MT has a highly unusual form here, the Piel perfect with the definite article (הַדִּבֵּר, haddibber). It is undoubtedly best to read with the LXX (Greek version) and one Hebrew ms the article on the noun (הַדָּבָר, haddavar).

[23:21]  ³ tn Heb “Yet they ran.”

[23:21]  sn The image is that of a messenger bearing news from the king. See 2 Sam 18:19-24; Jer 51:31; Isa 40:9; 52:7; Hab 2:2 (the tablet/scroll bore the message the runner was to read to the intended recipients of his message). Their message has been given in v. 17 (see notes there for cross references).

[27:14]  ⁴ tn The verb in this context is best taken as a negative obligatory imperfect. See IBHS 508 §31.4g for discussion and examples. See Exod 4:15 as an example of positive obligation.

[37:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “And where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land?’” The indirect quote has been used in the translation because of its simpler, more direct style.