Question 1

What does the phrase “the burden of the LORD” mean in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Here “the burden of the LORD” was a word the prophets sometimes used for a heavy message from God, often warning of judgment. The people, priests, and false prophets picked up that word and twisted it. Instead of taking God’s warnings seriously, they used “burden” as a joke, as if every message from God was just more bad news and a nuisance. God tells Jeremiah to stop using that phrase with them, because they have turned it into mockery instead of treating his word with respect and fear.

Question 2

Why is God so angry that people say “the burden of the LORD”?

Accepted Answer

God is not upset at the word itself, but at the way they use it. They take a serious word that points to the weight of God’s message and turn it into a joke. By asking, “What is the burden of the LORD?” they sneer at prophecy as if God only wants to trouble them. This shows contempt for the living God and his mercy in speaking to them at all. Because they keep using this phrase in a mocking way after being warned, God says he will punish them and their houses.

Question 3

What does it mean when God says, “every man’s word shall be his burden”?

Accepted Answer

This line means their own words will come back on them. They treated God’s word as a burden and made light of it, so God says their careless and scornful talk will become a real weight on them. Either the guilt of their speech will press on their conscience, or the punishments they joked about will actually fall on them. The idea is that what they said in jest will turn into the load they must carry, showing that mocking God’s word is not harmless.

Question 4

How were the people supposed to speak instead of saying “the burden of the LORD”?

Accepted Answer

God tells them a better way to talk about his word. Instead of asking, “What is the burden of the LORD?” in a mocking tone, they should say, “What hath the LORD answered?” and “What hath the LORD spoken?” This language shows they are ready to listen and obey, not to sneer. They should ask this both of their neighbors and of the prophet. The point is that God’s word must be spoken of with respect and seriousness, not turned into a joke or catchphrase.

Question 5

What does this passage teach about God’s character and his word?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God’s word is living, weighty, and not to be toyed with. God is patient enough to warn people about their careless speech, but he is also holy and will not let his words be twisted without response. He cares how people talk about him, because mocking his word is really rejecting him. It also shows God is just: if people keep scorning what he says, he may withdraw his presence and leave them to the shame and judgment they chose.

Question 6

What was happening among the prophets and priests when God spoke these words?

Accepted Answer

Many prophets and priests in Judah were not faithful. Instead of leading people to honor God, they joined in the people’s irreverence. Some were false prophets who brought smooth messages and then laughed at the true warnings as “burdens.” They helped turn serious prophecy into something to joke about. God singles them out along with the people, saying that if a prophet or priest uses this mocking phrase, he and his house will be punished. Their spiritual role did not protect them from judgment.

Question 7

What does it mean that God will forsake them and cast them out of his presence?

Accepted Answer

When God says he will forsake them and cast them out of his presence, he is warning of exile and the loss of his special care. He had given them the city and dwelt among them in a special way, but now he would withdraw that nearness. Being cast out of his presence means being handed over to enemies, losing protection and blessing. It is a very serious judgment, because God is saying, in effect, that he will no longer stay with those who continually reject and mock his word.

Question 8

How does this passage warn us about joking with Scripture or spiritual things?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that making jokes out of God’s words is not a small thing. The people took holy language and used it to get laughs and to dodge conviction. God calls that “perverting the words of the living God” and promises to punish it. It warns us to avoid using Bible phrases as punchlines, or speaking about God’s truth lightly, just to seem clever. Instead, we should ask, “What has the Lord spoken?” with a desire to listen, repent where needed, and obey.

Jeremiah 23:33

¶ And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.

False Prophecies

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Jeremiah 23:33

¶ And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.

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False Prophecies

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