Definition: Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD’S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jeremiah 27:16. It's a really important and complex passage, so we’ll go through it step-by-step. Here’s the basic idea: This verse is about disagreement and mistrust between God and his followers. It’s essentially saying that the people were trying to trick God with false promises – prophecies – and God was getting angry. Let's unpack it word by word: “Jeremiah 27:16 Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying…” - This establishes who is speaking: Jeremiah, a prophet of God, and he’s talking to a group of people – likely the Israelites. “…saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD’S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.” - This is the core of the message. Let's break it down further: “Thus saith the LORD” : This means God is speaking directly to us. “Hearken not to the words of your prophets…” : Jeremiah is telling people not to listen to the prophecies they’re receiving from their priests. “…saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD’S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon:” - This is the key part. "Vessels of the LORD'S house" refers to God’s temple – a special place where he lives and interacts with his people. “Now shortly” means very soon. “Babylon” is a place mentioned in Jewish tradition as an exile and a place of wickedness, so it’s being used here as a symbol of false leadership or deception. “…for they prophesy a lie unto you.” : This is the crucial part. The priests are falsely claiming that God will bring about a time of judgment and destruction, specifically involving Babylon (a city in Asia). So, what’s the big takeaway? Jeremiah is warning the Israelites against believing the false promises made by their priests. He's saying that these priests were deliberately misleading them with lies. God is angry at their deception. Why does this matter today? This verse speaks to a long history of religious conflict and mistrust between God and humanity. It's a reminder to: Be critical of what we hear: Don’t blindly accept everything that someone says, especially if it seems too good to be true. Trust in God’s truth: God’s word is always reliable. Question authority: It's important to examine the motives behind any authority figure, including religious leaders. --- To help me explain this verse even more effectively for you , could you tell me: What are you hoping to learn from this passage? (Are you trying to understand it better, or just want a general explanation?) Do you have any specific questions about the meaning of the verse?