Jeremiah

Jeremiah 9:3–8

3“They bend their tongues like bows;

lies prevail over truth in the land.

For they proceed from evil to evil,

and they do not take Me into account,”

declares the LORD.

4“Let everyone guard against his neighbor;

do not trust any brother,

for every brother deals craftily,

and every friend spreads slander.

5Each one betrays his friend;

no one tells the truth.

They have taught their tongues to lie;

they wear themselves out committing iniquity.

6You dwella in the midst of deception;

in their deceit they refuse to know Me,”

declares the LORD.

7Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says:

“Behold, I will refine them and test them,

for what else can I do

because ofb the daughter of My people?

8Their tongues are deadly arrows;

they speak deception.

With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor,

but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

Footnotes

  • a 9:6 That is, Jeremiah dwells (the Hebrew is singular)
  • b 9:7 LXX because of the wickedness of

Read all of Jeremiah 9

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Jeremiah 9:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
They bendוַֽיַּדְרְכ֤וּway·yaḏ·rə·ḵūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1869 tread, march
their tonguesלְשׁוֹנָם֙lə·šō·w·nāmNoun - common singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3956 tongue
like bowsקַשְׁתָּ֣םqaš·tāmNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH7198 bow
liesשֶׁ֔קֶרše·qerNoun - masculine singularH8267 deception, disappointment, falsehood
prevailגָּבְר֣וּgā·ḇə·rūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH1396 be strong, mighty
overוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
truthלֶאֱמוּנָ֖הle·’ĕ·mū·nāhPreposition-l; Noun - feminine singularH530 firmness, steadfastness, fidelity
in the landבָאָ֑רֶץḇā·’ā·reṣPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land
Forכִּי֩kîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
they proceedיָצָ֛אוּyā·ṣā·’ūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3318 go or come out
from evilמֵרָעָ֨הmê·rā·‘āhPreposition-m; Adjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
evilרָעָ֧ה׀rā·‘āhAdjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
and they do notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
take Me into accountיָדָ֖עוּyā·ḏā·‘ūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3045 know
declaresנְאֻם־nə·’um-Noun - masculine singular constructH5002 utterance
the LORDיְהוָֽה׃סYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh

Jeremiah 9:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Let everyoneאִ֤ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
guardהִשָּׁמֵ֔רוּhiš·šā·mê·rūVerb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine pluralH8104 keep, watch, preserve
againstוְעַל־wə·‘al-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5921 height
his neighborמֵרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙mê·rê·‘ê·hūPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7453 shouting, roar
do notאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
trustתִּבְטָ֑חוּtiḇ·ṭā·ḥūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH982 trust
anyכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
brotherאָ֖ח’āḥNoun - masculine singularH251 brother
forכִּ֤יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
everyכָל־ḵālNoun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
brotherאָח֙’āḥNoun - masculine singularH251 brother
deals craftilyעָק֣וֹב‘ā·qō·wḇVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteH6117 follow at the heel
and everyוְכָל־wə·ḵālConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
friendרֵ֖עַrê·a‘Noun - masculine singularH7453 shouting, roar
spreadsיַהֲלֹֽךְ׃ya·hă·lōḵVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
slanderרָכִ֥ילrā·ḵîlNoun - masculine singularH7400 slander, > tale-bearer, informer

Jeremiah 9:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Each oneוְאִ֤ישׁwə·’îšConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
betraysיְהָתֵ֔לּוּyə·hā·ṯêl·lūVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH2048 deceive, mock
his friendבְּרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙bə·rê·‘ê·hūPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7453 shouting, roar
noלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
one tellsיְדַבֵּ֑רוּyə·ḏab·bê·rūVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1696 speak
the truthוֶאֱמֶ֖תwe·’ĕ·meṯConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
They have taughtלִמְּד֧וּlim·mə·ḏūVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralH3925 exercise in, learn
their tonguesלְשׁוֹנָ֛םlə·šō·w·nāmNoun - common singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3956 tongue
to lieדַּבֶּר־dab·ber-Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructH1696 speak
they wear themselves outנִלְאֽוּ׃nil·’ūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3811 be weary, impatient
committing iniquityהַעֲוֵ֥הha·‘ă·wêhVerb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteH5753 bend, twist

Jeremiah 9:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
You dwellשִׁבְתְּךָ֖šiḇ·tə·ḵāVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell
in the midstבְּת֣וֹךְbə·ṯō·wḵPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH8432 midst
of deceptionמִרְמָ֑הmir·māhNoun - feminine singularH4820 deceit, treachery
in their deceitבְּמִרְמָ֛הbə·mir·māhPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singularH4820 deceit, treachery
they refuseמֵאֲנ֥וּmê·’ă·nūVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralH3985 refuse
to knowדַֽעַת־ḏa·‘aṯ-Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH3045 know
Meאוֹתִ֖י’ō·w·ṯîDirect object marker; first person common singularH853 mark of the accusative
declaresנְאֻם־nə·’um-Noun - masculine singular constructH5002 utterance
the LORDיְהוָֽה׃סYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh

Jeremiah 9:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thereforeלָכֵ֗ןlā·ḵênAdverbH3651 right, veritable, honest
this is whatכֹּ֤הkōhAdverbH3541 thus, here
the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
of Hostsצְבָא֔וֹתṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯNoun - common pluralH6635 army, war, warfare
saysאָמַר֙’ā·marVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Beholdהִנְנִ֥יhin·nîInterjection; first person common singularH2005 lo! behold
I will refine themצוֹרְפָ֖םṣō·wr·p̄āmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH6884 smelt, refine, test
and test themוּבְחַנְתִּ֑יםū·ḇə·ḥan·tîmConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular; third person masculine pluralH974 examine, try
forכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
whatאֵ֣יךְ’êḵInterjectionH349 How?
else can I doאֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה’e·‘ĕ·śehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
because ofמִפְּנֵ֖יmip·pə·nêPreposition-m; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
the daughterבַּת־baṯ-Noun - feminine singular constructH1323 daughter
of My peopleעַמִּֽי׃‘am·mîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH5971 people

Jeremiah 9:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Their tonguesלְשׁוֹנָ֖םlə·šō·w·nāmNoun - common singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3956 tongue
are deadlyשׁוֹחֵטšō·ḥēṭVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH7819 slaughter, beat
arrowsחֵ֥ץḥêṣNoun - masculine singularH2671 arrow
they speakדִבֵּ֑רḏib·bêrVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1696 speak
deceptionמִרְמָ֣הmir·māhNoun - feminine singularH4820 deceit, treachery
With his mouthבְּפִ֗יוbə·p̄îwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH6310 mouth
a man speaksיְדַבֵּ֔רyə·ḏab·bêrVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1696 speak
peaceשָׁל֤וֹםšā·lō·wmNoun - masculine singularH7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
toאֶת־’eṯ-PrepositionH854 with
his neighborרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙rê·‘ê·hūNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7453 shouting, roar
but in his heartוּבְקִרְבּ֖וֹū·ḇə·qir·bōwConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7130 inward part, midst
he setsיָשִׂ֥יםyā·śîmVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7760 put, place, set
a trap for himאָרְבּֽוֹ׃’ā·rə·bōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH696 ambuscade

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Jeremiah 9:3 Jeremiah 9:8 · Jeremiah 4:22 · Isaiah 59:13–15 · Judges 2:10 · Romans 3:13 · 1 Samuel 2:12 · Matthew 10:31–33 · Psalm 64:3–4 · Jude 1:3 · Isaiah 59:3–5 · Micah 7:3–5 · Mark 8:38

Jeremiah 9:4 Micah 7:5–6 · Proverbs 26:24–25 · Psalm 12:2–3 · Proverbs 25:18 · Leviticus 19:16 · Proverbs 10:18 · Jeremiah 6:28 · Matthew 10:21 · Proverbs 6:16 · Psalm 15:3 · Proverbs 6:19 · Genesis 27:35–36

Jeremiah 9:5 Micah 6:12 · Isaiah 59:13–15 · Job 15:5 · Habakkuk 2:13 · Isaiah 57:10 · Psalm 7:14 · Psalm 64:3 · Job 11:3 · 1 Timothy 4:2 · Proverbs 4:16 · Isaiah 5:18 · Ezekiel 24:12

Jeremiah 9:6 Jeremiah 13:10 · Hosea 4:6 · Proverbs 1:24 · John 3:19–20 · Romans 1:28 · Jeremiah 20:10 · Jeremiah 5:27 · Jeremiah 8:5 · Jeremiah 11:19 · Proverbs 1:29 · Job 21:14–15 · Jeremiah 18:18

Jeremiah 9:7 Isaiah 1:25 · Isaiah 48:10 · Jeremiah 6:27 · Malachi 3:3 · Zechariah 13:9 · Hosea 11:8–9 · 1 Peter 1:7 · 1 Peter 4:12 · Jeremiah 6:29–30 · Ezekiel 22:18–22

Jeremiah 9:8 Psalm 28:3 · Proverbs 26:24–26 · Psalm 120:3 · Psalm 64:3–4 · 2 Samuel 3:27 · Psalm 55:21 · Jeremiah 9:3 · Psalm 57:4 · Psalm 12:2 · 2 Samuel 20:9–10 · Jeremiah 5:26 · Jeremiah 9:5

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.