Jeremiah 8:12 kjv
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 8:12 nkjv
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed, Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; In the time of their punishment They shall be cast down," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 8:12 niv
Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD.
Jeremiah 8:12 esv
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD.
Jeremiah 8:12 nlt
Are they ashamed of these disgusting actions?
Not at all ? they don't even know how to blush!
Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered.
They will be brought down when I punish them,
says the LORD.
Jeremiah 8 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 8:9 | The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they have? | Jeremiah 8:9 (Echoes the same sentiment) |
| Isaiah 5:21 | Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness... | Isaiah 5:21 (Rejection of divine standards) |
| Jeremiah 2:13 | My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the LORD, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water. | Jeremiah 2:13 (Abandoning God's source of truth) |
| Hosea 4:6 | My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children." | Hosea 4:6 (Consequences of rejecting divine knowledge) |
| Proverbs 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Proverbs 1:7 (Wisdom begins with reverence for God) |
| Matthew 7:24 | "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." | Matthew 7:24 (Wisdom is in obedience) |
| John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | John 1:1 (The Word as divine source) |
| Acts 4:12 | Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. | Acts 4:12 (Rejection of divine provision) |
| 2 Timothy 3:16 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. | 2 Timothy 3:16 (Scripture as the source of wisdom) |
| Psalm 119:105 | Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. | Psalm 119:105 (The Word illuminates) |
| Romans 1:22 | Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools... | Romans 1:22 (Intellectual pride leading to foolishness) |
| 2 Corinthians 4:18 | So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. | 2 Corinthians 4:18 (Focusing on eternal truth vs. temporal understanding) |
| Jeremiah 9:23 | This is what the LORD says: "Let no one boast about his strength or his riches or his past deeds." | Jeremiah 9:23 (True boasting is in the Lord) |
| Isaiah 29:14 | Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of their wise men will perish, the understanding of their men of understanding will be hidden. | Isaiah 29:14 (Divine judgment on human wisdom) |
| Jeremiah 18:18 | They said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah; for destruction will come from the priest, and counsel from the wise, and the word from the prophets." | Jeremiah 18:18 (Misguided counsel against God's word) |
| Galatians 1:6 | I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. | Galatians 1:6 (Deviating from God's truth) |
| John 3:19 | This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. | John 3:19 (Preference for darkness over light) |
| 1 Corinthians 2:14 | The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them, because they are made known only through the Spirit. | 1 Corinthians 2:14 (Spiritual discernment needed) |
| Romans 10:17 | Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. | Romans 10:17 (Word is the basis of faith) |
| Proverbs 14:33 | Wisdom rests in the heart of the one who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is plainly known. | Proverbs 14:33 (Inner disposition affects wisdom) |
| Jeremiah 6:16 | This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way may be, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you say, ‘We will not walk in it.’" | Jeremiah 6:16 (Rejection of God's prescribed path) |
Jeremiah 8 verses
Jeremiah 8 12 Meaning
They have rejected the word of the LORD, and what wisdom do they have?
Jeremiah 8 12 Context
Jeremiah chapter 8 deals with God's impending judgment on Judah due to their persistent sin and disobedience. The people and their leaders have turned away from the LORD, embracing false practices and relying on their own flawed understanding. This verse specifically addresses the futility of the wisdom and counsel of those who have actively rejected God's word, implying that such humanistic or idolatrous wisdom offers no real guidance or salvation. The historical backdrop is one of national apostasy, where covenant unfaithfulness is rampant, leading to an imminent Babylonian invasion.
Jeremiah 8 12 Word Analysis
Shālamū (שָׁלְמוּ): This is the perfect tense, third person plural of the Hebrew verb "shālám" (שָׁלַם), which generally means "to be complete," "to be sound," "to be whole," or "to prosper." In this context, it refers to the state of being "ashamed" or "put to shame," particularly in a public and discomfiting way. It signifies the failure and humiliation that comes when one's plans, efforts, or understanding prove inadequate or wrong, especially when confronted with divine truth or judgment. The root implies a state that should be peaceful and secure, but which is here violated by failure.
