Jeremiah 8 8

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 verses

Jeremiah 8 8 Meaning

Jeremiah 8:8 challenges the self-proclaimed wisdom of Judah's leaders, particularly the religious elites (scribes), who asserted their possession and understanding of God's Law. The verse starkly reveals that their handling, interpretation, and application of this divine truth had become corrupted, turning it into a lie through their deceptive or unfaithful practices. It critiques their false confidence in merely having the Law, while distorting its true spirit and intent, thus leading the people astray.

Jeremiah 8 8 Context

Jeremiah chapter 8 continues the prophet's laments and warnings concerning God's impending judgment upon Judah due to their persistent apostasy and sin. The people and their leaders, including priests, prophets, and scribes, were deeply entrenched in idolatry, corruption, and a superficial adherence to God's covenant. Chapter 8 opens with a vivid description of further desecration in the land—even the bones of the dead will be exhumed and exposed, symbolizing total disgrace and abandonment by God. Jeremiah contrasts the instinctive wisdom of migratory birds, who know their appointed times, with the foolishness of his people who "do not know the just decrees of the Lord." It is in this environment of national spiritual blindness and arrogance that verse 8 arises, directly challenging the foundational claim of religious authority and knowledge that Judah's elite used to justify their actions and instill false security in the people. They preached "peace, peace" where there was no peace (Jer 8:11), and their proclaimed wisdom was used to rationalize their ungodliness rather than to guide the nation to repentance.

Jeremiah 8 8 Word analysis

• How can you say, 'We are wise,'

  • How can you say: אֵיךְ תֹּאמְרוּ ('êk tō'mrū) - This opening is an interrogative of astonishment and accusation, expressing Jeremiah's disbelief at their audacious claim. It’s not a question seeking information but a rhetorical challenge to their unfounded assertion.
  • We are wise: חֲכָמִים אֲנַחְנוּ (ḥakāmîm 'ănaḥnū) - "Wise" (ḥakāmîm) refers to intellectual acumen, skill, or practical insight, often associated with understanding God's ways (Ps 111:10). Here, it's a self-proclaimed status, suggesting arrogance and intellectual pride. The explicit "we" (אֲנַחְנוּ) emphasizes the communal boast.

• 'and the law of the Lord is with us'?

  • and the law of the Lord: וְתוֹרַת יְהוָה (wətōrat Yahweh) - "Law" (Torah) here refers to God's revealed instruction, statutes, and teachings given through Moses. It is the divine standard for life. "The Lord" (Yahweh) signifies its divine, authoritative origin.
  • is with us: אִתָּנוּ ('ittānū) - Signifies presence, possession, or accessibility. They believed that merely having the physical scroll or understanding its tenets granted them a privileged status and guaranteed God's favor.

• But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.

  • But behold: אָכֵן ('ākhēn) - This word serves as a strong adversative, introducing a contrasting and emphatic truth. It transitions from their proud claim to God's scathing rebuttal. It implies "Indeed, truly" or "Certainly, but."
  • the lying pen: עָשָׂה שֶׁקֶר הַקּוֹלְמוּס (ʿāśāh šeqer haqqōlmūs) - Literally, "the stylus/reed has made falseness/a lie."
    • lying: שֶׁקֶר (šeqer) - Deceit, falsehood, treachery. It characterizes the nature of the scribes' work and its outcome.
    • pen: הַקּוֹלְמוּס (haqqōlmūs) - The "stylus" or "reed-pen" used for writing. This is a metonym for the scribes themselves and their activities—copying, interpreting, and applying the Law. It highlights the instrument of their perversion.
  • of the scribes: סֹפְרִים (sōfrîm) - These were professional copyists, recorders, and, importantly, interpreters of the Law. Their role was critical for preserving and teaching God's Word. Here, they are indicted for corrupting that sacred trust.
  • has made it into a lie: לְשָׁקֶר (ləšāqer) - "For/into a lie." The direct object is implicitly "the Law" mentioned earlier. Their actions rendered God's true revelation (Torah) ineffective, deceptive, or twisted it to serve unrighteous ends, fundamentally turning truth into falsehood.

• Word-Groups Analysis:

  • "How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us'?": This phrase exposes the deep self-deception and hubris of Judah's spiritual leaders. Their pride was based on mere intellectual possession of the Law, equating that with true wisdom, and believing it conferred immunity or inherent righteousness. This is a powerful critique of any group that presumes spiritual authority solely by holding scripture or ecclesiastical office, without embodying its spirit in righteousness and humility.
  • "the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie": This central indictment specifies the source and nature of the problem. It is not that the Law itself is faulty, but that those responsible for its preservation and explanation (the scribes) have corrupted its impact. This "lying pen" signifies their distorted interpretations, their failure to apply it correctly, their adding or subtracting from its true intent, or their using it to promote false security and avoid genuine repentance. Their professionalism in handling the text was coupled with profound spiritual unfaithfulness, rendering the very instrument of truth into an agent of falsehood.

Jeremiah 8 8 Bonus section

• The irony of "the wise" being fooled by "the lying pen" points to a profound spiritual blindness. They considered themselves masters of divine wisdom yet were profoundly ignorant of its true purpose: to lead to obedience and holiness, not self-justification or false peace.
• This verse can be understood as a direct polemic against the notion that mere external adherence to religious rituals or textual knowledge can replace genuine spiritual life and righteous action. It anticipates later prophetic condemnations and even Jesus' rebukes against the Pharisees (e.g., Matt 23).
• The "pen" (קוֹלְמוּס, qolmus) is a rare word in the Old Testament, potentially a loanword, emphasizing the precise instrument of their professional deceit. Its appearance here underscores the specific and professional nature of the scribes' perversion of the Law.
• The verse sets up a foundational theological problem: how does one distinguish between true and false interpretations of divine revelation? It compels believers to search the Scriptures, test teachings (1 Thess 5:21), and rely on the Spirit's illumination, rather than blindly trusting human authority, however esteemed.

Jeremiah 8 8 Commentary

Jeremiah 8:8 stands as a searing critique against institutionalized spiritual pride and corruption. The religious leaders of Judah, particularly the scribes, confidently claimed both wisdom and the exclusive possession of God's Law. This assertion typically implied a privileged access to divine truth, enabling them to interpret God's will for the nation. However, Jeremiah, speaking for God, demolishes this self-congratulatory posture. He asserts that while they literally held the physical Law (Torah) and diligently copied its words, their application and interpretation of it were deeply flawed and intentionally misleading.

The phrase "the lying pen of the scribes" does not necessarily imply they falsified the biblical text itself, though their omissions and emphasis might have created a skewed perspective. Rather, it signifies that their explanations, teachings, and pronouncements—derived from or supposedly grounded in the Law—were deceitful. They twisted the Law's true meaning, using its principles selectively to justify their own practices, to reassure the people falsely of peace and safety despite their ongoing sin, and to evade the demands of genuine covenant obedience. Instead of using the Law to call the nation to repentance, they exploited it to maintain their own power or to promote a superficial spirituality that was void of heart transformation. Ultimately, the very truth they claimed to uphold was, in their hands, rendered into a profound lie, misleading the people and obstructing the path to true reconciliation with God. This verse therefore warns against any form of religious professionalism that elevates human tradition, corrupt interpretation, or mere intellectual possession of truth above the humble, obedient, and transformative walk with God as prescribed by His genuine revelation.