Their self-made dark path resulted in harsh consequences.
“Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom And fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment,” declares the LORD (v.12). These words paint a vivid picture of sudden disaster overtaking those who have chosen their own deceptive ways. Like an unexpected patch of ice on a mountain trail, the paths they walk upon are treacherous and insecure. The prophet Jeremiah, who lived in the late seventh to early sixth century B.C., warned that those who gave in to corruption and led others astray in the kingdom of Judah would eventually face the consequences of their decisions. In the broader context of Jeremiah 23, he addresses the false prophets who distorted God’s truth, foreshadowing their ruin for steering the nation away from righteousness. This same principle resonates in the warnings of Jesus against false teachers in the New Testament, reminding believers even today to remain grounded in the truth.
The phrase “They will be driven away into the gloom And fall down in it” (v.12) underscores the seriousness of God’s judgment. In Jeremiah’s time, the looming threat of Babylonian exile hovered over Judah. Historically, the Babylonian Empire rose to prominence under King Nebuchadnezzar II around 605 B.C., conquering Jerusalem in 586 B.C. The “gloom” can be seen as the darkness of exile and loss of freedom which fell upon the nation. When people persist in disregard for God’s commands, they open themselves to destructive paths that lead to ruin. This grim warning also applies to every era, calling believers to repentance and steadfast faith.
“For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment,” declares the LORD (v.12) reveals that God’s timing for consequences is sure, even if it appears delayed. Though Jeremiah was pleading with the people of Judah to return to the LORD, their continual rejection ensured that a season of chastisement would arrive. In the New Testament, the theme of reaping what one sows finds its parallel in Galatians 6:7. God, in His just character, cannot overlook wrongdoing forever, yet He also extends mercy to those who choose to repent and align themselves with His ways.
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Jeremiah 23:12 meaning
“Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom And fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment,” declares the LORD (v.12). These words paint a vivid picture of sudden disaster overtaking those who have chosen their own deceptive ways. Like an unexpected patch of ice on a mountain trail, the paths they walk upon are treacherous and insecure. The prophet Jeremiah, who lived in the late seventh to early sixth century B.C., warned that those who gave in to corruption and led others astray in the kingdom of Judah would eventually face the consequences of their decisions. In the broader context of Jeremiah 23, he addresses the false prophets who distorted God’s truth, foreshadowing their ruin for steering the nation away from righteousness. This same principle resonates in the warnings of Jesus against false teachers in the New Testament, reminding believers even today to remain grounded in the truth.
The phrase “They will be driven away into the gloom And fall down in it” (v.12) underscores the seriousness of God’s judgment. In Jeremiah’s time, the looming threat of Babylonian exile hovered over Judah. Historically, the Babylonian Empire rose to prominence under King Nebuchadnezzar II around 605 B.C., conquering Jerusalem in 586 B.C. The “gloom” can be seen as the darkness of exile and loss of freedom which fell upon the nation. When people persist in disregard for God’s commands, they open themselves to destructive paths that lead to ruin. This grim warning also applies to every era, calling believers to repentance and steadfast faith.
“For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment,” declares the LORD (v.12) reveals that God’s timing for consequences is sure, even if it appears delayed. Though Jeremiah was pleading with the people of Judah to return to the LORD, their continual rejection ensured that a season of chastisement would arrive. In the New Testament, the theme of reaping what one sows finds its parallel in Galatians 6:7. God, in His just character, cannot overlook wrongdoing forever, yet He also extends mercy to those who choose to repent and align themselves with His ways.