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

6They hurt and they deceive each other. They do that more and more. They refuse to respect me.’ That is what the Lord says. 7So the Lord Almighty says this: ‘Listen! I will test my people, like a man uses fire to make metal become pure. I must punish them like this because they are so wicked. There is nothing else that I can do! Their tongues are like arrows that have poison. They hurt people with their lies. They speak kind words to their neighbours, but they are looking for a way to cheat them. 9I must certainly punish them for what they have done. I will pay back this wicked nation for their sins.’ That is what the Lord says. 10‘I will weep for the mountains. I will cry for the fields in the wilderness. There is no grass for the animals to eat. Nobody travels through those places. There is no sound of cows and sheep. The birds and the wild animals have all disappeared.’

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 9:3The Lord says, ‘The tongues of these people speak lies, like the bows of soldiers shoot arrows. They have become powerful in the land, but they have used lies to do that. They do more and more evil things, and they do not respect me.
• Psalms 12:2Everybody tells lies to one another. When they say nice things, they do it to deceive their friends.
• Psalms 57:4My enemies are all round me, like hungry lions! I must lie down among wild animals, that want to eat me! They are men who use spears and arrows to bite like teeth. They use their tongues to hurt people, like sharp swords.
• Psalms 64:3Their tongues are like sharp swords that hurt people. Their cruel words are like arrows that they shoot at people.
• Psalms 120:3How will God punish you, you people who deceive others? He will punish you properly!
• 2 Samuel 3:27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab met him at the city's gate. Then Joab took him into a corner, as if he wanted to speak with Abner alone. But he pushed his knife into Abner's stomach. Joab killed Abner because Abner had killed Asahel, Joab's brother.
• 2 Samuel 20:9Joab said to Amasa, ‘How are you, my brother?’ He took hold of Amasa's beard with his right hand. He pretended that he wanted to kiss him.
• Psalms 28:3Do not pull me away to punishment, as you do with wicked people. Those people do evil things. They say kind words to their friends, but really they want to hurt them.
• Psalms 55:21He speaks a message of peace, but he is really thinking about war. His words are easy to listen to, but they hurt like sharp knives.
• Proverbs 26:24A hypocrite can say nice things to hide his thoughts, but he is still thinking about ways to hurt people.
• Matthew 26:48Judas was ready to help the Jewish leaders to take hold of Jesus. Before this, he had told them, ‘I will kiss one of the men. You must take hold of that man.’

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