en_tn_condensed/jer/23/23.md

Connecting Statement:

Yahweh continues to deliver his message about the false prophets and priests that he began in Jeremiah 23:9 and completes in Jeremiah 23:40.

Am I only a God nearby ... and not also a God far away?

Yahweh uses this question to rebuke the priests and false prophets for thinking that he did not rule everywhere. Alternate translation: "I am not only a God who is here in Jerusalem ... but I am everywhere!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

this is Yahweh's declaration

Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Jeremiah 1:8. Alternate translation: "this is what Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, Yahweh, have declared" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-123person)