The Meaning of Jeremiah 8:8 Explained

Jeremiah 8:8

KJV: How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.

YLT: How do ye say, We are wise, And the law of Jehovah is with us? Surely, lo, falsely it hath wrought, The false pen of scribes.

Darby: How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? Behold, certainly the lying pen of the scribes hath made it falsehood.

ASV: How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely.

Discover Jeremiah 8:8

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Jeremiah 8:8?

MEANING: What does Jeremiah 8:8 Mean?

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

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Jeremiah 8:8?

What is the context of Jeremiah 8:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

How do ye say, We [are] wise, and the law of the LORD [is] with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he [it]; the pen of the scribes [is] in vain.

What does Jeremiah 8:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The people were claiming that they knew God"s Word and were obeying it. However, it was only because their experts in the Law had perverted it that they could say such a thing (cf. 2 Peter 3:16). The scribes kept official records, copied important documents, and taught the people the Law.

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 8:8 mean?

How can you say wise we [are] and the law of Yahweh [is] with us truly Look falsehood works the pen of false the scribe

אֵיכָ֤ה תֹֽאמְרוּ֙ חֲכָמִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וְתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה אִתָּ֑נוּ אָכֵן֙ הִנֵּ֣ה לַשֶּׁ֣קֶר עָשָׂ֔ה עֵ֖ט שֶׁ֥קֶר סֹפְרִֽים

אֵיכָ֤ה	How
Parse: Interjection Root: אֵיךְ Sense: how? interj.
תֹֽאמְרוּ֙	can you say
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
חֲכָמִ֣ים	wise
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural Root: חָכָם Sense: wise, wise (man).
אֲנַ֔חְנוּ	we [are]
Parse: Pronoun, first person common plural Root: אֲנַחְנוּ Sense: we (first pers.
וְתוֹרַ֥ת	and the law
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct Root: תֹּורָה Sense: law, direction, instruction.
יְהוָ֖ה	of Yahweh
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אִתָּ֑נוּ	[is] with us
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural Root: אֵת Sense: with, near, together with.
אָכֵן֙	truly
Parse: Adverb Root: אָכֵן Sense: surely, truly, indeed.
הִנֵּ֣ה	Look
Parse: Interjection Root: הִנֵּה Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
לַשֶּׁ֣קֶר	falsehood
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: שֶׁקֶר Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
עָשָׂ֔ה	works
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular Root: עָשָׂה Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
עֵ֖ט	the pen
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: עֵט Sense: stylus.
שֶׁ֥קֶר	of false
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: שֶׁקֶר Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
סֹפְרִֽים	the scribe
Parse: Noun, masculine plural Root: סָפַר Sense: to count, recount, relate.

What are the major concepts related to Jeremiah 8:8?

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