God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 9:8
8Their tongues are like deadly arrows. They speak deceitfully. People speak politely to their neighbors, but they think of ways to set traps for them.
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
6Oppression follows oppression. Deceit follows deceit. They refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord. 7This is what the Lord of Armies says: I will now refine them with fire and test them. What else can I do for my dear people? Their tongues are like deadly arrows. They speak deceitfully. People speak politely to their neighbors, but they think of ways to set traps for them. 9I will punish them for these things, declares the Lord. I will punish this nation. I still won’t be satisfied. 10I will cry and weep for the mountains. I will sing a funeral song for the pastures in the wilderness. They are destroyed so that no one can travel through them. No one can hear the sound of cattle. Birds and cattle have fled. They are gone.
Read all of Jeremiah 9Jeremiah 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 use their tongues like bows that shoot arrows. Lies and dishonesty rule the land. They go from one evil thing to another, and they don’t know me,” declares the Lord.
- Psalms 12:2All people speak foolishly. They speak with flattering lips. They say one thing but mean another.
- Psalms 57:4My soul is surrounded by lions. I must lie down with man-eating lions. Their teeth are spears and arrows. Their tongues are sharp swords.
- Psalms 64:3They sharpen their tongues like swords. They aim bitter words like arrows
- Psalms 120:3You deceitful tongue, what can the Lord give you? What more can he do for you?
- 2 Samuel 3:27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway as if to talk to him privately. There he stabbed Abner in the belly. Abner died because he spilled the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
- 2 Samuel 20:9“How are you, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. He took hold of Amasa’s beard with his right hand to kiss him.
- Psalms 28:3Do not drag me away with wicked people, with troublemakers who speak of peace with their neighbors but have evil in their hearts.
- Psalms 55:21His speech is smoother than butter, but there is war in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil, but they are like swords ready to attack.
- Proverbs 26:24Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech, but inside he holds on to deceit.
- Matthew 26:48Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, “The one I kiss is the man you want. 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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries