Jeremiah 7:9

7:8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

KJV

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Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known,

Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you know not;

7:10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? which: Heb. whereupon my name is called

What does Jeremiah 7:9 mean?

Jeremiah 7:9 is a verse in the book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include גָּנַב (gânab), רָצַח (râtsach), נָאַף (nâʼaph). It connects to 3 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Will

steal,גָּנַבgânab/gaw-nab'/H1589to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive

murder,רָצַחrâtsach/raw-tsakh'/H7523properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder

and

commit

adultery,נָאַףnâʼaph/naw-af'/H5003to commit adultery; figuratively, to apostatize

and

swearשָׁבַעshâbaʻ/shaw-bah'/H7650to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

falsely,שֶׁקֶרsheqer/sheh'-ker/H8267an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)

and

burn

incenseקָטַרqâṭar/kaw-tar'/H6999to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)

unto

Baal,בַּעַלBaʻal/bah'-al/H1168Baal, a Phoenician deity

and

walkהָלַךְhâlak/haw-lak'/H1980to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

afterאַחַרʼachar/akh-ar'/H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

otherאַחֵרʼachêr/akh-air'/H312properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.

godsאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

whom

knowיָדַעyâdaʻ/yaw-dah'/H3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)

not;

Commentary on Jeremiah 7:9

HENRY_FULL · Jeremiah 7:9

pter Solomon, having shown the vanity of this world in the temptation which those in power feel to oppress and trample upon their subjects, here further shows, I. The temptation which the oppressed feel to discontent and impatience, ver. 1-3 . II. The temptation which those that love their case feel to take their case and neglect business, for fear of being envied, ver. 4-6 . III. The folly of hoarding up abundance of worldly wealth, ver. 7, 8 . IV. A remedy against that folly, in being made sensible of the benefit of society and mutual assistance, ver. 9-12 . V. The mutability even of royal dignity, not only through the folly of the prince himself ( ver. 13, 14 ), but through the fickleness of the people, let the prince be ever so discreet, ver. 15, 16 . It is not the prerogative even of kings themselves to be exempted from the vanity and vexation that attend these things; let none else then expect it.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Job 3:17

There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. weary: Heb. wearied in strength

Jeremiah 2:17

Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

Jeremiah 9:4

Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. neighbour: or, friend

Topics

Adultery Dishonesty Hypocrisy Oath Oaths Perjury Sins, National Swearing Falsely Theft Theft and Thieves

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Jeremiah 7:9.

Hosea 4:2

By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. blood: Heb. bloods

Genesis 31:19

And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's. images: Heb. teraphim

Genesis 31:30

And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

Leviticus 19:12

And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 6:3

Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:

Leviticus 6:5

Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. in the day: or, in the day of his being found guilty: Heb. in the day of his trespass

Frequently asked questions

What does Jeremiah 7:9 say?

Jeremiah 7:9 (King James Version) reads: "Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;"

Is Jeremiah 7:9 in the Old or New Testament?

Jeremiah 7:9 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah.

Reflect

As you read Jeremiah 7:9, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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