Jeremiah 23:33-40

See introd. summary to section. The original word means either a burden or a prophetic utterance. It would appear that those hostile to Jeremiah had taken to apply the word derisively to the prophet's utterances as being indeed burdensome. "What new prophecy hast thou for us to hear? At any rate we will warrant it to be a wearying one." Hence the word is to be used no longer, but expressions not open to such misuse are to take its place.