9 Bible Verses about False Prophets

Most Relevant Verses

Isaiah 8:20

for instruction and for testimony? Surely they are speaking like this because the truth hasn't dawned on them.

Matthew 7:15-16

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are savage wolves. You will know them by their fruit. Grapes aren't gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles, are they?

Jeremiah 23:17

They keep on saying to those who despise me, "The LORD has said, "You will have peace."' To all who stubbornly follow their own desires they say, "Disaster won't come upon you.'

Jeremiah 28:15

The prophet Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, "Listen, Hananiah! The LORD didn't send you, and you are causing these people to trust in a lie.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22

Now you may ask yourselves, "How will we be able to discern that the LORD has not spoken?' Whenever a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the oracle does not come about or the word is not fulfilled, then the LORD has not spoken it. The prophet will have spoken presumptuously, so you need not fear him."

Jeremiah 23:16

This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Don't listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you; they're giving you false hopes. They declare visions from their own minds they don't come from the LORD!

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Divination » Practised by » False prophets

Jeremiah 14:14

Then the LORD told me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn't send them, I didn't command them, and I didn't speak to them. They're proclaiming to you false visions, worthless predictions, and the delusions of their own minds.

Ezekiel 13:3

"This is what the Lord GOD says, "How terrible it will be for the false prophets who walk according to their own wrong inclinations and see nothing.

Dreams » False prophets » Not to be regarded in

Jeremiah 27:9

You aren't to listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, and your sorcerers who say to you, "Don't serve the king of Babylon.'

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

"A prophet or a diviner of dreams may arise among you, give you an omen or a miracle that takes place, and then he may tell you, "Let's follow other gods (whom you have not known) and let's serve them.' Even though the sign or portent comes to pass, you must not listen to the words of that prophet or that diviner of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to make known whether or not you'll continue to love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

Dreams » False prophets » Pretended to

Jeremiah 29:8

For this is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: "Don't let the prophets and diviners who are among you deceive you, and don't listen to them when they tell you their dreams.

Jeremiah 23:25-28

"I've heard what the prophets who prophesy lies in my name have said: "I had a dream; I had a dream.' How long will this go on? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy from the deceit that is in their hearts? With their dreams that they relate to one another, they plan to make my people forget my name just as their ancestors forgot my name by embracing Baal. read more.
Let the prophet who has a dream relate the dream, but let whoever receives my message speak my message truthfully. What does straw have in common with wheat?" declares the LORD.

Dreams » False prophets » Condemned for pretending to

Jeremiah 23:32

Look, I'm against those who prophesy based on false dreams," declares the LORD, "and relate them and lead my people astray with their lies and their recklessness. I didn't send them; I didn't command them, and they provide no benefit at all to these people," declares the LORD.

Flattery » Exemplified » False prophets

1 Kings 22:13

Meanwhile, the messenger who had gone off to summon Micaiah advised him, "Look, everything that the other prophets were saying was unanimously favorable to the king. So please, cooperate with them and speak favorably."

Foxes » Illustrative of » False prophets

Ezekiel 13:4

Israel, your prophets have become like foxes among ruins.

Ignorance of God » Exemplified » False prophets

Isaiah 56:10-11

His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge. They are all dumb dogs they cannot bark. They keep on dreaming and lying around, and they're lovers of sleep! Meanwhile, the dogs have a mighty appetite they can never get enough. And as for them, they are the shepherds who lack understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, each and every one.

False prophets » The people » Warned not to listen to

Jeremiah 27:9

You aren't to listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, and your sorcerers who say to you, "Don't serve the king of Babylon.'

Jeremiah 23:16

This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Don't listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you; they're giving you false hopes. They declare visions from their own minds they don't come from the LORD!

Deuteronomy 13:3

you must not listen to the words of that prophet or that diviner of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to make known whether or not you'll continue to love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

Jeremiah 27:15-16

For I didn't send them," declares the LORD, "and they're falsely prophesying in my name, so I will drive both you and the prophets who prophesy to you out of the land." Then I spoke to the priests and all of the people: "This is what the LORD says: "Don't listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you: "The vessels from the Temple are about to be returned from Babylon very soon now." Indeed, they're prophesying a lie to you.

False prophets » Judgments denounced against

Jeremiah 8:1

"At that time," declares the LORD, "the bones of the king of Judah, the bones of his officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the residents of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves.

Jeremiah 14:15

Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the false prophets who prophesy in my name, "There will be no sword and famine in this land' (though I haven't sent them): "By the sword and by famine these prophets will be finished off!

