Jeremiah 8:8 kjv
How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
Jeremiah 8:8 nkjv
"How can you say, 'We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us'? Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood.
Jeremiah 8:8 niv
"?'How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD," when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?
Jeremiah 8:8 esv
"How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.
Jeremiah 8:8 nlt
"'How can you say, "We are wise because we have the word of the LORD,"
when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies?
Jeremiah 8 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 8:8 | How can you say, “We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us”? | Rejection of false wisdom (Jer 8:8) |
| Psalm 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Divine guidance (Ps 119:105) |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. | Reliance on God’s wisdom (Prov 3:5-6) |
| Isaiah 50:4 | The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to sustain the weary. | The Messiah’s teaching ministry (Isa 50:4) |
| John 7:46 | The guards answered, “No one ever spoke like this man.” | Jesus’ authoritative speech (John 7:46) |
| Acts 6:10 | But they could not stand against the wisdom the Spirit gave him when he spoke. | Stephen’s wisdom (Acts 6:10) |
| Romans 10:17 | Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. | The power of the preached word (Rom 10:17) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:24 | but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. | Christ as God’s wisdom (1 Cor 1:24) |
| 1 Corinthians 2:12 | Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given to us by God. | The Spirit reveals God’s wisdom (1 Cor 2:12) |
| Colossians 1:9 | Therefore since the day we heard it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. | Spiritual wisdom from God (Col 1:9) |
| 1 Peter 3:7 | Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. | Understanding in relationships (1 Pet 3:7) |
| Psalm 19:7 | The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. | Perfection of God's law (Ps 19:7) |
| Jeremiah 31:33 | But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. | Internalizing God's law (Jer 31:33) |
| Matthew 13:52 | He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who will bring out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” | Disciples as skilled scribes (Matt 13:52) |
| Titus 2:7 | Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, honor, | Integrity in teaching (Titus 2:7) |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | The Word bringing grace and truth (John 1:14) |
| Galatians 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. | Fruit of the Spirit aligns with divine law (Gal 5:22-23) |
| Ephesians 4:29 | Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. | Building up speech (Eph 4:29) |
| Philippians 4:8 | Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. | Disciplined thinking and speech (Phil 4:10) |
| Hosea 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priests to me. | Consequences of rejecting knowledge (Hos 4:6) |
| Proverbs 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | True wisdom begins with fearing the Lord (Prov 1:7) |
Jeremiah 8 verses
Jeremiah 8 8 Meaning
The verse asserts that the "tongue of the learned" is for guiding others to righteousness and sustenance through knowledge of God, not for falsehood or sin. True learning, as divinely imparted, leads to spiritual and moral flourishing.
Jeremiah 8 8 Context
Jeremiah chapter 8 contrasts the superficial claims of false prophets and leaders with the reality of God's judgment. They falsely claimed wisdom and possession of the Law of the LORD, but their actions contradicted their words. This verse specifically addresses the spiritual leaders who boasted of their knowledge of God’s Law. They were expected to guide the people, yet they had perverted the Law for their own gain, leading the people astray into sin and ultimately towards judgment. The historical context is the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, a consequence of persistent disobedience and rejection of God's messengers, including Jeremiah himself. The "tongue of the learned" refers to the prophetic message and the instruction that leads to life.
Jeremiah 8 8 Word Analysis
- כִּי (ki) - "For," "because," "indeed." This word introduces the reason or explanation. Here, it's a causal conjunction.
- לְשׁוֹן (leshon) - "Tongue," "language," "speech." It represents the faculty of speech and communication, and by extension, the message or discourse.
- לִמֻּדִים (limmudim) - "Learned ones," "instructed ones," "disciples." It signifies those who have been taught or trained, implying a student of something. In this context, it refers to those who have received instruction in God's Law, who should be the learned ones.
- לְסַעֲדִי (lesa'adi) - "To support," "to sustain," "to help." The infinitive piel form from the root סָעַד (sa'ad). It indicates the purpose of their speech.
- תָּמֹוְךְ (tamoch) - "You sustain," "you support." The imperfect singular of the verb תָּמַךְ (tamach), meaning to grasp, support, uphold. It points to the active action of sustaining.
- עִם ('im) - "With," "among." This preposition shows accompaniment or association.
- פֶּשַׁע (pesha') - "Transgression," "rebellion," "sin." It denotes a wilful violation of God's commands.
- וּבְלִי (uvli) - "And without," "and not." This conjunction introduces a negation, contrasting with the preceding positive action.
- שֶׁקֶר (sheqer) - "Falsehood," "lie," "deceit." It refers to anything untrue or deceptive, particularly against God's truth.
Group of Words Analysis:
- "the tongue of the learned": This phrase refers to the divinely commissioned prophetic message or the teaching that stems from a genuine relationship with God and understanding of His Word. It is the authoritative utterance that imparts truth.
- "to sustain the weary": This highlights the purpose of true, divinely-given speech. It's meant to offer strength, comfort, and encouragement to those who are spiritually tired, oppressed, or struggling.
- "and with_with falsehood": This juxtaposition emphasizes the grave sin of religious leaders who, claiming wisdom, instead spread lies and deceit, leading people away from God's truth and hindering their spiritual sustenance.
Jeremiah 8 8 Bonus Section
The phrase "tongue of the learned" resonates with the prophetic calling to be mouthpieces for God. Isaiah 50:4 speaks of the Servant of the LORD having "a well-instructed tongue, to sustain the weary." This strongly points to the Messiah. Jesus himself, in the New Testament, is presented as the embodiment of divine wisdom and the one who speaks the very words of God, providing life and sustenance. The emphasis is on the source and purpose of speech: if it originates from God and aims to edify and uphold, it is true; if it stems from human pride and promotes sin, it is false and destructive.
Jeremiah 8 8 Commentary
Jeremiah rebukes the false leaders for claiming the "tongue of the learned" and the possession of God’s law while their discourse promoted rebellion and deceit. True wisdom from God equips individuals to speak words that sustain and uplift others, guiding them in righteousness. This contrasts sharply with the false prophets who used their platform to propagate falsehood, ultimately leading the people away from God’s sustaining power. The "tongue of the learned" finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, whose words were indeed full of grace and truth, sustaining all who heard and believed him. It calls all who profess faith and claim knowledge of God to ensure their speech aligns with God's character—truthful, edifying, and life-giving.