New English Translation
Jeremiah 9:8
8Their tongues are like deadly arrows. They are always telling lies. Friendly words for their neighbors come from their mouths. But their minds are thinking up ways to trap 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
6They do one act of violence after another, and one deceitful thing after another. They refuse to pay attention to me,” says the Lord. 7Therefore the Lord who rules over all says, “I will now purify them in the fires of affliction and test them. The wickedness of my dear people has left me no choice. What else can I do? Their tongues are like deadly arrows. They are always telling lies. Friendly words for their neighbors come from their mouths. But their minds are thinking up ways to trap them. 9I will certainly punish them for doing such things!” says the Lord. “I will certainly bring retribution on such a nation as this!” 10I said, “I will weep and mourn for the grasslands on the mountains, I will sing a mournful song for the pastures in the wilderness because they are so scorched no one travels through them. The sound of livestock is no longer heard there. Even the birds in the sky and the wild animals in the fields have fled and 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 9:3The Lord says, “These people are like soldiers who have readied their bows. Their tongues are always ready to shoot out lies. They have become powerful in the land, but they have not done so by honest means. Indeed, they do one evil thing after another and do not pay attention to me.
- Psalms 12:2People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.
- Psalms 57:4I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among those who want to devour me; men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are a sharp sword.
- Psalms 64:3They sharpen their tongues like a sword; they aim their arrow, a slanderous charge,
- Psalms 120:3How will he severely punish you, you deceptive talker?
- 2 Samuel 3:27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel.
- 2 Samuel 20:9Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” With his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa’s beard as if to greet him with a kiss.
- Psalms 28:3Do not drag me away with evil men, with those who behave wickedly, who talk so friendly to their neighbors, while they plan to harm them!
- Psalms 55:21His words are as smooth as butter, but he harbors animosity in his heart. His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords.
- Proverbs 26:24The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.
- Matthew 26:48(Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. 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
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