Jeremiah 29:32

therefore, this is what the LORD says: "I'm about to judge Shemaiah from Nehelam along with his descendants. He won't have anyone related to him living among these people. Nor will he see the good that I'll do for my people," declares the LORD, "because he advocated rebellion against the LORD."'"

Jeremiah 28:16

Therefore, this is what the LORD says: "I'm about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you will die because you have preached 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."' To all who stubbornly follow their own desires they say, "Disaster won't come upon you.'

Jeremiah 6:14

They treated my people's wound superficially, telling them, "Peace, peace,' but there is no peace.

Ezekiel 13:10

because they've truly caused my people to stray saying, "Peace," but there's no peace.'"

Micah 3:5

"This is what the LORD says about the prophets who are causing my people to go astray, who are calling out "Peace' when they're being fed, but who declare war against those who won't feed them:

False prophets » Mode of trying and detecting

1 John 4:1-3

Dear friends, stop believing every spirit. Instead, test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize God's Spirit: Every spirit who acknowledges that Jesus the Messiah has become human and remains so is from God. But every spirit who does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist. You have heard that he is coming, and now he is already in the world.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22

Now you may ask yourselves, "How will we be able to discern that the LORD has not spoken?' Whenever a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the oracle does not come about or the word is not fulfilled, then the LORD has not spoken it. The prophet will have spoken presumptuously, so you need not fear him."

Deuteronomy 13:1

"A prophet or a diviner of dreams may arise among you, give you an omen or a miracle

False prophets » Not sent or commissioned by God

Jeremiah 14:14

Then the LORD told me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn't send them, I didn't command them, and I didn't speak to them. They're proclaiming to you false visions, worthless predictions, and the delusions of their own minds.

Jeremiah 29:31

"Send a message to all the exiles: "This is what the LORD says about Shemaiah from Nehelam, "Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I didn't send him, and has made you trust a lie,"

False prophets » Often practised divination and witchcraft

Acts 13:6

They went through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish occult practitioner and false prophet named Bar-jesus.

Jeremiah 14:14

Then the LORD told me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn't send them, I didn't command them, and I didn't speak to them. They're proclaiming to you false visions, worthless predictions, and the delusions of their own minds.

Ezekiel 22:28

""Her prophets whitewashed all of these things through false visions and lying divinations. They kept on saying, "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 all who stubbornly follow their own desires they say, "Disaster won't come upon you.' But who has stood in the LORD's council to see and hear his message? Who has paid attention to his message and obeyed it?

Jeremiah 23:31

Look, I'm against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who use their tongues to issue a declaration.

False prophets » Described as » Immoral and profane

Jeremiah 23:14

Among the prophets of Jerusalem I saw a horrible thing, for they commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of those who do evil, so that no one repents of his evil. All of them are like Sodom to me, and her residents like Gomorrah."

Jeremiah 23:11

Indeed, both priest and prophet are ungodly. Even in my house I find evil," declares the LORD.

False prophets » Prophesied » Out of their own heart

Jeremiah 23:26

How long will this go on? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy from the deceit that is in their hearts?

Jeremiah 23:16

This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Don't listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you; they're giving you false hopes. They declare visions from their own minds they don't come from the LORD!

False prophets » Often pretended to dreams, &c

Jeremiah 23:28

Let the prophet who has a dream relate the dream, but let whoever receives my message speak my message truthfully. What does straw have in common with wheat?" declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:32

Look, I'm against those who prophesy based on false dreams," declares the LORD, "and relate them and lead my people astray with their lies and their recklessness. I didn't send them; I didn't command them, and they provide no benefit at all to these people," declares the LORD.

False prophets » Women sometimes acted as

Revelation 2:20

But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and who teaches and leads my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

Nehemiah 6:14

"Remember me, my God, and take note of what Tobiah and Sanballat are doing. Also take note of the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who intend to make me afraid."

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 a disgusting thing, for they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.

Micah 3:5

"This is what the LORD says about the prophets who are causing my people to go astray, who are calling out "Peace' when they're being fed, but who declare war against those who won't feed them:

False prophets » The people » Encouraged and praised

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesy falsely, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?"

Luke 6:26

"How terrible it will be for you when everyone says nice things about you, because that's 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 I saw a horrible thing, for they commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of those who do evil, so that no one repents of his evil. All of them are like Sodom to me, and her residents like Gomorrah." Therefore, this is what the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies says about the prophets, "I'm about to make them eat wormwood and drink poisoned water, because godlessness has spread from the prophets of Jerusalem throughout the land."

