Jeremiah 5 2

Jeremiah 5:2 kjv

And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.

Jeremiah 5:2 nkjv

Though they say, 'As the LORD lives,' Surely they swear falsely."

Jeremiah 5:2 niv

Although they say, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' still they are swearing falsely."

Jeremiah 5:2 esv

Though they say, "As the LORD lives," yet they swear falsely.

Jeremiah 5:2 nlt

But even when they are under oath,
saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives,'
they are still telling lies!"

Jeremiah 5 verses

Jeremiah 5 2 Meaning

Jeremiah 5:2 reveals the deep hypocrisy and moral corruption prevalent in Judah during Jeremiah's time. The verse signifies that even when the people outwardly invoked the sacred name of God in their oaths, swearing "As the LORD lives," their intentions and actions were devoid of truth, and they spoke falsehood. This demonstrates a profound disconnect between their religious profession and their actual conduct, illustrating a complete lack of reverence and integrity, making their oaths blasphemous and empty.

Jeremiah 5 2 Context

Jeremiah chapter 5 opens with God challenging the prophet to find just one righteous person in Jerusalem, indicating the widespread moral decay. This verse (5:2) directly follows that challenge, showing that even among those who appear to engage in religious practices—such as invoking God's name—there is profound deceit. Historically, Judah at this time was a covenant people who, despite their heritage, had increasingly adopted the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. Their formal religion became an empty shell, a syncretistic blend of true worship and pagan rituals, allowing them to feel secure while living in blatant disobedience. Jeremiah's message is a condemnation of this spiritual apostasy and hypocrisy, warning of imminent judgment for their unfaithfulness to the covenant.

Jeremiah 5 2 Word analysis

• And: Connects this specific example of unrighteousness directly to the previous verse's broader search for someone who practices justice and seeks truth, implying that even those found within the community using God's name fail this test.
• though they say,: Indicates a verbal declaration, a outward profession. This phrase highlights the discrepancy between what is spoken and what is true in the heart and actions.
• 'As the LORD lives,': In Hebrew, this is Chai Yahweh (חַי-יְהוָה). This was the most solemn and common form of an oath in ancient Israel, invoking the very existence and life of God as a guarantor and witness of the oath's truthfulness. It implied placing one's life, or the truth of the statement, under God's judgment if the oath was broken or false. Its use here shows a religious veneer or formal adherence without spiritual reality.
• yet: A strong adversative conjunction, emphasizing the shocking contrast between the solemn invocation of God's name and the subsequent action.
• they swear falsely.: In Hebrew, nishb'u lash-shaqer (נִשְׁבְּעוּ לַשָּׁקֶר). Nishb'u (from shava') means "they swore" or "they took an oath." Lash-shaqer means "to falsehood" or "for a lie." The word shaqer (שָּׁקֶר) signifies deceit, lie, falsehood, fraud. This is the core accusation: their oaths, despite invoking God, were based on untruths, revealing their deceitful hearts and lack of integrity before God.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "though they say, 'As the LORD lives,' yet they swear falsely.": This entire clause is a powerful example of prophetic irony and indictment. It juxtaposes the most sacred form of verbal affirmation—invoking the living God—with the most contemptible moral failure: intentional falsehood. It means they used the language of true faith, not only to deceive others but to implicitly try to deceive God or bypass His judgment, a profound act of spiritual rebellion. It shows that even the most pious-sounding words become a vehicle for sin when the heart is corrupted. This speaks to a deeply ingrained corruption where outward religiosity has become a mere tool for deception rather than a reflection of genuine devotion.

Jeremiah 5 2 Bonus section

• The profound irony lies in their use of Chai Yahweh (As the LORD lives), a statement that affirmed God's very existence, while simultaneously acting in a way that denied His truth and authority. This reveals a theological disconnect where God is invoked ritually but ignored practically.
• This verse can be understood as a direct accusation against superficial religiosity, where outward adherence to religious forms or language is completely divorced from the internal state of the heart or ethical conduct. It is a form of blasphemy.
• The severity of this sin—swearing falsely by God's name—was an offense not only against the third commandment (Exo 20:7) but also a violation of the entire covenant, which was built upon faithfulness and truth. Such an act undermined the very foundation of their relationship with God.

Jeremiah 5 2 Commentary

Jeremiah 5:2 cuts to the heart of Judah's spiritual malady: pervasive hypocrisy. The people outwardly invoked the Most High God, the covenant LORD (Yahweh), as a living witness to their oaths, a practice intended to ensure utmost sincerity and truth. However, their solemn declarations were mere pretense, cover for deceit. This was not a minor ethical lapse but a profound act of sacrilege, turning the very name of God into a tool for manipulation and falsehood. It highlights the stark contrast between their ritualistic piety and their utterly corrupt inner lives. The divine name, Yahweh, signifies God's self-existence, faithfulness, and power; to invoke it while swearing lash-shaqer (falsely) was to treat the Almighty with contempt and mock His holy character. This spiritual fraud underlined the depth of their apostasy and provided a severe indictment that necessitated divine judgment, as their sin was not merely against humanity but directly against God's honor and truth. It serves as a timeless warning against any religious profession devoid of genuine integrity and reverence for God's truth.