Jeremiah 7 8

Jeremiah 7:8 kjv

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

Jeremiah 7:8 nkjv

"Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit.

Jeremiah 7:8 niv

But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.

Jeremiah 7:8 esv

"Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.

Jeremiah 7:8 nlt

"'Don't be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It's a lie!

Jeremiah 7 verses

Jeremiah 7 8 Meaning

This verse emphasizes the futility of trusting in deceptive words, specifically the pronouncements of false prophets, that promise peace and security when the people have actually strayed from God's commands. It highlights the emptiness of a faith that is not backed by obedience and genuine repentance.

Jeremiah 7 8 Context

Jeremiah 7 is delivered at the temple in Jerusalem, a place considered sacred and a symbol of God's presence. The people of Judah were facing impending judgment from Babylon due to their widespread idolatry, injustice, and hypocrisy. Despite God's warnings and the surrounding evidence of His displeasure, they clung to a superficial reliance on the temple, believing that its physical presence guaranteed their safety. This verse is part of Jeremiah's "Temple Sermon," where he confronts their false security and warns of the destruction that will befall Jerusalem and the temple if they do not repent.

Jeremiah 7 8 Word Analysis

• "for" (Hebrew: כִּי - ki): Indicates a reason or cause; it explains why their reliance on deceptive words is invalid.
• "strike" (Hebrew: נָשָׂא - nasa): Can mean to lift, carry, or bear. Here it implies carrying or taking away something of value.
• "false" (Hebrew: שֶׁקֶר - sheqer): Means falsehood, deception, lie, or untruth.
• "words" (Hebrew: דָּבָר - davar): Refers to a spoken utterance, a message, or a promise.
• "in" (Hebrew: בְּ - bᵉ): A preposition indicating location or manner.
• "which" (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר - asher): A relative pronoun connecting to the preceding noun.
• "you" (Hebrew: אַתֶּם - atem): Plural masculine pronoun referring to the people of Judah.
• "say" (Hebrew: אָמַר - amar): To speak, to declare.
• "this" (Hebrew: זֶה - zeh): Demonstrative pronoun pointing to what follows.
• "is" (Hebrew: הֵמָּה - hemma): While often implied, this structure signifies the identification of the temple with their promise of safety.
• "the" (Hebrew: הַ - ha): The definite article.
• "temple" (Hebrew: בַּיִת - bayit): Literally "house," referring here to the Temple of the Lord.
• "of" (Hebrew: לְ - lə): Indicates possession or belonging.
• "the" (Hebrew: הַ - ha): The definite article.
• "Lord" (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God.
• "the" (Hebrew: הַ - ha): The definite article.
• "house" (Hebrew: בַּיִת - bayit): The Temple of the Lord.
• "of" (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר - asher): This usage functions similarly to "upon which" or "called by."
• "upon" (Hebrew: עַל - al): Over, upon.
• "which" (Hebrew: שְׁמִי - shᵉmi): My name.
• "my" (Hebrew: שְׁמִי - shᵉmi): Possessive pronoun.
• "Name" (Hebrew: שֵׁם - shem): God's reputation, character, and authority.

Word Group Analysis:

• "strike false words" (נָשָׂא דִּבְרֵי שֶׁקֶר - nasaʻ divrê sheqer): This phrase encapsulates the core problem – carrying and relying on lies or deceptive pronouncements, often from false prophets. It highlights a deliberate or willful acceptance of untruth.
• "this is the temple of the Lord" (זֶה הַבַּיִת בֵּית יְהוָה - zeh ha-bayit beyt YHWH): This repeated assertion signifies their misplaced security and idolization of the physical building over the living God it represented and the covenant they had with Him. It suggests an attempt to nationalize or control God's presence through ritual and location.

Jeremiah 7 8 Bonus Section

The repetition of "peace" ("Shalom, shalom") in surrounding verses (Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11) highlights the seductive nature of false assurance. This is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, where people often desire comfortable messages that excuse their behavior rather than challenging calls to repentance. The phrase "bears my Name" signifies more than just the building's dedication; it implies God's authority, presence, and endorsement were invoked. However, their actions had essentially divorced the Temple's sanctity from God's presence, turning it into a mere humanly constructed edifice whose effectiveness was claimed without God's actual warrant. This serves as a theological warning against separating sacred symbols from the righteous living they are meant to represent.

Jeremiah 7 8 Commentary

The people of Judah had a false sense of security because they were physically present at the Temple of the Lord. They believed that their lineage and their proximity to the sanctuary were enough to shield them from God's judgment. Jeremiah corrects this faulty reasoning by revealing that their "peace" is nothing more than empty rhetoric, deceitful words offered by false prophets and accepted by a people unwilling to face their sin. God's judgment is not dependent on outward religious observance but on inward faithfulness and obedience. The verse acts as a stern warning against mistaking religious formality for genuine relationship with God. True security comes from obeying God's commands and living according to His will, not from relying on pronouncements that ignore sin. This is a perpetual warning for believers to examine their spiritual foundation and ensure it's built on truth and obedience, not mere tradition or pleasant-sounding falsehoods.