'Ōm (עֹם): This is a masculine noun, meaning "understanding," "discernment," or "intelligence." It refers to the capacity to grasp truth, comprehend situations, and make wise decisions. It is linked to insight and comprehension.
Mē'at (מֵאֵת): This is a preposition meaning "from" or "by." Here, it signifies the source or origin of the understanding.
Lĕ-'āḵōr (לְאָכֹר): This is an infinitive construct of the Hebrew verb "āḵar" (אָחַר), meaning "to be late," "to delay," or "to turn backward." In a spiritual sense, it can imply turning away or rejecting something. The phrase "'Ōm mē'at lĕ-'āḵōr" therefore suggests an understanding that has turned away, been rejected, or is fundamentally flawed and leads one astray from the right path. It’s an understanding that is disoriented and misses the mark of true wisdom.
Bētaḥ (בִּטְחָה): This is a feminine noun, meaning "confidence," "trust," or "reliance." It speaks of having assurance in something or someone.
La·yhwh (לַיהוָה): This is the construct form of "YHWH" (Yahweh), the personal covenant name of God in the Old Testament, linked with the preposition "lĕ" (לְ), meaning "to" or "in." Thus, it signifies "in the LORD" or "to the LORD." It represents reliance and trust placed specifically in the LORD.
Shekhōm (שֶׁכֹּם): This word is less common and often debated. Some scholars suggest it might relate to an error in transcription or an archaic/regional term. If considered related to "shĕḵem" (שֶׁכֶם) which can mean "shoulder" or "neck," it could imply "on the neck" or bearing a burden, but this is not a widely accepted interpretation in this context. More commonly, it is seen as a prepositional phrase connected with trust or boldness. One interpretation connects it to a supposed verb meaning "to be bold" or "to take boldly," implying they have sought or acquired their confidence through illegitimate means. Other scholarly proposals suggest it might be a Qere (written) reading where the Ketiv (written without vowel points) might be interpreted differently, or a less common usage that implies acquiring or grasping something for oneself rather than from the rightful source. Given the context, it emphasizes that their trust is not placed in or upon the LORD as the proper source. The structure is somewhat unusual.
Pā'lû (פָּעֲלוּ): This is the perfect tense, third person plural of the Hebrew verb "pā'al" (פָּעַל), meaning "to do," "to make," or "to work." Here, it refers to the actions, deeds, or workings that they have performed, often with a sense of accomplished labor or construction.
Bĕ-'āqōbh (בְּאָקֹב): This is a less common word. Some scholars interpret it as a preposition "bĕ" (בְּ) meaning "in" or "with" combined with a noun like "’āqōbh" (אָקֹב) which can mean "heel" or "enmity." The sense could be "in trickery," "by stealth," or "with hostile intent." It suggests their works are done deceitfully or with an underlying malevolence, contrasting with genuine works done in faith. It implies their actions are not transparent or aligned with divine integrity.
Jeremiah 8 12 Bonus Section
The phrase "wisdom do they have?" is rhetorical. It's a challenge to the nation of Judah, implying they have no true wisdom because they have abandoned the LORD, the source of all wisdom. Their reliance on political alliances, human strategies, or even their religious rituals performed without heart-devotion, are all framed as misguided actions lacking divine guidance. The "wisdom" they do possess is the deceptive counsel of human pride and apostasy.
Jeremiah 8 12 Commentary
This verse presents a stark dichotomy between true wisdom derived from God and the corrupted understanding of those who reject His word. When individuals or a nation dismiss God's revealed truth, their supposed wisdom becomes a source of shame, not strength. Their efforts, trusts, and deeds are founded on flawed premises and deceptive methods, leading to ultimate failure and exposure. True wisdom is intrinsically linked to reverent obedience to God's commands and acceptance of His authoritative word. To reject this foundational element is to build on sand, destined to collapse under the weight of reality and divine judgment. The wisdom of man, devoid of divine revelation, is ultimately foolishness in God's eyes.