Jeremiah 7:8

KJV

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

KJV (with Strong's)

Behold, ye trust {H982} in lying {H8267} words {H1697}, that cannot profit {H3276}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Look! You are relying on deceitful words that can't do you any good.

Berean Standard Bible

But look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail.

American Standard Version

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 7:8 delivers a scathing prophetic indictment within the Temple Sermon, directly confronting the people of Judah with their dangerous and misplaced reliance on superficial religious assurances and deceptive pronouncements. It exposes the profound folly of trusting in empty words or self-serving rationalizations that promise security and divine favor without demanding genuine repentance, covenant fidelity, or heartfelt obedience to God. The verse powerfully declares that such false hopes are utterly devoid of any true benefit, spiritual gain, or lasting salvation, inevitably leading to spiritual decay and national calamity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 7:8 is a pivotal statement within Jeremiah's renowned "Temple Sermon," a dramatic public address delivered at the very gate of the Lord's house (cf. [Jeremiah 7:2](/jeremiah/7-2 "Jeremiah 7:2 - Jeremiah's Prophetic Address at the Temple Gate")). This powerful discourse, spanning [Jeremiah 7:1-15](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon: False Security and True Obedience"), represents a climactic moment in Jeremiah's early prophetic ministry. Here, he directly challenges the widespread and dangerous delusion that the mere physical presence of the Temple in Jerusalem guaranteed God's unconditional protection, irrespective of the people's pervasive moral corruption and spiritual apostasy. The verse directly echoes and amplifies the warning articulated in [Jeremiah 7:4](/jeremiah/7-4 "Jeremiah 7:4 - Do Not Trust in Deceptive Chants"), where the people are depicted as repeatedly chanting, "The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these." Jeremiah 7:8 precisely identifies this chant, and the presumptuous mindset it embodies, as the very "lying words" that offer no true "profit" or security. The sermon culminates in a dire warning of impending judgment, including the prophesied destruction of the Temple itself, mirroring the historical fate of Shiloh (cf. [Jeremiah 7:12-15](/jeremiah/7-12-15 "Jeremiah 7:12-15 - The Desolation of Shiloh and Jerusalem's Impending Doom")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for this sermon is the turbulent reign of King Jehoiakim (609-598 BC), a period characterized by profound political instability, rampant social injustice, widespread idolatry, and a deeply entrenched, yet superficial, religiosity in Judah. Despite repeated and urgent warnings from prophets like Jeremiah, the populace stubbornly continued to engage in covenant-breaking behaviors, including the worship of foreign gods, exploitation of the vulnerable, and disregard for God's laws, all while clinging tenaciously to the outward forms of worship and the perceived inviolability of the Jerusalem Temple. Jerusalem, as the capital city and the sacred site of the Temple, held immense religious, national, and psychological significance for the people. The deeply ingrained cultural and theological conviction was that God would never permit His chosen dwelling place to be destroyed, and therefore, He would protect His people regardless of their actions. This pervasive false sense of security, rooted in a profound misunderstanding of God's holy character and the conditional nature of His covenant, served as a significant barrier to genuine repentance and left the nation tragically vulnerable to the impending Babylonian invasion.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 7:8 contributes significantly to several overarching themes that permeate the book of Jeremiah and indeed, much of Old Testament prophetic literature. Foremost among these is the theme of **False Security vs. True Obedience**. The verse starkly highlights the perilous nature of placing trust in external religious symbols, rituals, or inherited status without an accompanying internal transformation and a sincere commitment to God's commands. It powerfully underscores the consistent prophetic insistence that God desires "steadfast love, and not sacrifice; the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings" (cf. [Hosea 6:6](/hosea/6-6 "Hosea 6:6 - God Desires Steadfast Love, Not Sacrifice")). Another crucial theme is the **Futility of Deception and Idolatry**. The "lying words" represent not only the deceitful pronouncements of false prophets who promised peace where there was none, but also the self-deception of a people who believed they could manipulate God or escape divine judgment through ritualistic adherence without genuine righteousness. This connects seamlessly to the broader condemnation of idolatry throughout Jeremiah, where reliance on false gods or any form of false hope is consistently shown to be utterly unprofitable and ultimately destructive (cf. [Jeremiah 2:8](/jeremiah/2-8 "Jeremiah 2:8 - Priests Did Not Ask 'Where is the Lord?'")). Finally, the verse implicitly serves as a powerful call for **Genuine Repentance and Covenant Faithfulness**, emphasizing that true "profit" or lasting blessing comes exclusively through a sincere return to God's revealed ways and a wholehearted, obedient trust in His divine will.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **trust (Hebrew, _bâṭach'_):** From H982, this verb fundamentally means to hide for refuge, to be confident, secure, or sure. In the context of Jeremiah 7:8, it describes a deeply misplaced reliance, a confidence presumptuously placed in something inherently unreliable or deceptive. The people of Judah were "trusting" in a false premise, finding their security not in the Lord's character or covenant faithfulness as expressed through their obedience, but in the mere physical existence of the Temple. This trust was not a hopeful expectation grounded in God's promises, but a careless, self-assured presumption that would prove disastrous.
* **lying (Hebrew, _sheqer'_):** From H8267, this noun denotes an untruth, falsehood, deceit, or a sham. It implies something that is empty, vain, or specifically intended to mislead. Here, it characterizes the "words" as not simply mistaken or erroneous, but fundamentally deceptive and without substance, whether originating from the pronouncements of false prophets, the people's own pervasive self-deception, or empty, unbiblical traditions. It powerfully emphasizes the profound lack of truth, reality, and efficacy in the object of their misplaced trust.
* **profit (Hebrew, _yaʻal'_):** From H3276, this primitive root means, properly, to ascend, and figuratively, to be valuable, useful, or beneficial. When negated, as it is here ("cannot profit"), it emphatically conveys utter worthlessness, futility, and a complete lack of advantage. The "lying words" offer absolutely no gain, no positive outcome, no spiritual advantage, and no protection from impending divine judgment. They are entirely unproductive in securing God's favor or true well-being.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Behold, ye trust in lying words":** This opening clause functions as a stark and urgent prophetic interjection, immediately drawing the audience's attention to their fundamental error. The Hebrew interjection "Behold" (_hinnēh_) serves as an exclamation, demanding that the audience recognize the gravity and immediate relevance of their misplaced confidence. Their "trust" (_bâṭach_) is not placed in the Lord Himself, nor in His covenant, but rather "in lying words" (_divrei sheqer_), which are empty, deceptive assurances. These are not merely casual falsehoods but deeply ingrained beliefs that provide a false sense of security, most notably the erroneous notion that the Temple's physical presence guaranteed their safety regardless of their profound sin.
* **"that cannot profit."**: This concluding clause delivers the devastating and inescapable consequence of such a misplaced and presumptuous trust. The phrase "cannot profit" (_lo' yo'ilu_) employs the verb _yaʻal_ in the negative, emphatically declaring the utter futility, worthlessness, and ineffectiveness of these deceptive words. They offer no real advantage, no spiritual gain, no protection from the impending judgment, and no pathway to true salvation or lasting well-being. The people's persistent reliance on these falsehoods will yield absolutely no positive outcome; instead, it will lead inevitably to national disaster and spiritual ruin.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 7:8 employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent and condemnatory message. The use of **Direct Address** ("ye trust") immediately implicates the audience, making the prophetic warning personal, inescapable, and directly applicable to their behavior. The phrase "lying words" is a powerful instance of **Metonymy**, where "words" stand for the deceptive doctrines, false assurances, and self-deluding beliefs that the people stubbornly embraced. It also functions as a stark **Condemnation**, directly labeling their presumed source of security as fundamentally false, misleading, and ultimately destructive. The declaration "that cannot profit" utilizes a form of **Understatement (Meiosis)** to emphasize the complete and utter uselessness of their false trust; it is not merely unhelpful or ineffective, but actively detrimental and leading to ruin. Furthermore, the entire verse serves as a profound **Prophetic Indictment**, a formal and divine charge brought by God against His covenant people for their pervasive infidelity and spiritual blindness, highlighting the severe and inevitable consequences of their misplaced faith.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 7:8 profoundly underscores the timeless biblical principle that genuine faith is intrinsically demonstrated by obedience, covenant fidelity, and a sincere, living relationship with God, rather than by external rituals, religious symbols, or presumptuous claims. This verse serves as an enduring warning against the insidious dangers of self-deception and the ultimate futility of seeking security or salvation in anything other than God's revealed truth and His unwavering covenant faithfulness. It highlights the consistent divine demand for internal righteousness and a transformed heart over mere external religiosity, a theme powerfully echoed throughout the prophetic corpus. The "lying words" represent any false gospel, humanistic philosophy, or worldly ideology that promises peace, prosperity, or security apart from true repentance and humble submission to God's sovereign will. Ultimately, the verse teaches that only God's truth, His divine character, and His righteous ways lead to true "profit"—eternal life, profound peace, and lasting blessing—while all humanly devised securities and self-deceptive assurances are ultimately bankrupt and lead to ruin.

* [Proverbs 10:2](/proverbs/10-2 "Proverbs 10:2 - Treasures of Wickedness Profit Nothing")
* [Isaiah 44:20](/isaiah/44-20 "Isaiah 44:20 - A Deceived Heart Clings to Lies")
* [Matthew 7:21](/matthew/7-21 "Matthew 7:21 - Not Everyone Who Says 'Lord, Lord' Will Enter the Kingdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 7:8 issues a profound challenge for us to critically examine the true foundations of our own security, hope, and spiritual well-being. In a contemporary world saturated with information, competing ideologies, and countless promises of fulfillment, it is remarkably easy to place our trust in "lying words"—whether they emanate from political systems, economic theories, popular self-help gurus, or even subtly distorted religious teachings. This verse calls us to move decisively beyond superficial religious adherence, cultural Christianity, or mere ritualistic observance, and instead to cultivate a deep, authentic, and transformative relationship with God, rooted firmly in His revealed truth. It compels us to honestly ask ourselves if our faith is merely a comfortable tradition, a set of external rituals, or a cultural identity, or if it is a truly living, dynamic trust that actively manifests in obedience, a pursuit of righteousness, and a genuine dependence on God. The true "profit" that God offers is not found in fleeting human assurances, worldly gains, or temporal comforts, but in the eternal security, abundant life, and profound peace that come only from walking in His ways and submitting to His will. We are sternly warned against any form of spiritual complacency that presumptuously assumes God's favor without requiring genuine repentance and a heart fully devoted to Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "lying words" or false assurances might I be trusting in today, either consciously or unconsciously, for my security, identity, or well-being?**
* **How does my daily life and my deepest commitments demonstrate whether my ultimate trust is in God alone, or in external factors like wealth, status, human approval, or even religious activity without true heart transformation?**
* **In what specific areas of my life do I need to move from superficial adherence or self-deception to genuine obedience, authentic faith, and a deeper, more intimate relationship with God?**

