Definition: Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Jeremiah 23:27. It's a really important and challenging verse in the Bible, and it speaks about a serious problem with worship and faith. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: Jeremiah is telling us that people are forgetting about God when they focus on dreams and stories – especially those that seem to come from other gods (like Baal). It's like a group of people suddenly stops remembering the true, important name of God. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Which think to cause my people to forget my name…” : Jeremiah is saying that some people are actively trying to make it seem like God isn’t real or important. They're focusing on dreams and stories, and they're deliberately trying to distract from the true worship of God. "...by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour..." : This is where it gets really significant. These people are sharing these dreams with everyone . They’re spreading these stories across communities, making them seem like a normal and important part of life. It's like gossip spreading rapidly! "...as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal." : This is the core of the problem. Jeremiah is comparing this to what happened with the ancient god Baal. Baal was a very powerful, deceptive god who was worshipped instead of worshipping God. The people were forgetting about God because they were focusing on Baal’s stories and false promises! What's the message? Jeremiah is warning us about a dangerous tendency to prioritize things that aren't truly holy – dreams, stories, or even feelings – over genuine worship of God. It's urging us to stay focused on remembering God's true name and identity. It’s a reminder that our faith should be centered on the real God, not on what we think is happening around us. In short: This verse highlights the importance of focusing on God’s truth and avoiding distractions that can lead people to forget about Him. Does this make sense? Do you want me to explain any part in more detail or perhaps relate it to a specific biblical story? For example, are you curious about: The history of Baal worship? How this verse relates to the concept of idolatry?