Jeremiah 9 4

Jeremiah 9:4 kjv

Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.

Jeremiah 9:4 nkjv

"Everyone take heed to his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; For every brother will utterly supplant, And every neighbor will walk with slanderers.

Jeremiah 9:4 niv

"Beware of your friends; do not trust anyone in your clan. For every one of them is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer.

Jeremiah 9:4 esv

Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.

Jeremiah 9:4 nlt

"Beware of your neighbor!
Don't even trust your brother!
For brother takes advantage of brother,
and friend slanders friend.

Jeremiah 9 verses

Jeremiah 9 4 Meaning

Jeremiah 9:4 describes the devastating moral and spiritual decay that had permeated Judah, rendering even the most fundamental human relationships unreliable. It warns the people that both their closest companions and family members had become inherently deceitful and actively slanderous. This widespread treachery meant that basic trust, the bedrock of any functioning society and intimate bond, was utterly eroded, creating an environment where suspicion became a necessary defense mechanism. The verse underscores a profound societal collapse, directly resulting from their deep apostasy and turning away from God's covenant.

Jeremiah 9 4 Context

Jeremiah chapter 9 is a lament from the prophet, deeply distressed over the severe moral and spiritual apostasy of the people of Judah. The verses preceding 9:4 set the tone of widespread unfaithfulness, where God declares His abandonment of His people because "they have taught their tongue to speak lies" and "wear themselves out committing iniquity." The chapter describes a nation whose trust in God has vanished, replaced by a culture of deception and injustice. Jeremiah expresses a yearning for a secluded place to escape their pervasive wickedness. Verse 9:4 specifically articulates the societal breakdown resulting from this spiritual corruption, where fundamental trust is obliterated even among family and friends, leading to suspicion and animosity as the prevailing social norms. This context reflects the last days of Judah before the Babylonian exile, a period characterized by profound moral failure and the unraveling of its covenantal identity.

Jeremiah 9 4 Word analysis

• Let everyone beware: The Hebrew verb shamar (שָׁמַר) means "to guard, keep, watch, be cautious." Here, it carries an imperative sense of urgent vigilance. It’s not merely a suggestion but a necessity for self-preservation, reflecting an environment where one is constantly at risk from those closest.
• of his neighbor: The Hebrew term re'a (רֵעַ) signifies a "friend, companion, associate, or neighbor." Its use highlights that the warning isn't about strangers, but those one should inherently trust, thereby deepening the tragedy of the societal breakdown.
• and put no trust: The Hebrew verb bataḥ (בָּטַח) means "to trust, to be confident, to feel secure." The negative imperative commands an absolute cessation of reliance, signaling that the basis for security in human relationships has been entirely removed by pervasive dishonesty.
• in any brother: The Hebrew aḥ (אָח) primarily means "brother," extending to kinsman or fellow Israelite. The corruption of trust within brotherhood, a core institution of ancient Israelite society and covenantal unity, denotes an ultimate stage of moral decay.
• for every brother is a deceiver: The word "deceiver" comes from the Hebrew aqob (עָקֹב), meaning "crooked, insidious, treacherous." This term shares a root with the name "Jacob," who was known for his cunning and supplanting. It points to an intrinsic, deep-seated character of guile, suggesting that deception is a prevalent, almost defining, trait.
• and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer: The phrase "goes about as" implies active, pervasive conduct. The Hebrew rakîl (רָכִיל) refers to a "talebearer, gossip, slanderer." This denotes someone who actively circulates malicious reports, destroying reputations and fostering enmity, illustrating the destructive impact of unchecked verbal deceit.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Let everyone beware... and put no trust...": These strong imperatives indicate a mandatory defensive posture. The passage is not lamenting occasional mistrust but prescribing constant vigilance as a vital response to a dangerously corrupted social environment where faithlessness is the norm.
• "of his neighbor, and... in any brother": By juxtaposing "neighbor" (social peer) and "brother" (family member), the prophet intensifies the message. It illustrates that no relational sphere, not even the most sacred and intimate, is immune to the pervasive moral decay that had afflicted Judah.
• "for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer": These two parallel statements offer the painful justification for the extreme warnings. The "deceiver" highlights internal character flaw and hidden malicious intent, while the "slanderer" underscores the active, vocal manifestation of that malice, signifying both the inner corruption and its outward destructive effects on community.

Jeremiah 9 4 Bonus section

The pervasive nature of deceit in Jeremiah 9:4 reflects a profound crisis of covenant. The ideal for Israel, as God's chosen people, was faithfulness (hesed) to God and to one another, summarized in the commands to love one's neighbor as oneself. The conditions described here indicate a complete reversal of that ideal, transforming the very structures designed for community and support into sources of danger. The rhetorical force of "every brother" and "every neighbor" may not suggest literal universality but effectively conveys the dominant and overwhelming character of societal breakdown. This dire pronouncement ultimately calls for introspection, repentance, and a return to the true source of all faithfulness, the LORD himself, without whom no lasting human trust can genuinely endure.

Jeremiah 9 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 9:4 powerfully articulates the catastrophic moral disintegration of Judah, depicting a society utterly devoid of integrity and trust. It's a lamentable summary of widespread spiritual rebellion, manifesting as chronic treachery and destructive gossip, even within the closest bonds of kinship and community. The verse signifies that Israel, meant to be a people of truth and covenant loyalty, had devolved into an internal struggle of pervasive deceit, mirroring their deep unfaithfulness to God. This moral collapse meant that external judgment, such as the Babylonian exile, was an unavoidable consequence of their internal decay. The passage implicitly directs individuals away from the broken cisterns of human trust toward the unfailing fountain of God's reliability.

• Practical applications:
  • In a world often marked by self-interest and deceit, believers are reminded to anchor their ultimate hope and security in God, not in human promises.
  • It challenges Christian communities to uphold genuine brotherly love, truthfulness, and integrity in speech, contrasting sharply with the destructive patterns of deceit and slander.
  • When experiencing betrayal, it prompts discernment about human brokenness while encouraging forgiveness and sustained trust in God's faithfulness.