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

Jeremiah 7:8 conveys a stern rebuke from God through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah. It asserts that their deep reliance and confidence are placed upon "deceptive words," which ultimately offer no practical help, benefit, or salvation. This statement highlights their misplaced security in falsehoods rather than genuine obedience and trust in God's revealed will, thereby emphasizing the futility of their current religious and political posture.

Jeremiah 7 8 Context

Jeremiah chapter 7 introduces what is widely known as Jeremiah's "Temple Sermon," delivered at the gate of the Lord's house in Jerusalem. This pivotal sermon takes place at a critical time when Judah is teetering on the brink of judgment, caught between the declining Assyrian empire and the rising Babylonian power. The people have developed a dangerously false sense of security, believing that the mere physical presence of the Temple within their city guarantees God's unwavering protection, regardless of their widespread idolatry, social injustice, and moral decay. Jeremiah directly confronts this misguided trust, asserting that outward religious observance without inward spiritual transformation and ethical conduct is futile. Verse 8 specifically isolates their reliance on "deceptive words" – likely referring to empty slogans like "The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD" (Jer 7:4), or the false assurances of corrupt prophets and leaders who proclaimed peace and safety where there was none. This verse underscores the deep spiritual delusion gripping the nation.

Jeremiah 7 8 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh):

  • This interjection is an attention-grabber, similar to "Lo!" or "Indeed!"
  • It signals the pronouncement of something significant, often unexpected or crucial, drawing the listener's focus to the ensuing statement of judgment or revelation.
  • Its use here adds gravity to the accusation that follows.

• You (אַתֶּם - attem):

  • A plural pronoun, directly addressing the entire gathered populace, making the accusation intensely personal and communal.
  • It removes any ambiguity about the recipients of the message, highlighting their collective responsibility and participation in this misplaced trust.

• trust (בֹּטְחִים - botechim):

  • Derived from the verb בטח (batach), meaning "to trust," "rely," "be confident," "feel secure."
  • It denotes a deep-seated confidence or security. Often, batach is used positively in the Bible to describe trust in God (e.g., Ps 118:8).
  • Here, its use describes an utterly misdirected and ultimately catastrophic form of reliance, ironically on the very opposite of God's truth.

• in deceptive (דִּבְרֵי הַשָּׁקֶר - divrei ha-shaqer):

  • דִּבְרֵי (divrei): The construct plural form of דָּבָר (davar), meaning "words," "matter," "thing," "message." It signifies communication or pronouncements.
  • הַשָּׁקֶר (ha-shaqer): From שֶׁקֶר (shaqer), meaning "lie," "falsehood," "deceit," "unreality." The definite article (ha-) emphasizes these specific, known falsehoods.
  • Combined, it literally means "words of falsehood" or "lying words." This likely encompasses the slogans of false security ("The temple of the Lord!") and the misleading prophecies of peace uttered by unfaithful prophets. It describes statements or beliefs that are inherently untrue, deliberately deceptive, or falsely reassuring.

• words (See 'in deceptive' above): The emphasis here is on spoken or propagated messages that provided a false sense of security. These were not merely abstract ideas but articulated reassurances.

• to no avail (לְבִלְתִּי הוֹעִיל - l'bilti ho'il):

  • לְבִלְתִּי (l'bilti): A negative particle, signifying "without," "in order not to," "to no purpose."
  • הוֹעִיל (ho'il): The Hiphil infinitive of יעל (ya'al), meaning "to be of profit," "to benefit," "to help," "to be advantageous."
  • Combined, it powerfully conveys absolute futility, uselessness, or lack of benefit. The very purpose of their trust—security—will not be achieved; instead, it will lead to disaster. It highlights the ultimate emptiness and barrenness of relying on such falsehoods.

• "You trust in deceptive words": This phrase captures the essence of the people's spiritual blindness. Their deepest confidence, meant for the immutable God, has been diverted to fleeting, fabricated messages. It reflects a fundamental failure in discernment, where appealing but false assurances trump challenging but true warnings from God.

• "deceptive words to no avail": This combination highlights the destructive cycle of their error. The nature of the words is deceitful, and their outcome is entirely unprofitable. The phrase directly refutes the common human tendency to seek easy answers or comforting lies, revealing that such a path inevitably leads to a barren end where desired help or salvation will be conspicuously absent.

Jeremiah 7 8 Bonus section

The historical backdrop to Jeremiah 7:8 reveals a people caught in geopolitical tensions, making the desire for external "deceptive words" even stronger. With the decline of Assyria and the rise of Babylon, Judah was desperately looking for reassurance. Instead of turning truly to Yahweh for deliverance, many clung to a fatalistic optimism rooted in a distorted understanding of Jerusalem's sanctity, much like an unbreakable charm. Jeremiah's message was therefore profoundly counter-cultural and unpopular because it shattered these comforting illusions, calling them to face their sin and return to covenant faithfulness, rather than embrace a convenient, yet ultimately impotent, faith. This sermon challenges not only the superficiality of religious observance but also the dangers of political alliances or social conventions that provide a false sense of security while ignoring God's call to righteousness.

Jeremiah 7 8 Commentary

Jeremiah 7:8 serves as a concise, yet powerful, summary of Judah's spiritual malady during Jeremiah's ministry. It directly indicts their fundamental error: a misplaced and profound trust in anything other than the living God and His righteous requirements. The "deceptive words" are not vague; they likely encapsulate the common slogans of religious ritualism ("The temple of the LORD!") that implied divine immunity regardless of moral decay, or the soothing pronouncements of false prophets promising peace where there was none. This was a superficial faith, content with outward forms and empty declarations while neglecting the covenant's heart: justice, righteousness, and humble devotion to God.

The phrase "to no avail" cuts through all pretensions and highlights the ultimate barrenness of this misguided trust. The desired outcome of their trust – safety, protection, peace – will not materialize. Instead, relying on falsehoods will leave them exposed to the very judgment they thought they were averting. This verse thus stands as a timeless warning against relying on any source of security, religious or otherwise, that does not align with divine truth and authentic obedience. It's a call to examine the object of one's deepest confidence and ensure it is founded on enduring truth, not comforting lies, lest one invest heavily in something that offers absolutely no return in the hour of need.