Jeremiah 29:31

Send to all them of the captiuitie, saying, Thus saith the Lord, concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite, Because that Shemaiah hath prophecied vnto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lye. Jeremiah 29:31 (KJV)

Jeremiah 29:31 forms part of the prophet’s communication to the Judean exiles living in Babylon after King Nebuchadnezzar had taken Judah captive. In this passage Jeremiah directs the captives to send a message to all who remain in exile, declaring that the words come directly from the Lord. He specifically names Shemaiah the Nehelamite as a false prophet who had been spreading deceptive messages among the people.

Shemaiah claimed prophetic authority, yet Jeremiah makes clear that God did not send him nor authorize his utterances. By proclaiming lies, Shemaiah caused the exiles to place their trust in falsehood rather than in the true word of God. The verse therefore serves as a stark warning to the community to be discerning about the sources of any prophetic claim.

The broader context of Jeremiah’s ministry is filled with similar cautions. The book repeatedly warns that false prophets will arise, offering counterfeit hope and peace that contradict God’s genuine promises. Throughout his prophetic career Jeremiah confronted such deceivers, exposing their lies and urging the people to cling only to messages that originate from the Lord.

For the exiles, and for readers today, the passage underscores the necessity of testing every teaching against Scripture. True discernment involves recognizing that only God‑sent revelation is trustworthy, while any claim not rooted in His authority must be rejected. By remaining faithful to God’s commands and promises, especially amid hardship, believers can avoid being swayed by deceptive voices and maintain confidence in the reliable voice of the Almighty.