Prophet Pearls #33 – Bechukotai (Jeremiah 16:19-17:14)

In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion of Bechukotai covering Jeremiah 16:19-17:14. Gordon and Johnson discuss the lies that Jeremiah refers to and who inherited them—including the biggest lie of all—the deception … Continue reading →

In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion of Bechukotai covering Jeremiah 16:19-17:14. Gordon and Johnson discuss the lies that Jeremiah refers to and who inherited them—including the biggest lie of all—the deception concerning God’s name. Gordon addresses Hebrew plural endings and answers the question of every Hebrew 1 student: Why is “Elohim” not always plural?

Word studies include “shmitah/let go” and how Jeremiah intentionally contrasted its use to reflect both cause and effect. The word-of-the-week is at the heart of Gordon’s ministry: makor (mem-koof-vav-reish)—living water, source of strength.

In closing, Gordon shares how his views have changed over the past decade regarding the concept of “salvation” and prayed the words of Jeremiah for both physical and spiritual healing and salvation.

Artwork for this week's episode is a painting by Mara Hofmann, artist.

"To You nations shall come from the ends of the earth and say: Our fathers inherited utter delusions, things that are futile and worthless." Jeremiah 16:19

I look forward to reading your comments!

Audio TranscriptRead more

Transcript

Prophet Pearls #33 – Bechukotai (Jeremiah 16:19-17:14)

You are listening to Prophet Pearls with Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.

Nehemia: Welcome to Prophet Pearls, recorded live in the city of the prophets, Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel. This is Nehemia Gordon, and I am so excited to be exploring biblical prophecy for yesterday, today, and tomorrow, in the very city where Isaiah preached in the public squares, in the same streets where Zechariah spoke the Word of God, and in the place where Jeremiah prophesied. Welcome to Prophet Pearls. Keith, are you as excited as I am to be here in Jerusalem?

Keith: What do you mean am I excited? Now, you didn’t put me in the introduction, though. You’ve got to start over, and say…

Nehemia: You’re here. No, I said…

Keith: And say this is Nehemia Gordon with Keith Johnson. No one knows that I’m here! You’ve got to start over again. Say my name! [laughing] I’m just kidding.

Nehemia: “Thus saith Keith Johnson: ‘Thou shalt honor my name.’”

Keith: Yes, right. No, I’m excited. I am excited to be here with you, because we’re really into the flow here. We’ve been here for a few days, and we’ve been able to record. I mean, basically, that’s all we’ve had a chance to do, but it’s an important thing that we’re doing. It’s the mission that we’re a part of, and our Prophet Pearl Partners from all the way on the West Coast, furthest most west part of the United States, Jim and Jeanette, thank you so much for being our partners! Not only were they our Prophet Pearl Partners, they helped us when we were out in Oregon, and I want to thank them for that also.

Nehemia: Yes. Thanks, guys.

Comments

Donald MurphyJuly 25, 2026 at 4:50 PM

Y doesn’t Israel’s water project use water from the sea???

Kristen WillmarthJune 4, 2024 at 8:20 AM

WOW!!!! Thank you guys for this study. I had to sit under it three times to start to understand it, and 17:14 has been so powerful for me bc Yehovah showed it to me ten years ago when I first became chronically ill. Since then He has delivered me from church doctrine and showed me to walk in His Way, so this struck me to the heart. I wish I could understand the Hebrew better. Nehemiah – or Keith: One of you need to do YouTube videos where you write all this down for us super gentile believers who want more understanding of the Hebrew text! I’m so visual, even reading the transcript has my head spinning, and this is a FANTASTIC teaching! Thank you both!

donald murphyJune 1, 2024 at 4:06 PM

teachings

donald murphyJune 1, 2024 at 4:06 PM

all christain r false.

donald murphyJune 1, 2024 at 4:00 PM

minus the heathen teachings.

donald murphyJune 1, 2024 at 3:59 PM

Jer 16: 19 is one reason why I’m so against christainty, because it is confusing and delusional and futile. So u guys need to avoid all references to the falseness of the new testament. So u 3 take heed.

KittyMay 13, 2023 at 11:09 AM

It seems to me that people are drawn to this site and to Keith and Nehemia by the commonality that we are all searching for Truth and that is an awesome thing to experience.

KittyMay 13, 2023 at 11:03 AM

Is it anyone not a Jew? Or anyone not of Israel? Perhaps Nehemiah could answer. It is confusing to me when there were the Hebrews as the tribes of Israel, but now just Judah?

