ירמיהו, פרק כ״ח, פסוק ז׳

The public confrontation between a true prophet and a false prophet reaches a decisive turning point. After expressing a sincere personal wish that a message of peace would indeed come true, a fundamental rule about the nature of divine communication is established to determine a prophet's true credibility. A clear reservation is introduced to challenge the assumptions of the audience. Despite the natural human desire to hear comforting news, there is no inherent reason to believe someone predicting peace any more than someone predicting disaster [מצודת דוד]. To ensure full transparency, this standard is declared openly before the entire nation rather than in secret [מצודת דוד].

The primary approach among commentators is that this moment defines the ultimate test of a prophet, drawing a sharp distinction between predictions of doom and promises of peace. The central reason God sends prophets is to warn people of impending disaster, urging them to change their ways [מלבי״ם]. Because of this, if a prophet predicts destruction and it fails to happen, it does not mean he is a false prophet. The people may have repented, prompting God, who is merciful and patient, to cancel His harsh decree, just as He did for the people of Nineveh [רש״י, רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

Conversely, God does not typically send prophets merely to share pleasant news, unless the specific goal is to establish that prophet's credibility among the people [מלבי״ם]. Therefore, a prophet who promises peace and prosperity faces an absolute standard. If his positive prediction does not completely materialize, he is definitively exposed as a false prophet, because a divine promise for good is never retracted or canceled [רש״י, רד״ק].