Shemaiah שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ
False prophet during the Babylonian exile
Who is Shemaiah in the Bible?
Shemaiah, also called Shemaiah the Nehelamite, was a false prophet who lived among the Jewish exiles in Babylon during Jeremiah's ministry (Jeremiah 29:24). He actively opposed Jeremiah by sending letters to Jerusalem that contradicted Jeremiah's messages and falsely accused him of being a false prophet, even urging the priest Zephaniah to arrest and imprison Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:24-32). When the Lord revealed to Jeremiah that Shemaiah was actually the deceiver, Jeremiah pronounced judgment against him, declaring that Shemaiah and his descendants would be punished and excluded from the restoration God promised to His people (Jeremiah 29:32). Shemaiah's story illustrates the spiritual conflict during the exile between true and false prophets, emphasizing the critical importance of discerning which voices truly speak for God.
Biography
Shemaiah, also known as Shemaiah the Nehelamite, was a false prophet who lived among the exiles in Babylon during the time of Jeremiah. According to Jer.29.24-32, Shemaiah sent letters to the people and priests in Jerusalem, contradicting Jeremiah's prophetic messages and accusing him of being a false prophet. Shemaiah urged the priest Zephaniah to rebuke and imprison Jeremiah for his prophecies. However, the Lord revealed to Jeremiah that Shemaiah was a false prophet who was leading the people astray. As a result, Jeremiah prophesied that Shemaiah and his descendants would be punished, and none of them would see the good that God would do for His people. This incident underscores the conflict between true and false prophets during the Babylonian exile and the importance of discerning genuine prophetic messages.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJeremiah 3 verses
- Jeremiah 29:24
"You are to tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite that"
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 29:31
"“Send a message telling all the exiles what the LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you—though I did not send him—and has made you trust in a lie,"
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 29:32
"this is what the LORD says: ‘I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good that I will bring to My people, declares the LORD, for he has preached rebellion against the LORD.’”"
Study Jeremiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ |