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Jeremiah 9:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 9:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders.
Jeremiah 9:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
2Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
3And 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.
4Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders.
5And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.
6Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith Jehovah.
7Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how [else] should I do, because of the daughter of my people?
← Jeremiah 9:3Jeremiah 9:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Take ye heed everyone of his neighbour, etc.] Take care of being imposed upon by them, since they are so given to lying and deceit; be not too credulous, or too easily believe what is said; or keep yourselves from them; have no company or conversation with them, since evil communications corrupt good manners: and trust ye not in any brother; whether by blood or by marriage, or by religion, believe not his words; trust him not, neither with your money, nor with your mind; commit not your secrets to him, place no confidence in him; a people must be very corrupt indeed when this is the case: or, “trust ye not in every brother”f185; some may be trusted, but not all though the following clause…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“supplant--literally, "trip up by the heel" (Hos 12:3). walk with slanders-- (Jer 6:28).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“From their punishment the prophet now turns to their sins. Jeremiah 9:2 The prophet utters the wish that he might be spared his daily striving, and in some lone wilderness give way to his sorrow, without restraint. A lodging place - It was usual to build in the desert, either by private charity or at the public expense, caravanserais, to receive travelers for a single night, who had however to bring their own supplies with them. An assembly - Or, a gang. Treacherous - Faithless toward one another. Jeremiah 9:3 Rather, “And they bend their tongue to be their bow of lies, i. e.” just as men before a battle get their bows ready, so they of set purpose make ready to do mischief, only their…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:4-6 The lie of idolatry was at the root of an entire culture of deceit. • The word brother, as a synonym for neighbor, indicates that even the closest relationships were polluted with fraud.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“ye heed: Jer 12:6; Psa 12:2, Psa 12:3, Psa 55:11, Psa 55:12; Pro 26:24, Pro 26:25; Mic 7:5, Mic 7:6; Mat 10:17, Mat 10:21, Mat 10:34, Mat 10:35; Luk 21:16 neighbour: or, friend every brother: Gen 27:35, Gen 27:36, Gen 32:28; Th1 4:6 walk: Jer 6:28; Lev 19:16; Psa 15:3; Pro 6:16, Pro 6:19, Pro 10:18, Pro 25:18; Eze 22:9; Pe1 2:1, Pe1 2:2 Jeremiah 9:5”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 9 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification