9 Bible Verses about False Prophets

Most Relevant Verses

Isaiah 8:20

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.

Matthew 7:15-16

“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

Jeremiah 23:17

They keep on saying to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said: You will have peace.’ They have said to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’”

Jeremiah 28:15

The prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord did not send you, but you have led these people to trust in a lie.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22

You may say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a message the Lord has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the Lord’s name, and the message does not come true or is not fulfilled, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Jeremiah 23:16

This is what the Lord of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are making you worthless. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the Lord’s mouth.

Bible Theasaurus

From Thematic Bible


Divination » Practised by » False prophets

Jeremiah 14:14

But the Lord said to me, “These prophets are prophesying a lie in My name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the deceit of their own minds.

Ezekiel 13:3

This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.

Ezekiel 13:6

They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘This is the Lord’s declaration,’ when the Lord did not send them, yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.

Dreams » False prophets » Not to be regarded in

Jeremiah 27:9

But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, diviners, dreamers, fortune-tellers, or sorcerers who say to you, ‘Don’t serve the king of Babylon!’

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

"If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, 'Let us follow other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us worship them,' do not listen to that prophet's words or to that dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.

Dreams » False prophets » Pretended to

Jeremiah 29:8

For this is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them,

Jeremiah 23:25-28

"I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in My name have said: I had a dream! I had a dream! How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds? Through their dreams that they tell one another, they make plans to cause My people to forget My name as their fathers forgot My name through Baal worship. read more.
The prophet who has [only] a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has My word should speak My word truthfully, for what is straw [compared] to grain?"-the Lord's declaration.

Dreams » False prophets » Condemned for pretending to

Jeremiah 23:32

I am against those who prophesy false dreams”—the Lord’s declaration—“telling them and leading My people astray with their falsehoods and their boasting. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people”—this is the Lord’s declaration.

Flattery » Exemplified » False prophets

1 Kings 22:13

The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

Foxes » Illustrative of » False prophets

Ezekiel 13:4

Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins.

Ignorance of God » Exemplified » False prophets

Isaiah 56:10-11

Israel's watchmen are blind, all of them, they know nothing; all of them are mute dogs, they cannot bark; they dream, lie down, and love to sleep. These dogs have fierce appetites; they never have enough. And they are shepherds who have no discernment; all of them turn to their own way, every last one for his own gain.

False prophets » The people » Warned not to listen to

Jeremiah 27:9

But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, diviners, dreamers, fortune-tellers, or sorcerers who say to you, ‘Don’t serve the king of Babylon!’

Jeremiah 23:16

This is what the Lord of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are making you worthless. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the Lord’s mouth.

Deuteronomy 13:3

do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.

Jeremiah 27:15-16

'I have not sent them'-[this is] the Lord's declaration-'and they are prophesying falsely in My name; therefore, I will banish you, and you will perish-you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.' " Then I spoke to the priests and all these people, saying, "This is what the Lord says, 'Do not listen to the words of your prophets. They are prophesying to you, claiming: Look, very soon now the articles of the Lord's temple will be brought back from Babylon. They are prophesying a lie to you.

False prophets » Judgments denounced against

Jeremiah 8:1

“At that time”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of her officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the residents of Jerusalem will be brought out of their graves.

Jeremiah 14:15

“Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, though I did not send them, and who say, ‘There will never be sword or famine in this land.’ By sword and famine these prophets will meet their end.

Jeremiah 29:32

this is what the Lord says: I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. There will not be even one of his descendants living among these people, nor will any ever see the good that I will bring to My people”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“for he has preached rebellion against the Lord.”

Jeremiah 28:16

Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to send you off the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have spoken rebellion against the Lord.’”

False prophets » Prophesied » Peace, when there was no peace

Jeremiah 23:17

They keep on saying to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said: You will have peace.’ They have said to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’”

Jeremiah 6:14

They have treated My people’s brokenness superficially,
claiming, “Peace, peace,”
when there is no peace.

Ezekiel 13:10

“Since they have led My people astray saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, for when someone builds a wall they plaster it with whitewash,

Micah 3:5

This is what the Lord says
concerning the prophets
who lead my people astray,
who proclaim peace
when they have food to sink their teeth into
but declare war against the one
who puts nothing in their mouths.

False prophets » Mode of trying and detecting

1 John 4:1-3

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22

You may say to yourself, 'How can we recognize a message the Lord has not spoken?' When a prophet speaks in the Lord's name, and the message does not come true or is not fulfilled, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Deuteronomy 13:1

“If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,

False prophets » Not sent or commissioned by God

Jeremiah 14:14

But the Lord said to me, “These prophets are prophesying a lie in My name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the deceit of their own minds.

Jeremiah 23:21

I did not send these prophets,
yet they ran with a message.
I did not speak to them,
yet they prophesied.

Jeremiah 29:31

“Send a message to all the exiles, saying: This is what the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah prophesied to you, though I did not send him, and made you trust a lie,

False prophets » Often practised divination and witchcraft

Acts 13:6

When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

Jeremiah 14:14

But the Lord said to me, “These prophets are prophesying a lie in My name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the deceit of their own minds.

Ezekiel 22:28

Her prophets plaster with whitewash for them by seeing false visions and lying divinations, and they say, ‘This is what the Lord God says,’ when the Lord has not spoken.

False prophets » Pretended to be sent by God

Jeremiah 23:17-18

They keep on saying to those who despise Me: The Lord has said: You will have peace. To everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his heart they have said, No harm will come to you." For who has stood in the council of the Lord to see and hear His word? Who has paid attention to His word and obeyed?

Jeremiah 23:31

I am against the prophets”—the Lord’s declaration—“who use their own tongues to make a declaration.

