And they bend their tongues [like] their bow [for] lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
And they bend {H1869} their tongues {H3956} like their bow {H7198} for lies {H8267}: but they are not valiant {H1396} for the truth {H530} upon the earth {H776}; for they proceed {H3318} from evil {H7451} to evil {H7451}, and they know {H3045} not me, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.
They bend their tongues, their 'bow' of falsehood, and hold sway in the land, but not for truth. For they go from evil to evil, and me they do not know," says ADONAI.
“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD.
And they bend their tongue, as it were their bow, for falsehood; and they are grown strong in the land, but not for truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith Jehovah.
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Jeremiah 9:8
Their tongue [is as] an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: [one] speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. -
Jeremiah 4:22
For my people [is] foolish, they have not known me; they [are] sottish children, and they have none understanding: they [are] wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. -
Judges 2:10
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. -
Romans 3:13
Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips: -
Isaiah 59:13
In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. -
Isaiah 59:15
Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment. -
Jeremiah 31:34
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Jeremiah 9:3 is a powerful and striking verse from the prophet Jeremiah, painting a vivid picture of the moral and spiritual decay of the people of Judah during a time leading up to divine judgment. It highlights their propensity for deceit and their fundamental lack of relationship with God.
Context
This verse is part of Jeremiah's lament (often called Jeremiah's confession or complaint) in chapters 8 and 9, where the prophet grieves deeply over the sinfulness of his people and the impending judgment from God. He describes a society where truth has vanished, and deceit and corruption are rampant. The focus here is specifically on the misuse of the tongue and the rejection of God.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The metaphor "bend their tongues like their bow for lies" is a strong Hebrew idiom. It compares the tongue, used for speaking, to a bow that is strung and ready to shoot arrows. This emphasizes the deliberate preparation and skill used in telling lies, suggesting deceit is not accidental but a practiced weapon. The phrase "know not me" (`וְאֹתִי לֹא יָדָעוּ`, v'oti lo yada'u) uses the Hebrew word yada', which in biblical context often means more than mere intellectual knowledge; it implies a deep, personal, and relational knowing or acknowledging.
Commentary and Application
The imagery in Jeremiah 9:3 is stark and memorable. The people are depicted as warriors, but their weapon is the tongue, and their target is truth. They are skilled and prepared to launch lies as readily as an archer prepares to shoot an arrow. This highlights the active and intentional nature of their deceit. The phrase "they are not valiant for the truth" provides a sharp contrast – they have courage and energy for falsehood but none for standing up for or living according to truth. This lack of valor for truth leads to a progression "from evil to evil," showing how one sin begets another, creating a cycle of increasing wickedness.
The root cause, however, is identified by the LORD Himself: "they know not me." Their failure to live truthfully and righteously stems from a fundamental breakdown in their relationship with God. They do not truly know Him, acknowledge Him, or live in accordance with His character and commands. This echoes a recurring theme in Jeremiah and other prophets, where the people's sin is linked to their rejection or ignorance of God (see also Jeremiah 2:8).
For us today, this verse serves as a powerful warning. It challenges us to examine our own use of language – are our words building up or tearing down? Are we quick to speak lies or gossip, but hesitant to speak truth, especially when it's difficult or unpopular? The verse reminds us that a lack of commitment to truth and a progression into deeper sin often reveals a deeper issue: a lack of genuine, transformative knowledge of God (compare John 17:3). Cultivating a true relationship with God is essential for developing a love for truth and the courage to live by it.