KittyMay 13, 2023 at 10:54 AM

Thank you Sheila, this is so true. Constantly saved from the lies that are put there to ensnare us.

Don WittlingerMay 18, 2022 at 1:09 AM

In the Leningrad Codex the sacred name has different vowel points for verses 19 and 21 of Jer 16 and many other bible verses also could you explain why? Thank you Don

KrishaJune 2, 2019 at 9:12 AM

Thank you for posting your insight Sheila. I do believe you are on to something very important! Yehovah is eternal. He is neither past, nor future. He is the Eternal Now. When our lives are submitted to Him we function outside the realm of time and growth is a sublime continual birthing process. In other words, we are constantly being born anew. Life in Yehovah is a process. Not a product. We are eternal. He is always creating.

Sheila PriceJune 1, 2019 at 5:13 PM

Nehemia and Keith, I thank you both for your teachings, as always it is enlightening.
Something to me that is important that dawned on me as I listened and studied along with you, is that salvation is an ongoing process, it’s NOT a one time and done thing, because we grow up in a world where so much has been lost or mistranslated, misunderstood, so when we begin asking Yehovah to teach us HIS Truth over man’s truth and He begins to show us, and we learn, and grow, we are constantly being ‘saved’ from the lies of our ancestors.As each new understanding of His Truth comes to us, we are being saved again from a lie. Yehovah is SO good!

Kitty CorbettMay 25, 2019 at 4:42 PM

There is no biblical definition of gentile that I know of, but from the various OT contexts it is clear that those who are not of the WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL are the gentiles. The notion that only the Jews are non-gentile, and only Jews are God’s Chosen, is a Satanic notion adopted by the Jews and pressed on the Lost Ten Tribes, who are lost only in Christianity, to keep them from realizing that they are the major part of the Chosen People and just as entitled to God’s blessings as the Jews. That righteous Jew prophet and preacher Jesus spoke the parable of the prodigal son, who in the end repents and returns to his loving father, who reconciles the prodigal with the faithful elder son.

KrishaMay 23, 2019 at 9:05 AM

A beautiful prayer! All that is necessary is a humble heart. Jehovah will do the rest. Thank you!

SharonMay 22, 2019 at 1:32 PM

Thank you for revealing Our Father’s heart to bring us all to Himself. Thank you for your honesty to seek the Truth. As we find Him we are finding oneness with one another.

DevorahSeptember 28, 2018 at 1:02 PM

Hi Josh,
I just tried to send it to you but I got it back saying your email address was not found. Please email me….dev@nehemiaswall.com and I will send it to you.
Thanks!

cory kernMay 21, 2018 at 1:40 PM

God’s salvation seems to be important to corrupt humanity. Obedience = blessing = living salvation. Insubordination = curse = no salvation. What is a burnt offering to atone for? Why sin offering? In what way is this not required(Ps 40:6)? Do offerings give understanding of the payment for sin? What are the sacrifices of God(Ps 51)? Why does a good heart make the offerings good and not the opposite? What does Yehovah require(Mic 6:6-8)? So why offerings? A picture? Why an offering needed to be without defect(outside)? Why dealing with the outside(appearance) and not the inside(heart)? If animals can not provide a payment for rebellion, what can? Son of God in the image of perfect angel fell to the temptation of sin. Son of God in the image of perfect Adam fell to the temptation of sin. What perfect Son of God faced temptation and remained perfect? Follow this perfect Savior according to His perfect sacrifice you will have a perfect salvation in the perfect eternity.

Christina LeonardMay 13, 2018 at 9:43 AM

Best prayer ever at the end Nehemiah! Such humility speaks volumes and warms the heart. Thank you.

Lori YoungMay 7, 2018 at 1:40 PM

Once being of the christian faith, then finding my jewish roots as a black woman, and then visiting the Messianic teaching I have to say, it is my eyes thay needed to be uncovered, my blindness that needed healing. May Yehovah be merciful and reveal his truth to me. Thank you for your transparency I know it is not easy.
From one who is Now just following Tanakh.

Reyes NavaJuly 22, 2017 at 9:41 PM

The biblical definition for “gentile” is anyone who is not a Jew, therefore the argument that the gentiles are the lost 10 tribes of Israel is redunant. There is only “obedient Israel” and “disobedient Israel”. The great news is that gentiles can join themselves to Yehovah and become part of “obedient Israel” (Isaiah 56: 6-7).

Christendom desperately does not want Jeremiah 16:19 to include them because then everything they have believed is a lie.

Owen MurphyMay 20, 2017 at 6:08 PM

Thank you for this personal eye opener – Clinically ‘right’ does not equate with ‘spiritually right’ !

DeenaMay 20, 2017 at 5:40 PM

What a great teaching! It was neat to hear about your walk and how your friendship developed. It reminds me of Psalm 133. Thank you!

Owen MurphyMay 20, 2017 at 4:42 PM

Neville – exactly, it makes one marvel at the ‘believers’ inability to discern basic common sense. It’s as if some see the bible as a ‘Walmart’ where you pick and choose and go through the checkout as your ‘pin’ identifies you and your belief.

CarrieMay 20, 2017 at 1:49 PM

Wow! What a great episode! You two are such a blessing! Seeing Yehovah bring you both together as iron sharpens iron is truly inspiring! You are living proof of Galatians 3:28 🙂

CarrieMay 20, 2017 at 1:24 PM

Are the GENTILES in vs19 of Jeremiah 16 and 17:4 not in fact the Northern Tribes of Israel, who were dispersed to the 4 corners of the world, who incorporated themselves into the pagan godly ways of the cultures where they made habitation? It talks about discontinuing from thine heritage, and how the fathers inherited lies, which makes one think that at one point they WERE of Jehovah’s heritage and those that had the truth. Are they not the lost tribes who Yeshua said He was sent for? As a non-Hebrew naturally I am now a Hebrew spiritually THANK YEHOVAH! But I do not think the gentiles listed here are the gentile non-Hebrews like me. The gentiles, the nations, and the strangers Paul talks about are the lost Northern Kingdom tribes and I believe also in Jeremiah. Thanks guys for all you do! 🙂

NevilleMay 20, 2017 at 12:41 PM

I know that many people interprets Acts 15:23:29 that way, but it simply can’t be the case.

The key portion of that passage is: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. ”

So, the torah was undone and the only moral requirements on these folks were the three listed above? They were free to murder, lie, steal, covet, dishonor their parents, forsake the Sabbath, etc.?

That’s just not believable.

BonnieMay 19, 2017 at 9:13 PM

Loved it!

Jerry NoblittMay 19, 2017 at 12:25 PM

This is your best one ever, you really exposed your heart. I pray we all have passion to share his word in truth regardless of what anyone says.

Darlene Dow DeSilvaMay 19, 2017 at 10:14 AM

Love you brothers. I have learned so much about things I never knew.,, that I was suppose to know.

DarrylynMay 31, 2016 at 3:53 AM

Also because the Ruach Ha Kodesh had fallen on gentiles who simply followed Yeshua after Peter spoke to them..Acts 10:44-48 so the Nazarene council did not require circumcision since Yahovah had blessed them with out it. So they decided that gentiles did not have keep all the laws and sent a letter found in Acts 15: 23-29 to confirm it.

DarrylynMay 31, 2016 at 3:28 AM

Having been schooled in Roman Catholicism from the age of 7- 17 and learning the doctrine, I can say; all people who follow after Martin Luther an excommunicated priest are not considered by the Pope as under his authority. They are considered heretics and protest Catholic doctrine which says a person can not go before the CREATOR OF the UNIVERSE to confess or petition on his/her own behalf without paying a representative of Rome for intercessory prayer. Saul/Paul a Jewish apostle to the gentiles afforded them the right to pray anyday because keeping a lunar Sabbath without having one’s own business was prohibitive.

Lisa OrtizMay 24, 2016 at 8:57 AM

Excellent study. I heard you in Raiders of the lost Book and from there I look forward to hear your teachings. You r a blessing to my life and many, many more. YHVH always be with u…

Renee Evans-HicksFebruary 6, 2016 at 1:29 AM

Nehemia and Keith, thanks again for sharing “makorot” (hope I typed that right).

Renee Evans-HicksFebruary 6, 2016 at 1:21 AM

Thanks for posting this, Laura. I can’t justly describe how it stirred my soul! It is so bitter-sweetly beautiful! So sad and so beautiful.