False prophets » Made use of by God to prove israel

Deuteronomy 13:3

you must not listen to the words of that prophet or that diviner of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to make known whether or not you'll continue to love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

False prophets » Influenced by evil spirits

1 Kings 22:21-22

"But then a spirit approached, stood in front of the LORD, and said, "I will entice him.' "And the LORD asked him, "How?' ""I will go,' he announced, "and I will be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all of his prophets!' "So the LORD said, "You're just the one to deceive him. You will be successful. Go and do it.'

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

Jeremiah 14:14

Then the LORD told me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn't send them, I didn't command them, and I didn't speak to them. They're proclaiming to you false visions, worthless predictions, and the delusions of their own minds.

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

Jeremiah 23:27

With their dreams that they relate to one another, they plan to make my people forget my name just as their ancestors forgot my name by embracing Baal.

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

Jeremiah 23:30

"Therefore, look, I'm against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who steal my words from each other.

False prophets » Involved the people in their own ruin

Isaiah 9:15-16

the elder and the dignitary is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail. For those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.

False prophets » Described as » Light and treacherous

Zephaniah 3:4

Its prophets are arrogant and treacherous. Its priests have contaminated the sanctuary. They give perverse interpretations of the Law.

False prophets » Prophesied » Falsely

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesy falsely, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?"

False prophets » The people » Oppressed and defrauded by

Ezekiel 22:25

There's a conspiracy of prophets within her, and like a roaring lion tearing its prey, they've devoured people, and confiscated treasures, and taken precious things. They've added to the population of widows within her.

False prophets » Compared to wind

Jeremiah 5:13

The prophets are nothing but wind, and the word is not in them. So may the disaster happen to them!'"

False prophets » Described as » Crafty

False prophets » Prophesied » In the name of false gods

Jeremiah 2:8

"The priests didn't say, "Where is the LORD?' and those handling the Law didn't know me. The rulers transgressed against me, the prophets prophesied by Baal, and they followed that which does not profit.

False prophets » Often deceived by God as a judgment

Ezekiel 14:9

"Now as to the prophet, if through deceit he delivers a message, I the LORD have deceived that prophet! I'll reach out in opposition to him and exterminate him from among my people Israel.

False prophets » Compared to foxes in the desert

Ezekiel 13:4

Israel, your prophets have become like foxes among ruins.

False prophets » Called foolish prophets

Ezekiel 13:3

"This is what the Lord GOD says, "How terrible it will be for the false prophets who walk according to their own wrong inclinations and see nothing.

False prophets » Predicted to arise » In the latter times

False prophets » Described as » Drunken

Isaiah 28:7

These people also stagger from wine and reel from strong drink. Priests and prophets stagger from strong drink; they're drunk from wine; they reel from strong drink, waver when seeing visions, and stumble when rendering decisions.

False prophets » Described as » Covetous

Micah 3:11

Her leaders judge for the money, her priests teach only when they're paid, and her prophets prophesy for cash. Even so, don't they all rely on the LORD as they ask, "The LORD is among us, is he not? Nothing bad can possibly happen to us!'

Women » False prophets

Ezekiel 13:17-23

"And now, Son of Man, turn toward and oppose the women of your people who prophesy according to their own wrong inclinations and prophesy against them. Tell them, "This is what the Lord GOD says, "How terrible it will be for those women who sew magical bracelets on all their wrists and make one-size-fits all headbands, in order to entrap their souls. Will you hunt for the souls of my people and remain alive? You've profaned me among my people for a handful of barley and a morsel of bread. You're causing people to die who shouldn't have to die, and you're causing people to live who shouldn't survive, when you deceive my people who tend to listen to lies." read more.
""Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says, "Watch out! I'm opposing your amulets with which you hunt souls as one would swat at a flying insect. I'll tear them off your arms and then deliver those people, whom you've hunted like birds. I'll also tear off your headbands and deliver my people from your grip so that they won't be under your control anymore. Then you'll know that I am the LORD. """Because you've dismayed the heart of the righteous whom I never intended to dismay with lies, and because you've encouraged the wicked so that he wouldn't abandon his evil behavior and by doing so live, you'll no longer see false visions or again practice divination, because I'm going to deliver my people from your power. Then you'll know that I am the LORD."'"

Topics on False Prophets

Dreams And False Prophets

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

"A prophet or a diviner of dreams may arise among you, give you an omen or a miracle

False Prophets Denounced

Jeremiah 23:9-40

Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me, and all my bones shake. I'm like a drunk man, like a person overcome with wine, because of the LORD, and because of his holy words.

False Prophets, Examples Of

Revelation 2:20

But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and who teaches and leads my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

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