### FAQ

**What exactly were the "lying words" the people were trusting in?**

Answer: The "lying words" primarily refer to the false assurances and deeply ingrained, self-deceptive beliefs that the people of Judah stubbornly held. Most prominently, this included the erroneous notion that the physical presence of the Temple in Jerusalem guaranteed their safety and God's unconditional protection, regardless of their rampant sinful behavior. This is explicitly highlighted in [Jeremiah 7:4](/jeremiah/7-4 "Jeremiah 7:4 - Do Not Trust in Deceptive Chants"), where the people are depicted repeatedly chanting, "The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these." These words were "lying" because they offered a false sense of security, contradicted God's covenant demands for righteousness and obedience, and were devoid of spiritual truth. They were also likely perpetuated by false prophets who spoke comforting but deceitful messages, promising peace when there was no true peace (cf. [Jeremiah 6:14](/jeremiah/6-14 "Jeremiah 6:14 - False Prophets Offer Superficial Healing")).

**Why couldn't the Temple "profit" the people, given its sacred status?**

Answer: The Temple itself was indeed sacred as God's designated dwelling place, but its sacredness and the efficacy of its rituals were always contingent upon the people's faithfulness to the covenant. God's presence within it was not automatic or unconditional. The people had tragically turned the Temple into a mere talisman or a magical charm, presumptuously believing its mere existence would protect them even as they engaged in widespread idolatry, social injustice, and profound moral corruption (cf. [Jeremiah 7:9-10](/jeremiah/7-9-10 "Jeremiah 7:9-10 - Abominations in God's House")). The Temple could not "profit" them because they had fundamentally divorced its profound spiritual significance from the ethical and relational demands of their covenant with God. Their trust was in the physical building and its rituals, not in the holy God who dwelt there and whose character demanded genuine holiness and obedience from His people. God's impending judgment was precisely because they had defiled His house and brazenly broken His covenant, effectively transforming the Temple from a symbol of devotion into a monument to their rebellion.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 7:8, with its stark warning against trusting in "lying words" that "cannot profit," finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament people, as exemplified in Judah's error, mistakenly placed their false hope in external religious structures, rituals, and presumptuous declarations, believing these could secure their standing with God and guarantee their salvation. However, Christ reveals that true profit, lasting security, and eternal salvation come not through human efforts, religious institutions, or empty pronouncements, but solely through a genuine, saving faith in Him. Jesus Himself declares, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Exclusive Way to the Father")). Any other "words," paths, or doctrines for salvation are indeed "lying words" that "cannot profit," for "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" ([Acts 4:12](/acts/4-12 "Acts 4:12 - Salvation Exclusively Through Christ")). The New Covenant, inaugurated and established in Christ's shed blood, replaces the old system of shadows, types, and physical temples, revealing that true worship is not bound to a specific geographical location or building but is "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - True Worship in Spirit and Truth")). Thus, Christ is the ultimate and eternal "profit" (cf. [Philippians 3:7-8](/philippians/3-7-8 "Philippians 3:7-8 - Paul Counts Everything as Loss for the Sake of Christ")), the one in whom all genuine trust is rightly placed, and through whom alone we receive eternal life, unshakeable security, and access to the Father.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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:

Ezekiel 13:6

They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made [others] to hope that they would confirm the word.

Ezekiel 13:16

[To wit], the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and [there is] no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

Isaiah 30:10

Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

Jeremiah 14:13

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.

Jeremiah 14:14

Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Jeremiah 23:14

I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.