Jeremiah 9:8

Jeremiah 9:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.
• New International Version (NIV)Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Their tongue is an arrow shot out; It speaks deceit; One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, But in his heart he lies in wait.

Context of Jeremiah 9:8

6Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit [oppression upon oppression and deceit upon deceit]; Through deceit they refuse to know (understand) Me,” says the Lord. 7Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, I will refine them [through suffering] and test them; For how else should I deal with the daughter of My people? Their tongue is a murderous arrow; It speaks deceit; With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor, But in his heart he lays traps and waits in ambush for him. 9Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the Lord. “Shall I not avenge Myself On such a nation as this? 10“I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains, And a [funeral] dirge for the pastures of the wilderness, Because they are burned up and desolated so that no one passes through [them]; Nor can anyone hear the lowing of cattle. Both the birds of the air and the beasts have fled; they are gone.

Jeremiah 9:8 word by word

חֵ֥ץ שָׁח֛וּט לְשׁוֹנָ֖ם מִרְמָ֣ה דִבֵּ֑ר בְּפִ֗יו שָׁל֤וֹם אֶת־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ יְדַבֵּ֔ר וּבְקִרְבּ֖וֹ יָשִׂ֥ים אָרְבּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Their tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• an arrowחֵץchêts · arrowH2671
• shot outשָׁחַטshâchaţ · to slaughterH7819
• it speakethדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• deceitמִרְמָהmirmâh · deceitH4820
• peaceablyשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965
• to his neighbourרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• with his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• but in heartקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
• he layethשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: considerH7760
• his waitאֹ֫רֶב'ôreb · ambushH696

Cross-references for Jeremiah 9:8

• Jeremiah 9:3“They bend their tongue like their bow; [Their] lies and not truth prevail and grow strong in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know and understand and acknowledge Me,” says the Lord.
• Psalms 12:2They speak deceitful and worthless words to one another; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
• Psalms 57:4My life is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe out fire— The sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
• Psalms 64:3Who have sharpened their tongues like a sword. They aim venomous words as arrows,
• Psalms 120:3What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, You deceitful tongue?—
• 2 Samuel 3:27So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak to him privately, and there he struck Abner in the abdomen so that he died, to avenge the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother.
• 2 Samuel 20:9Joab said to Amasa, “Is it going well with you, my brother?” And with his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa by the beard [as if] to kiss him [in greeting].
• Psalms 28:3Do not drag me away with the wicked And with those who do evil, Who speak peace with their neighbors, While malice and mischief are in their hearts.
• Psalms 55:21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But his heart was hostile; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
• Proverbs 26:24He who hates, disguises it with his lips, But he stores up deceit in his heart.
• Matthew 26:48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.”

Commentaries on Jeremiah 9:8

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2-9Verses 2-9 From their punishment the prophet now turns to their sins. Jeremiah 9:2 The prophet utters the wish that he might be spared his daily striving, and in some lone wilderness give way to his sorrow, without restraint. A lodging place - It was usual to build in the desert, either by private charity or at the public expense, caravanserais, to receive travelers for a single night, who had however to bring their own supplies with them. An assembly…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-9The Lord declared he would test the people through hardship (Jeremiah 6:27–30; Isaiah 1:25). Three rhetorical questions challenged Jeremiah or anyone else to propose an alternative to the Lord’s actions or explain why they were unjustified.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. tongue ... arrow shot out--rather, "a murdering arrow" [Maurer] (Jr 9:3). speaketh peaceably ... in heart ... layeth ... wait--layeth his ambush [Henderson], (Psa 55:21).Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 9:8

• Deceit
• Dishonesty
• Falsehood
• Hypocrisy
• Treachery

In the dictionaries

• Adulterer
• Arrow
• Desolate
• Heaven
• Perish
• Teach
• Wait
• Covenant, the New
• Exodus, the Book of
• Jeremiah (2)

Commentaries on Jeremiah 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings