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 Living Translation (NLT)For their tongues shoot lies like poisoned arrows. They speak friendly words to their neighbors while scheming in their heart to kill them.

Context of Jeremiah 9:8

6Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” says the Lord. 7Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will refine them and try them; For how shall I deal with the daughter of My people? 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. 9Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the Lord. “Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?” 10I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains, And for the dwelling places of the wilderness a lamentation, Because they are burned up, So that no one can pass through; Nor can men hear the voice of the cattle. Both the birds of the heavens and the beasts have fled; They are gone.

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 9:3“And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” says the Lord.
• Psalms 12:2They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
• Psalms 57:4My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
• Psalms 64:3Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,
• Psalms 120:3What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue?
• 2 Samuel 3:27Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.
• 2 Samuel 20:9Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
• Psalms 28:3Do not take me away with the wicked And with the workers of iniquity, Who speak peace to their neighbors, But evil is in their hearts.
• Psalms 55:21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
• Proverbs 26:24He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself;
• Matthew 26:48Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize 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