JoelleMay 25, 2015 at 9:18 PM

Nehemiah, thanks for sharing “your walk” in your ministry. I thought what you said and the humility with which you said it was beautiful. Today was the first time I realized that your ministry is the only ministry I listen to where I do not feel there is an agenda. Ironically I have been praying for the truth, His truth, and then I hear this message today. I appreciate you offering the truth, to the best of your ability, for myself and others to study. I also appreciate that you offer it up in a way that doesn’t make me feel like I have to be a Jew or a Gentile but simply His child.

Laura OlsonMay 21, 2015 at 9:48 PM

Thank you Mike. This was helpful to me.

JohnMay 17, 2015 at 8:31 AM

You both have blessed me by your teachings and your manner of delivery

Vicki AckerMay 17, 2015 at 7:57 AM

Wow. I was raised Roman Catholic and was surrounded by Southern Baptists. Here in the Southern part of the USA a typical first question on meeting someone is for them to ask, “What church do you go to”? So many times I cringed when the next question was asked,” Are you saved.” because I knew the discussion to folllow would be a debate, a denominational gymnastic to prove who was right. So the defensive reaction over time was avoidance. I never knew what the speaker was really asking. I felt it was a question used to meet an expected quota not to really know me.
Yehovah is drawing me. He has drawn me. He is the one who saves. I now follow the God of the Hebrews, The God of Abraham, Issac, Jacob. The God who gave His name, Yehovah, to Moses. Yehovah saves.The focus is now on Him, not the word save, or the quota. Your prayer Nehemia is for truth. Amen..Keith and Nehemia thank you again for a wonderful teaching.

Reyes NavaMay 16, 2015 at 2:45 PM

Psalm 103 portrays a good example of salvation of the soul as well as the body.
Verses 3-5 speak of forgiveness, healing, redemption, mercy and renewal.

It is interesting how the psalmist (King David) is speaking to his own soul (nephesh).
His soul is not a separate person in itself but the seat of his appetites and desires, the breath that was given to him by his Creator and maker of his soul.

MikeMay 16, 2015 at 1:13 PM

If we are seeking the truth of YHWH, the Ruach deals with us all individually, because only HE knows our hearts and our needs :>)

Laurie JoMay 16, 2015 at 9:00 AM

Nehemia is correct when he says that Methodists are under the authority of the Poop. Of course they won’t admit that, because they are deceived. Every SUNday keeping circus is, and also the SDA’s since they STILL celebrate X-mass and E_ster.
Why wouldn’t Keith know this? Because somewhere in his heart he is defending the very religion which deceived him for so long.

Don’t be afraid to tell the truth, even it is seems judgmental. We all know YHWH is the true and righteous judge, and we must judge according to His word eh?

PS Goats have different textures and different thickness of hair on various parts of their body. Esau probably wasn’t “covered” in thick hair like on a goats back, but the underside of the goat has a lot less hair, similar to a hairy man, like those guys that have a full beard by the time they are 16. A goats udder is almost hairless.

and while we are speaking of goats… a goat in is mother’s milk would be a goat who is still young and nursing. “A Goat Keepers Wisdom” (just sayin)

Laurie JoMay 16, 2015 at 9:02 AM

I’d just like to say. “LIKE.”

MichaelMay 15, 2015 at 9:38 PM

Shalom dear brothers and sisters – have we not heard the words of Paul come alive in our ears as our beloved brothers, Nehemia and Keith, shared their hearts and minds, crying out to Yehovah for His salvation!

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12.13
HalleluYah!

Laura OlsonMay 15, 2015 at 10:35 AM

The last three minutes of this Prophet Pearls blew me away. The meaning of the word salvation in Tanak. Wow. I so completely agree. In trying to see how the Orthodox view the concept of God’s salvation, I was watching a prominent rabbi speak on Yom Kippur once, and someone in his audience asked: “HOW can God forgive us, no matter how sorry we are?” I thought he would surely give some response from scripture because this guy is smart. But he just said “We don’t know. No one knows how God (“Hashem”, he said) can restore us to life. It is a miracle.” (R. Yoseph Mizrachi, NYC, 2012) That and Nehemia’s little bit about salvation here in this Pearls makes me want to go to the wailing wall and do what this singer is doing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO7sM3UccVo

MimiMay 15, 2015 at 6:05 AM

Thank you Nehemia and Keith. We appreciate your sacrifices to bring us these teachings. It sounds cosy in your basement with doona decorated windows. Love to you both and BubbeDeena(?).

JanetMay 13, 2015 at 10:04 PM

Wow, what a great prayer Nehemia. I love these teachings.

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