Jeremiah 23:37-40 Meaning: Do Not Say 'Burden of the LORD'
37You will say to the prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’
38Although you say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ therefore Yahweh says: ‘Because you say this word, “The message from Yahweh,” and I have sent to you, telling you not to say, “The message from Yahweh,”
39therefore behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off with the city that I gave to you and to your fathers, away from my presence.
40I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten.’”
37Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken?
38But since ye say, The burden of the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord;
39Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:
40And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
37Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath Jehovah answered thee? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?
38But if ye say, The burden of Jehovah; therefore thus saith Jehovah: Because ye say this word, The burden of Jehovah, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of Jehovah;
39therefore, behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off, and the city that I gave unto you and to your fathers, away from my presence:
40and I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
37Thus dost thou say unto the prophet What hath Jehovah answered thee? And what hath Jehovah spoken?
38And if the burden of Jehovah ye say, Therefore thus said Jehovah: Because of your saying this word, The burden of Jehovah, And I do send unto you, saying, Ye do not say, The burden of Jehovah.
39Therefore, lo, I--I have taken you utterly away, And I have sent you out, And the city that I gave to you, And to your fathers, from before My face,
40And I have put on you reproach age-during, And shame age-during that is not forgotten!
37Thus shalt thou say to the prophet: What hath Jehovah answered thee? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?
38But since ye say, The burden of Jehovah, therefore thus saith Jehovah: Because ye say this word, The burden of Jehovah, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of Jehovah;
39therefore behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off, far from my face, and the city that I gave to you and to your fathers.
40And I will bring everlasting reproach upon you, and everlasting shame, that shall not be forgotten.
Meaning in one sentence
God commands His people to stop mocking His word as a burden and instead ask what He has spoken.
Context
Jeremiah brings a message from God to a people who have grown tired of hearing from the Lord. They twist the very word they use for prophecy, calling it a 'burden' as if God's message is something heavy to endure. In the verses just before, God told them not to use that phrase anymore. He wants them to ask simply and reverently, 'What has the LORD answered?' But they keep on with their mocking tone. So God announces a severe judgment. He will lift them up and cast them off from His presence, along with the city He gave their ancestors. This is not a casual punishment; it is the natural consequence of treating the living God's words with contempt. A perpetual shame awaits those who refuse to honor what He says.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words echo through this passage. The first is 'massa' (H4853), which means both 'burden' and 'oracle.' The people used it flippantly, treating prophecy as a tiresome load. The second is 'anah' (H6030), the verb for 'answer.' God commands them to ask 'What has the LORD answered?' Instead of bracing for a weight, they are to listen for a personal reply. The third wordplay involves the sound of 'nashah' (H5382) and 'nasa' (H5375). 'Nashah' means to forget; 'nasa' means to lift up. God turns their mocking back on them: because they called His word a burden, He will lift them up like a load and cast them away. The language itself carries the warning. It matters because how we name what God says reveals whether we receive it as a living conversation or a bothersome duty.
How Christians Read This Verse
Reformed commentator John Calvin notes that the people had been infected with a sinful lust that corrupted their judgment, making them despise prophecy. Matthew Henry emphasizes the profaneness of the people who mocked even the form of inquiry. Baptist writer John Gill points out the elegance of the Hebrew wordplay: because they called God's word a burden, God would burden them and cast them off. Across the broad Christian tradition, this passage is read as a warning against trivializing divine revelation. The proper response to God speaking is reverence, not ridicule. The judgment is not arbitrary but just, a fitting outcome for contempt shown to the living God.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think God is simply banning a religious phrase, as if 'burden of the LORD' were a bad word. In fact, the problem was the mocking intention behind it. The people used the term to dismiss prophecy as something tiresome. God corrects their hearts by prescribing a better way: ask what He has answered. He is not protecting a formula; He is protecting the sacredness of His word.
Living This Out
This week, notice how you approach God's word. You might open the Bible with a sense of duty or even resentment. Perhaps you sigh when a sermon goes long. The passage invites you to reset your posture. Before you read, pause and ask quietly, 'Lord, what have You spoken?' That simple shift makes you a seeker, not a bearer. And if you hear someone speak lightly of Scripture, you can gently remind yourself and them: His words are not a weight to endure but a gift to receive.
Main takeaway: God's word is a living answer to be received with reverence, not a burden to be dismissed or mocked.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Have you ever complained when it was time to read the Bible? In Jeremiah’s time, some people treated God’s words like they were boring. God said, “Don’t call my words a burden. Instead, ask me what I have said to you.” God loves when we want to hear from Him.
For ages 9, 12
The people in Jeremiah’s day used a nickname for prophecy: they called it “the burden.” They meant it as a put down, like saying “Here comes another heavy message.” God told them to stop and instead ask respectfully, “What has the LORD answered?” This is a good reminder for us. When you open your Bible or listen in church, you can choose to see it as God speaking personally to you. That changes everything. Instead of thinking “I have to get through this,” you can think, “God has something to say to me right now.”
Questions People Ask
What is the 'burden of the LORD' in Jeremiah 23?
It was a term the people used for prophetic oracles, often with mocking intent. In Hebrew, 'massa' means both 'oracle' and 'burden,' and they used it to dismiss the weight of God's word. God rebukes this flippant attitude and commands a more reverent way of speaking.
Why does God forbid the phrase 'burden of the LORD'?
Not because the word itself is wrong, but because the people used it to ridicule prophecy. God commands a reverent approach: ask what He has spoken, not what burden He has sent. The prohibition addresses the heart attitude behind the words.
Does this mean God will forget His people?
The Hebrew word for 'forget' (nashah) is part of a wordplay. God says He will 'lift you up' (nasa) like a burden and cast you off. It is a judgment on contempt, not a permanent rejection of all Israel. The shame He speaks of is the consequence of refusing to honor Him.
What is the everlasting reproach and perpetual shame?
It refers to the public disgrace that came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their rebellion and exile. Their contempt for God's word brought humiliation that would not be forgotten, a warning for all who treat God lightly.
For pastors & researchers
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