The Meaning of Jeremiah 23:29 Explained

Jeremiah 23:29

KJV: Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

YLT: Is it not thus? My word is as a fire, An affirmation of Jehovah. And as a hammer -- it breaketh in pieces a rock.

Darby: Is not my word like a fire, saith Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

ASV: Is not my word like fire? saith Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Is] not my word  like  as a fire?  saith  the LORD;  and like a hammer  [that] breaketh  the rock  in pieces? 

What does Jeremiah 23:29 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God"s true words were as penetrating as fire and as powerful as a hammer (cf. Hebrews 4:12). Both fire and a hammer can be destructive, yet refining. [1]

Context Summary

Jeremiah 23:1-40 - Shepherds That Mislead God's Flock
It is God's purpose to care for His people through shepherds (pastors) who are responsible to Him. Jesus our Lord is the Branch into which we may be grafted. He is our King who saves us and clothes us with His own spotless righteousness. God finds us in Him, Philippians 3:9. Because He reigns, we are saved and dwell in safety. When we are brought into contact with false shepherds, whether the failure be in doctrine or example, let us ask for the broken heart of Jeremiah 23:9.
God is everywhere present; as the latter paragraph indicates, He is near at hand to overhear the blasphemy of those who deride religion, and to be a very present help in time of trouble. If He fills heaven and earth, can He not fill thy heart? If His Word is like fire, let it cleanse thee! If it is as a hammer, let it pulverize thy pride! Let those of us who essay to teach and preach, not steal our words from our neighbors, or utter our own, but receive them from the source of all truth. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 23

1  He prophesies a restoration of the scattered flock
5  Christ shall rule and save them
9  Against false prophets;
33  and mockers of the true prophets

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 23:29 mean?

[Is] not like My word like a fire says Yahweh and like a hammer [that] breaks in pieces the rock -
הֲל֨וֹא כֹ֧ה דְבָרִ֛י ؟ כָּאֵ֖שׁ נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֑ה וּכְפַטִּ֖ישׁ יְפֹ֥צֵֽץ סָֽלַע ס

הֲל֨וֹא  [Is]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
כֹ֧ה  like 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
דְבָרִ֛י  My  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
؟ כָּאֵ֖שׁ  like  a  fire 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וּכְפַטִּ֖ישׁ  and  like  a  hammer 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּטִּישׁ  
Sense: forge hammer, hammer.
יְפֹ֥צֵֽץ  [that]  breaks  in  pieces 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פּוּץ 
Sense: to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered.
סָֽלַע  the  rock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֶלַע  
Sense: crag, cliff, rock.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation