King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
They have belied the LORD, and said, [It is] not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
Complete Jewish Bible:
They have denied ADONAI, they have said, "He won't do anything, calamity will not strike us, we will see neither sword nor famine.
Berean Standard Bible:
They have lied about the LORD and said: “He will not do anything; harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine.
American Standard Version:
They have denied Jehovah, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
They have belied{H3584} the LORD{H3068}, and said{H559}, It is not he; neither shall evil{H7451} come{H935} upon us; neither shall we see{H7200} sword{H2719} nor famine{H7458}:
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Chronicles 36:16
- But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till [there was] no remedy.
Deuteronomy 29:19
- And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
1 Samuel 6:9
- And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, [then] he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that [it is] not his hand [that] smote us: it [was] a chance [that] happened to us.
Isaiah 28:14
- ¶ Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which [is] in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 28:15
- Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
1 John 5:10
- ¶ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
Jeremiah 4:10
- Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.
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Commentary for Jeremiah 5:12
Jeremiah 5:12 is a verse that captures a moment of profound spiritual and moral crisis in the history of Judah. Set during the final years before the Babylonian exile, this verse reflects the widespread apostasy and arrogance that had taken root among the people of Judah. Despite the warnings of the prophet Jeremiah, who was calling for repentance and a return to covenant faithfulness, the people denied the Lord's authority and impending judgment. They falsely reassured themselves that calamity would not befall them, dismissing the possibility of divine retribution in the form of sword (military invasion) or famine (agricultural collapse).
In this verse, the themes of denial and false security are central. The people's rejection of the LORD's warnings is indicative of their deeper rejection of His sovereignty and the covenant relationship that required their obedience. Their belief that they would not see evil, sword, or famine, demonstrates a misplaced confidence in their own strength or in false gods, rather than in the LORD, who had historically brought both blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience, as outlined in the covenant (see Deuteronomy 28).
The historical context of Jeremiah 5:12 is crucial for understanding the gravity of the situation. Judah was facing the imminent threat of the Babylonian empire, which would eventually lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the deportation of many Jews to Babylon. Jeremiah's message was a last-ditch effort to avert this disaster by calling the nation to repentance. Unfortunately, as this verse indicates, the people's hearts were hardened, and they failed to heed the prophet's warnings, leading to the fulfillment of the very judgments they had dismissed.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3584
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּחַשׁ
Transliteration: kâchash
Pronunciation: kaw-khash'
Description: a primitive root; to be untrue, in word (to lie, feign, disown) or deed (to disappoint, fail, cringe); deceive, deny, dissemble, fail, deal falsely, be found liars, (be-) lie, lying, submit selves. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H7451
There are 623 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רַע
Transliteration: raʻ
Pronunciation: rah
Description: from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H2719
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶב
Transliteration: chereb
Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. - Strong's Number: H7458
There are 88 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָעָב
Transliteration: râʻâb
Pronunciation: raw-awb'
Description: from רָעֵב; hunger (more or less extensive); dearth, famine, [phrase] famished, hunger.