Who was Maaseiah in the Bible?

Maaseiah was a false prophet who, along with a man named Ahab, was exiled in Babylon. He is mentioned in the book of Jeremiah for prophesying lies to the Jewish exiles, directly opposing God's message through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:21).

What did Maaseiah do wrong according to the Bible?

Maaseiah falsely prophesied to the exiles in Babylon, promoting a message of quick deliverance that contradicted God's true prophecy. Because of this, God declared through Jeremiah that Maaseiah and Ahab would be handed over to the king of Babylon and executed (Jeremiah 29:21-22).

Why is the story of Maaseiah significant?

Maaseiah's story serves as a sobering warning about false prophets who speak deceptively in God's name. It highlights the serious consequences of misleading God's people and underscores the importance of testing prophecies against God's revealed word.

Maaseiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleProphet

Maaseiah, along with Ahab, was a false prophet who prophesied lies to the exiles in Babylon (Jer.29.21).

Maaseiah

Biography

Maaseiah, son of Kolaiah, was a false prophet who operated among the Jewish exiles in Babylon during the early years of the captivity. Together with Ahab son of Kolaiah, Maaseiah prophesied lies in the name of the Lord, offering the exiles false hope and misleading comfort contrary to God's revealed word through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:21). The prophet Jeremiah pronounced a devastating oracle against both men, declaring that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon would execute them by fire. Jeremiah further stated that their names would become a byword of cursing among the exiles, who would say, "May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire" (Jeremiah 29:22). Their fate became a public testimony against prophetic deception.

Significance

Maaseiah stands as a stark biblical warning against those who presume to speak for God without divine authorization. His false prophecies during the exile exploited the desperation of displaced people longing for reassurance, making his deception particularly grievous. The severe judgment pronounced against him by Jeremiah underscores Scripture's consistent teaching that God holds false prophets accountable with special severity (Deuteronomy 18:20). Maaseiah's story also highlights the importance of discernment within the community of faith, as the exiles needed to distinguish between Jeremiah's genuine but painful message of patient endurance and the seductive but destructive promises of fraudulent voices.

Verse Appearances (1)

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 29:21

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources