God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 5:12
12They lie about the Lord and say, “He doesn’t exist! Nothing bad will happen to us. We won’t experience war or famine.
Jeremiah 5:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
- New International Version (NIV)They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.
- English Standard Version (ESV)They have spoken falsely of the Lord and have said, 'He will do nothing; no disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine.
- New King James Version (NKJV)They have lied about the Lord, And said, “It is not He. Neither will evil come upon us, Nor shall we see sword or famine.
Context of Jeremiah 5:12
10“Go among Jerusalem’s rows of grapevines and destroy them, but don’t destroy all of them. Cut off the branches because they don’t belong to the Lord. 11The nations of Israel and Judah are unfaithful to me,” declares the Lord. They lie about the Lord and say, “He doesn’t exist! Nothing bad will happen to us. We won’t experience war or famine. 13The prophets are nothing but windbags. The Lord hasn’t spoken through them, so let what they say happen to them.” 14This is what the Lord God of Armies says: Because you’ve talked like this, I’m going to put my words in your mouth like a fire. These people will be like wood. My words will burn them up.
Read all of Jeremiah 5Jeremiah 5:12 word by word
כִּֽחֲשׁוּ֙ בַּיהוָ֔ה וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹא־ה֑וּא וְלֹא־תָב֤וֹא עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ רָעָ֔ה וְחֶ֥רֶב וְרָעָ֖ב ל֥וֹא נִרְאֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- They have beliedכָּחַשׁkâchash · to deceiveH3584
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- not he; neither shall evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
- comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- upon us; neither shall we seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- nor famineרָעָבrâ‛âb · famineH7458
Cross-references for Jeremiah 5:12
- Jeremiah 5:31Prophets prophesy lies. Priests rule under the prophets’ directions, and my people love this. But what will you do in the end?”
- Jeremiah 4:10I said, “Almighty Lord, you certainly have deceived these people and Jerusalem. You said that everything would go well for them, but a sword is held at their throats.”
- Jeremiah 14:13Then I said, “Almighty Lord, prophets are saying to them, ‘You won’t see wars or famines, because I, the Lord, will give you lasting peace in this place.’ ”
- Jeremiah 23:14“⌞Say this⌟ about the prophets of Jerusalem: I see something horrible. The prophets of Jerusalem commit adultery and live a lie. They support those who do evil so that no one turns back from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me, and those who live in Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
- Jeremiah 28:15Then Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, “Now listen, Hananiah, the Lord hasn’t sent you. You have made these people believe a lie.
- Jeremiah 43:2Azariah (son of Hoshaiah), Johanan (son of Kareah), and all the arrogant people said to Jeremiah, “You’re lying! The Lord our God didn’t send you to tell us that we must not go to live in Egypt.
- Deuteronomy 29:19Someone may hear the conditions of this promise. He may think that he is so blessed that he can say, “I’ll be safe even if I go my own stubborn way. After all, ⌞the Lord would never⌟ sweep away well-watered ground along with dry ground.”
- 1 Samuel 6:9but then watch where it goes. If it goes up the road to its own country toward Beth Shemesh, then this disaster is the Lord’s doing. But if not, we’ll know it wasn’t his hand that struck us, but what happened to us was an accident.”
- 2 Chronicles 36:16But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until the Lord became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them.
- Isaiah 28:14So hear the Lord’s word, you foolish talkers who rule the people in Jerusalem.
- Ezekiel 12:22“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in Israel: ‘Days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’?
- Ezekiel 13:6These foolish prophets see false visions, and their predictions don’t come true. They say, “The Lord said this.” But the Lord hasn’t sent them. Then they hope that their message will come true.
- Micah 2:11Liars and frauds may go around and say, “We will preach to you about wine and liquor.” They would be just the type of preacher you want.
- Micah 3:11Your leaders exchange justice for bribes. Your priests teach for a price. Your prophets tell the future for money. But they rely on the Lord when they say, “After all, the Lord is with us. Nothing bad will happen to us.”
- Habakkuk 1:5Look among the nations and watch. Be amazed and astonished. I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if it were reported to you.
- 1 John 5:10Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them. Those who don’t believe God have made God a liar. They haven’t believed the testimony that God has given about his Son.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 5:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12They have belied the Lord - כחשו kichashu . They have denied or disavowed the Lord. It is not he - הוא לוא lo hu, he is not; there is no such being; therefore this evil shall not come upon us. On their premises, this conclusion was just. There is no judge; therefore there shall be no judgment. Thus they denied the Lord. They were atheists at heart.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12It is not he - i. e., Who speaks by the prophets.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-18Verses 10-18 Multitudes are ruined by believing that God will not be so strict as his word says he will; by this artifice Satan undid mankind. Sinners are not willing to own any thing to be God's word, that tends to part them from, or to disquiet them in, their sins. Mocking and misusing the Lord's messengers, filled the measure of their iniquity. God can bring trouble upon us from places and causes very remote. He has mercy in store for his people…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13Even with the enemy approaching from the north, the people believed nothing bad would happen to them (Jeremiah 14:13; Isaiah 47:8). They did not respect God’s prophets (literally the prophets). Some interpreters end the people’s quote with Jeremiah 5:12 and attribute 5:13 to the Lord. The term "for the wind" would then refer to false prophets.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. belied--denied. It is not he--rather, "(Jehovah) is not He," that is, the true and only God (Jr 14:22; De 32:39; Is 43:10, 13). By their idolatry they virtually denied Him. Or, referring to what follows, and to Jr 5:9, "(Jehovah) is not," namely, about to be the punisher of our sins (Jr 14:13; Is 28:15).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 5:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 5
- 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
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