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Jeremiah 5:12

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They have belied the LORD, and said, [It is] not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

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}:

They have denied ADONAI, they have said, "He won't do anything, calamity will not strike us, we will see neither sword nor famine.

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.

They have denied Jehovah, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

Commentary

Jeremiah 5:12 captures the profound spiritual blindness and defiant unbelief prevalent in the Kingdom of Judah during the prophet Jeremiah's ministry. This verse reveals the people's utter rejection of God's warnings and their dangerous sense of false security as divine judgment loomed.

Context of Jeremiah 5:12

The prophet Jeremiah was called by God to deliver a stark message of repentance and impending judgment to the southern kingdom of Judah, particularly Jerusalem, before its destruction by Babylon. Chapters 1-6 of Jeremiah detail the widespread spiritual corruption, idolatry, and moral decay within the nation. Despite repeated warnings from God through His prophets, the people remained hardened, refusing to acknowledge their sin or the consequences. Jeremiah 5 specifically highlights the pervasive dishonesty, injustice, and spiritual adultery that had infected all levels of society, from common people to religious leaders. Verse 12 is a direct quote or summary of the people's arrogant dismissal of God's sovereign hand and His prophetic messages.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Denial of God's Sovereignty and Word: The phrase "They have belied the LORD, and said, [It is] not he" signifies a direct challenge to God's authority and active involvement in their affairs. To "bely" means to accuse falsely or misrepresent. They were essentially calling God a liar or denying that the impending calamities were from Him. This is a profound rejection of divine truth and the very nature of God as sovereign over creation and history.
  • False Security and Presumption: The declaration "neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine" demonstrates a dangerous overconfidence and a refusal to believe God's warnings. Despite the clear threats of judgment due to their covenant breaking, they lived in a delusion that calamity would bypass them. This mirrors the false peace proclaimed by many false prophets at the time.
  • Rejection of Prophetic Warning: This verse underscores the people's stubborn refusal to heed Jeremiah's messages. They dismissed the prophet's words as mere human opinion, not divine revelation, effectively silencing God's voice in their lives.
  • Certainty of Consequences: The tragic irony, understood by Jeremiah and later confirmed by history, is that the very "sword" and "famine" they scoffed at would indeed come upon them, as detailed in later chapters of Jeremiah and historical accounts of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 14:12 grimly states God's intent to consume them by sword and famine.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "belied" is kāḥaš (כָּחַשׁ), which means to deny, to lie, to deceive, or to act falsely. It implies a deliberate and active denial of truth, often with an intent to mislead or contradict. Here, it is directed against God Himself, highlighting the audacity of their rebellion. The phrase "[It is] not he" emphasizes their disbelief that God was the active agent behind the warnings or that He would indeed bring judgment.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 5:12 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual complacency and the danger of denying God's truth. In every age, there is a temptation to dismiss divine warnings, whether about sin, judgment, or the consequences of living apart from God's will. This verse reminds us:

  1. The Seriousness of Denying God's Word: To dismiss God's warnings or promises is to "bely" Him, questioning His character and faithfulness. As Numbers 23:19 declares, "God is not a man, that he should lie."
  2. The Peril of False Security: Believing that "evil shall not come upon us" when living in defiance of God is a dangerous delusion. True security comes from obedience and trust in God, not from ignoring reality or divine warnings.
  3. The Importance of Heeding Prophetic Voices: While we no longer have prophets in the same sense as Jeremiah, God's Word, the Bible, serves as our authoritative guide and warning. We must be diligent to listen to and obey its teachings.
  4. The Certainty of Divine Justice: God's warnings are not idle threats. His justice is sure, and what He declares will come to pass, whether it be judgment for sin or blessings for obedience.

This verse challenges us to examine our own hearts: Do we truly believe God's Word, or do we, like ancient Judah, subtly "bely" Him by living as if His warnings and promises are not real or applicable to us?

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    ¶ Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which [is] in Jerusalem.

  • Isaiah 28:15 (3 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    ¶ 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 (2 votes)

    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.