Jeremiah 23:35 Meaning: What Has the LORD Spoken?
You will say everyone to his neighbor, and everyone to his brother, ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh said?’
Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?
Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, What hath Jehovah answered? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?
Thus do ye say each unto his neighbour, And each unto his brother: What hath Jehovah answered? And what hath Jehovah spoken?
Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother: What hath Jehovah answered? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?
Meaning in one sentence
God commands a shift from mockery to reverence in Jeremiah 23:35. Learn what it means to ask 'What has the LORD answered?' with a humble heart.
Context
Jeremiah 23 is a chapter of confrontation. The prophet speaks against the shepherds who scatter the flock, and especially against false prophets who claim to speak for God but peddle their own dreams and lies. By verse 33, a particular sin has caught God's attention. When people, prophets, or priests ask, “What is the message from Yahweh?” they do it with a sneer. The Hebrew word they use, masa, can mean both “oracle” and “burden.” They make it a joke, as if the prophetic word were a heavy load to be shrugged off. God says, “I will cast you off” and forbids the phrase entirely. Then He gives the proper words. The people are to speak to one another with reverence, asking “What has Yahweh answered?” and “What has Yahweh spoken?” The change in language signals a change of heart: from contempt to humble readiness to hear.
Key Words
Two Hebrew verbs shape this new way of speaking. The first, 'anah, means “to answer” or “to respond.” It implies someone has spoken first. When the people ask “What has the LORD answered?” they acknowledge that they are in conversation with God, not just receiving a demand. The second, davar, simply means “to speak” but carries weight: it is the same root behind “the word of the LORD.” Together these verbs frame God's communication as personal and relational. Notice the words for “neighbor” (rea) and “brother” (ach). This is not a private command for prophets alone. Every person in the community is to speak this way to one another. When you talk about what God is saying, let your words reflect expectation, not exhaustion.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian commentators across traditions agree on the heart of this passage. Calvin (Reformed) says God wants His people to “come with empty and sincere hearts” and to stop closing the door to His word. Matthew Henry (Presbyterian) calls it a reproof of the people's profaneness. Gill (Baptist) writes that the word of God should be “reverently spoken of, and attended to.” Wesley (Methodist) simply says the verse teaches “more reverent speaking” of God and His prophets. While some traditions debate the extent of Jeremiah's original text in this section, all hold that the lesson remains: approach God's word with humility and honor.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume this verse is only about avoiding a specific Hebrew word, as if the sin were merely using the term “burden.” In fact, God targets the mocking attitude behind the phrase. The people treated His message as a tiresome weight, something to be endured and then dismissed. The command to ask “What has the LORD answered?” replaces that contempt with a posture ready to receive. The words we use reflect what we believe about the One who speaks.
Living This Out
You may not call God's word a “burden” out loud, but it is easy to treat it that way. Maybe you open your Bible out of duty, wishing it were shorter. Maybe you listen to a sermon with crossed arms. This week, try a small change. Before you read or listen, whisper a question: “Lord, what have You answered? What have You spoken?” It says, “I am ready to hear.” And when you talk with a friend about faith, let your words carry the same expectation. Replace grumbling about a heavy message with curiosity about what God might be saying.
Main takeaway: God’s word is not a burden to be endured but a living answer to be received with reverence and openness.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God wants us to speak about His words with love, not with grumbling. When you hear about God, you can ask, “What did God say?” That shows you want to listen.
For ages 9, 12
In Jeremiah's time, people made fun of God's messages by calling them a “burden.” God said, “Stop that. Instead, ask ‘What has the LORD answered?’ and ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ ” That means we should treat the Bible as God's personal message to us, not as something boring or heavy. When you open your Bible or hear a story from it, you can ask God: “What are You saying to me today?”
Questions People Ask
What did the people mean when they said 'the burden of the LORD'?
The Hebrew word 'masa' can mean either 'oracle' (a prophetic message) or 'burden' (something heavy to carry). The people mockingly used the second meaning, implying God's word was a tiresome load. God condemned this attitude.
Why does God command them to say 'What has the LORD answered?' instead?
The word 'answered' suggests a dialogue. It shows that the people are not just receiving a demand; they are in a relationship with God. It also implies they have been praying or seeking Him, and God responds. The new language calls for reverence and openness.
Does this verse mean we should never describe Scripture as a burden?
The issue is the attitude, not the word itself. It is possible to read even difficult parts of the Bible with a heavy heart. But this passage warns us against treating God's word with contempt or weariness. The call is to approach it as a living communication from God, expecting to hear from Him.
How does this passage connect to the false prophets in Jeremiah 23?
The chapter denounces prophets who lie and lead the people astray. By mocking the true prophetic message as a 'burden,' the people showed they had no respect for genuine prophecy either. Changing their language was part of turning back to God with humility and a willingness to hear what He actually says.
What is the difference between 'answered' and 'spoken' in this verse?
'Answered' (anah) implies a response to a question or prayer; 'spoken' (davar) is a more general term for God's declaration. Together they cover all forms of divine communication, whether in response to human seeking or sent from God's own initiative.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study