False prophets » Described as » Immoral and profane

Jeremiah 23:14

Among the prophets of Jerusalem also
I saw a horrible thing:
They commit adultery and walk in lies.
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,
and none turns his back on evil.
They are all like Sodom to Me;
Jerusalem’s residents are like Gomorrah.

Jeremiah 23:11

because both prophet and priest are ungodly,
even in My house I have found their evil.
This is the Lord’s declaration.

False prophets » Prophesied » Out of their own heart

Jeremiah 23:26

How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds?

Jeremiah 23:16

This is what the Lord of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are making you worthless. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the Lord’s mouth.

False prophets » Often pretended to dreams, &c

Jeremiah 23:28

The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has My word should speak My word truthfully, for what is straw compared to grain?”—this is the Lord’s declaration.

Jeremiah 23:32

I am against those who prophesy false dreams”—the Lord’s declaration—“telling them and leading My people astray with their falsehoods and their boasting. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people”—this is the Lord’s declaration.

False prophets » Women sometimes acted as

Revelation 2:20

But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives My slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.

Nehemiah 6:14

My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

False prophets » Predicted to arise » Before destruction of jerusalem

False prophets » The people » Led into error by

Jeremiah 23:13

Among the prophets of Samaria
I saw something disgusting:
They prophesied by Baal
and led My people Israel astray.

Micah 3:5

This is what the Lord says
concerning the prophets
who lead my people astray,
who proclaim peace
when they have food to sink their teeth into
but declare war against the one
who puts nothing in their mouths.

False prophets » The people » Encouraged and praised

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule by their own authority.
My people love it like this.
But what will you do at the end of it?

Luke 6:26

Woe to you
when all people speak well of you,
for this is the way their ancestors
used to treat the false prophets.

False prophets » The people » Taught profaneness and sin by

Jeremiah 23:14-15

Among the prophets of Jerusalem also I saw a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, and none turns his back on evil. They are all like Sodom to Me; Jerusalem's residents are like Gomorrah. Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts says concerning the prophets: I am about to feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.

False prophets » Made use of by God to prove israel

Deuteronomy 13:3

do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.

False prophets » Influenced by evil spirits

1 Kings 22:21-22

"Then a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, 'I will entice him.' "The Lord asked him, 'How?' "He said, 'I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' "Then He said, 'You will certainly entice him and prevail. Go and do that.'

False prophets » Prophesied » Lies in the name of the lord

Jeremiah 14:14

But the Lord said to me, “These prophets are prophesying a lie in My name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the deceit of their own minds.

False prophets » The people » Made to forget God's name by

Jeremiah 23:27

Through their dreams that they tell one another, they plan to cause My people to forget My name as their fathers forgot My name through Baal worship.

False prophets » The people » Deprived of God's word by

Jeremiah 23:30

Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets”—the Lord’s declaration—“who steal My words from each other.

False prophets » Involved the people in their own ruin

Isaiah 9:15-16

The head is the elder, the honored one; the tail is the prophet, the lying teacher. The leaders of the people mislead [them], and those they mislead are swallowed up.

False prophets » Described as » Light and treacherous

Zephaniah 3:4

Her prophets are reckless
treacherous men.
Her priests profane the sanctuary;
they do violence to instruction.

False prophets » Prophesied » Falsely

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule by their own authority.
My people love it like this.
But what will you do at the end of it?

False prophets » The people » Oppressed and defrauded by

Ezekiel 22:25

The conspiracy of her prophets within her is like a roaring lion tearing its prey: they devour people, seize wealth and valuables, and multiply the widows within her.

False prophets » Compared to wind

Jeremiah 5:13

The prophets become only wind,
for the Lord’s word is not in them.
This will in fact happen to them.

False prophets » Described as » Crafty

False prophets » Prophesied » In the name of false gods

Jeremiah 2:8

The priests quit asking, “Where is the Lord?”
The experts in the law no longer knew Me,
and the rulers rebelled against Me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal
and followed useless idols.

False prophets » Often deceived by God as a judgment

Ezekiel 14:9

“But if the prophet is deceived and speaks a message, it was I, Yahweh, who deceived that prophet. I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

False prophets » Compared to foxes in the desert

Ezekiel 13:4

Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins.

False prophets » Called foolish prophets

Ezekiel 13:3

This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.

False prophets » Predicted to arise » In the latter times

False prophets » Described as » Drunken

Isaiah 28:7

These also stagger because of wine
and stumble under the influence of beer:
priest and prophet stagger because of beer,
they are confused by wine.
They stumble because of beer,
they are muddled in their visions,
they stumble in their judgments.

False prophets » Described as » Covetous

Women » False prophets

Ezekiel 13:17-23

"Now, son of man, turn toward the women of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them and say: This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the women who sew [magic] bands on the wrist of every hand and who make veils for the heads of people of every height in order to ensnare lives. Will you ensnare the lives of My people but preserve your own? You profane Me in front of My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread; you kill those who should not die and spare those who should not live, when you lie to My people, who listen to lies. read more.
"Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I am against your [magic] bands that you ensnare people with like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. I will free the people you have ensnared like birds. I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands, so that they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies, even though I have not caused him grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked person not to turn from his evil way to save his life, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the Lord."

Topics on False Prophets

Dreams And False Prophets

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

“If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,

False Prophets Denounced

Jeremiah 23:9-40

Concerning the prophets:

My heart is broken within me,
and all my bones tremble.
I have become like a drunkard,
like a man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord,
because of His holy words.

False Prophets, Examples Of

Revelation 2:20

But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives My slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.

Knowing Jesus Everyday

Never miss a post

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.