The Meaning of Jeremiah 8:11 Explained

Jeremiah 8:11

KJV: For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

YLT: And they heal the breach of the daughter of my people slightly, Saying, Peace, peace! and there is no peace.

Darby: And they have healed the breach of the daughter of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace! when there is no peace.

ASV: And they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For they have healed  the hurt  of the daughter  of my people  slightly,  saying,  Peace,  peace;  when [there is] no peace. 

What does Jeremiah 8:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Those in positions of spiritual leadership had provided panaceas for the people by telling them that all was well, but all was far from well.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 8:4-22 - False Promises Of Peace
This chapter is filled with denunciation of the unreasonable and infatuated obstinacy of Israel. As the horse rushes madly to the fight, so were the people set on evil. The very birds that were sensitive to the laws of migration, and obeyed the call of the sunnier clime, were more impressible than the Chosen People. God often calls us out of the stormy winter blasts to lands of sunny fellowship, but we will not heed. From Jeremiah 5:10 onward we have a description of the desolation about to visit the land. Notwithstanding the promises of false prophets, the invader overran the country and the exiled people might readily begin to question why such a fate had befallen them. To this there was but one answer. Their sin had cut them off from God's protecting care. Is not this the reason why harvests pass and summers end, and the years roll on, and still you are not saved? There is balm for your wounds, and a physician for your healing, but you do not avail yourselves of them; and God's love is powerless, however greatly He desires to help you, until you return. The father would do anything for the prodigal, but He has no chance so long as the prodigal remains in the far-land. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 8

1  The calamity of the Jews, both dead and alive
4  He upbraids their foolish and shameless impenitency
13  He shows their grievous judgment;
18  and bewails their desperate estate

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 8:11 mean?

For they have healed - the hurt of the daughter of My people upon slightly Saying Peace peace and when [there is] no peace
וַיְרַפּ֞וּ אֶת־ שֶׁ֤בֶר בַּת־ עַמִּי֙ עַל־ נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁל֣וֹם ׀ שָׁל֑וֹם וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֽוֹם

וַיְרַפּ֞וּ  For  they  have  healed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָפָא  
Sense: to heal, make healthful.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שֶׁ֤בֶר  the  hurt 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁבֶר 
Sense: breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash, ruin, shattering.
בַּת־  of  the  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
עַמִּי֙  of  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
נְקַלָּ֔ה  slightly 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: קָלַל  
Sense: to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light.
לֵאמֹ֖ר  Saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שָׁל֣וֹם ׀  Peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
שָׁל֑וֹם  peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
וְאֵ֖ין  and  when  [there  is]  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
שָׁלֽוֹם  peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.