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

6You live in a world of deception. In their deception they refuse to know me. This is the Lord’s declaration. 7Therefore, this is what the Lord of Armies says: I am about to refine them and test them, for what else can I do because of my dear people? Their tongues are deadly arrows — they speak deception. With his mouth one speaks peaceably with his friend, but inwardly he sets up an ambush. 9Should I not punish them for these things? This is the Lord’s declaration. Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? 10I will raise weeping and a lament over the mountains, a dirge over the wilderness grazing land, for they have been so scorched that no one passes through. The sound of cattle is no longer heard. From the birds of the sky to the animals, everything has fled — they have gone away.

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 9:3They bent their tongues like their bows; lies and not faithfulness prevail in the land, for they proceed from one evil to another, and they do not take me into account. This is the Lord’s declaration.
• Psalms 12:2They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.
• Psalms 57:4I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among devouring lions — people whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
• Psalms 64:3who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim bitter words like arrows,
• Psalms 120:3What will he give you, and what will he do to you, you deceitful tongue?
• 2 Samuel 3:27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the city gate, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother.
• 2 Samuel 20:9Joab asked Amasa, “Are you well, my brother?” Then with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
• Psalms 28:3Do not drag me away with the wicked, with the evildoers, who speak in friendly ways with their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.
• Psalms 55:21His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.
• Proverbs 26:24A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within.
• Matthew 26:48His betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss, he’s the one; arrest 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