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They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me,&#8221 declares the LORD. <a href="/nlt/jeremiah/9.htm">New Living Translation</a> “My people bend their tongues like bows to shoot out lies. They refuse to stand up for the truth. They only go from bad to worse. They do not know me,” says the LORD. <a href="/esv/jeremiah/9.htm">English Standard Version</a> They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the LORD. <a href="/bsb/jeremiah/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “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. <a href="/kjv/jeremiah/9.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/9.htm">New King James Version</a> “And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” says the LORD. <a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “They bend their tongues like their bows; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” declares the LORD. <a href="/nasb/jeremiah/9.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220They bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,&#8221 declares the LORD. <a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And they bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” declares the LORD. <a href="/lsb/jeremiah/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “They bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and unfaithfulness prevail in the land, For they go onward from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” declares Yahweh. <a href="/amp/jeremiah/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “They bend their tongue like their bow; [Their] lies and not truth prevail and grow strong in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know and understand and acknowledge Me,” says the LORD. <a href="/csb/jeremiah/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> They bent their tongues like their bows; lies and not faithfulness prevail in the land, for they proceed from one evil to another, and they do not take me into account. This is the LORD’s declaration. <a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> They bent their tongues like their bows; lies and not faithfulness prevail in the land, for they proceed from one evil to another, and they do not take Me into account. This is the LORD&#8217s declaration. <a href="/asv/jeremiah/9.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/cev/jeremiah/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The LORD replied: Lies come from the mouths of my people, like arrows from a bow. With each dishonest deed their power increases, and not one of them will admit that I am God. <a href="/erv/jeremiah/9.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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 the LORD. <a href="/gwt/jeremiah/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> They use their tongues like bows that shoot arrows. Lies and dishonesty rule the land. They go from one evil thing to another, and they don't know me," declares the LORD. <a href="/gnt/jeremiah/9.htm">Good News Translation</a> They are always ready to tell lies; dishonesty instead of truth rules the land. The LORD says, "My people do one evil thing after another and do not acknowledge me as their God." <a href="/isv/jeremiah/9.htm">International Standard Version</a> They use their tongues like a bow. Lies rather than truth fly throughout the land. They progress from one evil to another, and they don't know me," declares the LORD. <a href="/msb/jeremiah/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?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. <a href="/net/jeremiah/9.htm">NET Bible</a> The LORD says, "These people are like soldiers who have readied their bows. Their tongues are always ready to shoot out lies. They have become powerful in the land, but they have not done so by honest means. Indeed, they do one evil thing after another and do not pay attention to me. <a href="/nheb/jeremiah/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "They bend their tongue as a bow. Falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me," says the LORD. <a href="/wbt/jeremiah/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> 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. <a href="/web/jeremiah/9.htm">World English Bible</a> “They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood. They have grown strong in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don’t know me,” says Yahweh. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> “And they bend their tongue, "" Their bow [is] a lie, "" And they have not been mighty for steadfastness in the land, "" For they have gone forth from evil to evil, "" And they have not known Me,” "" A declaration of YHWH! <a href="/ylt/jeremiah/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And they bend their tongue, their bow is a lie, And not for stedfastness have they been mighty in the land, For from evil unto evil they have gone forth, And Me they have not known, An affirmation of Jehovah! <a href="/slt/jeremiah/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And they will bend their tongue, their bow, a lie: and they were not strong for faithfulness upon the land; for from evil to evil they went forth, and they knew me not, says Jehovah.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/jeremiah/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And they have bent their tongue, as a bow, for lies, and not for truth: they have strengthened themselves upon the earth, for they have proceeded from evil to evil, and me they have not known, saith the Lord. <a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And they have bent their tongue, like a bow, to send forth lies and not the truth. They have been strengthened upon the earth. And they have gone from one evil to another. But they have not known me, says the Lord. <a href="/nabre/jeremiah/9.htm">New American Bible</a> They ready their tongues like a drawn bow; with lying, and not with truth, they are powerful in the land. They go from evil to evil, and me they do not know—oracle of the LORD. <a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> They bend their tongues like bows; they have grown strong in the land for falsehood, and not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, says the LORD.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And they bend their tongues like their bow; in falsehood and not in truth they are valiant upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, says the LORD. <a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And they shoot their tongue like what is in their bow with lying, and they are not heroic for the truth in the earth, because they went out from evil to evil, and they have not known me, says LORD JEHOVAH<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/jeremiah/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And they bend their tongue, their bow of falsehood; And they are grown mighty in the land, but not for truth; For they proceed from evil to evil, And Me they know not, Saith the LORD. <a href="/sep/jeremiah/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And they have bent their tongue like a bow: falsehood and not faithfulness has prevailed upon the earth; for they have gone on from evil to evil, and have not known me, saith the Lord. <a href="/parallel/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k55c51ZGhs?start=2763" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/9.htm">A Lament over Zion</a> …2If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people. 3<a href="/hebrew/1869.htm" title="1869: way·yaḏ·rə·ḵū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To tread, march. A primitive root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string a bow.">“They bend</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3956.htm" title="3956: lə·šō·w·nām (N-csc:: 3mp) -- Tongue. Or lashon; also feminine lshonah; from lashan; the tongue, used literally, and figuratively.">their tongues</a> <a href="/hebrew/7198.htm" title="7198: qaš·tām (N-fsc:: 3mp) -- A bow. From qashah in the original sense of bending: a bow, for shooting or the iris.">like bows;</a> <a href="/hebrew/8267.htm" title="8267: še·qer (N-ms) -- Deception, disappointment, falsehood. From shaqar; an untruth; by implication, a sham.">lies</a> <a href="/hebrew/1396.htm" title="1396: gā·ḇə·rū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To be strong, mighty. A primitive root; to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently.">prevail</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">over</a> <a href="/hebrew/530.htm" title="530: le·’ĕ·mū·nāh (Prep-l:: N-fs) --); or (shortened) >emunah feminine of 'emuwn; literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity.">truth</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ḇā·’ā·reṣ (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">in the land.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: yā·ṣā·’ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">they proceed</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’ō·ṯî (Conj-w:: DirObjM:: 1cs) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: mê·rā·‘āh (Prep-m:: Adj-fs) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">from evil</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: rā·‘āh (Adj-fs) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">evil,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">and they do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yā·ḏā·‘ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">take Me into account,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/5002.htm" title="5002: nə·’um- (N-msc) -- Utterance. From na'am; an oracle.">declares</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD.</a> 4“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/psalms/64-3.htm">Psalm 64:3</a> who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, <a href="/hosea/7-16.htm">Hosea 7:16</a> They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt. <a href="/isaiah/59-4.htm">Isaiah 59:4</a> No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. <a href="/psalms/12-2.htm">Psalm 12:2-4</a> They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart. / May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue. / They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?” <a href="/romans/3-13.htm">Romans 3:13-14</a> “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” / “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” <a href="/james/3-6.htm">James 3:6-8</a> The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. / All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, / but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. <a href="/isaiah/59-13.htm">Isaiah 59:13</a> rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart. <a href="/psalms/52-2.htm">Psalm 52:2-4</a> Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit. / You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah / You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue. <a href="/micah/6-12.htm">Micah 6:12</a> For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. <a href="/proverbs/12-18.htm">Proverbs 12:18</a> Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. <a href="/ephesians/4-25.htm">Ephesians 4:25</a> Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. <a href="/zechariah/8-16.htm">Zechariah 8:16-17</a> These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates, / do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD. <a href="/psalms/120-2.htm">Psalm 120:2-3</a> Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. / What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue? <a href="/1_peter/3-10.htm">1 Peter 3:10</a> For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. <a href="/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20</a> Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth on the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, said the LORD.they bend.<a href="/jeremiah/9-5.htm">Jeremiah 9:5,8</a> And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity… <a href="/psalms/52-2.htm">Psalm 52:2-4</a> Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully… <a href="/psalms/64-3.htm">Psalm 64:3,4</a> Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: … valiant.<a href="/matthew/10-31.htm">Matthew 10:31-33</a> Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows… <a href="/mark/8-38.htm">Mark 8:38</a> Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.<a href="/romans/1-16.htm">Romans 1:16</a> For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.for they.<a href="/jeremiah/7-26.htm">Jeremiah 7:26</a> Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.<a href="/2_timothy/3-13.htm">2 Timothy 3:13</a> But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.they know.<a href="/jeremiah/4-22.htm">Jeremiah 4:22</a> 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.<a href="/jeremiah/22-16.htm">Jeremiah 22:16</a> He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.<a href="/judges/2-10.htm">Judges 2:10</a> 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.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/3-13.htm">Acknowledge</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-17.htm">Affirmation</a> <a href="/isaiah/65-12.htm">Bend</a> <a href="/isaiah/60-14.htm">Bent</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-2.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-2.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-3.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-28.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-2.htm">False.</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-8.htm">Falsehood</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-25.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-15.htm">Good</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-28.htm">Grown</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-4.htm">Lies</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-16.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-22.htm">Prevail</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-4.htm">Proceed</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-4.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/isaiah/60-21.htm">Shoot</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-18.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-16.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-3.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-18.htm">Tongues</a> <a href="/isaiah/62-2.htm">Triumph</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-28.htm">Truth</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-7.htm">Valiant</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-27.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/9-6.htm">Acknowledge</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-6.htm">Affirmation</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-9.htm">Bend</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-9.htm">Bent</a> <a href="/jeremiah/13-10.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-24.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-4.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-4.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-5.htm">False.</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-5.htm">Falsehood</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-18.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/10-5.htm">Good</a> <a href="/jeremiah/49-24.htm">Grown</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-5.htm">Lies</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-23.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/jeremiah/15-20.htm">Prevail</a> <a href="/jeremiah/30-19.htm">Proceed</a> <a href="/jeremiah/22-7.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/jeremiah/23-5.htm">Shoot</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-7.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-23.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-5.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-5.htm">Tongues</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-14.htm">Triumph</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-5.htm">Truth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-15.htm">Valiant</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-5.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Jeremiah 9</div>1. <a href="/jeremiah/9-1.htm">Jeremiah laments the people for their manifold sins;</a> 9. <a href="/jeremiah/9-9.htm">and for their judgment.</a> 12. <a href="/jeremiah/9-12.htm">Disobedience is the cause of their bitter calamity.</a> 17. <a href="/jeremiah/9-17.htm">He exhorts to mourn for their destruction;</a> 23. <a href="/jeremiah/9-23.htm">and to trust not in themselves, but in God.</a> 25. <a href="/jeremiah/9-25.htm">He threatens both Jews and Gentiles.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/jeremiah/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>They bend their tongues like bows; This phrase uses the metaphor of a bow to describe the deceitful nature of the people's speech. In ancient warfare, a bow was a weapon of precision and power, symbolizing the intentional and targeted nature of their lies. The imagery suggests that their words are not only false but also harmful and destructive. This metaphor is consistent with other biblical passages that describe the tongue as a powerful tool, such as in <a href="/james/3-5.htm">James 3:5-8</a>, where the tongue is likened to a small fire that can set a forest ablaze.lies prevail over truth in the land. The prevalence of lies over truth indicates a society deeply entrenched in deceit and moral corruption. This reflects the broader context of Jeremiah's ministry, where the people of Judah had turned away from God's commandments and embraced falsehoods. The land, representing the nation of Judah, is characterized by a lack of integrity and righteousness. This situation is reminiscent of <a href="/isaiah/59-14.htm">Isaiah 59:14-15</a>, where truth has stumbled in the streets, and honesty cannot enter. The cultural context of the time shows a society that has rejected divine truth in favor of self-serving deception.For they proceed from evil to evil, This phrase highlights the progressive nature of sin, where one act of evil leads to another. It underscores the idea that sin is not static but grows and multiplies when left unchecked. This progression from evil to evil is a common theme in the Bible, illustrating the depravity of the human heart without God's intervention. In <a href="/romans/1-28.htm">Romans 1:28-32</a>, Paul describes a similar downward spiral of sin, where people are given over to a depraved mind, leading to a cascade of wicked actions.and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. The failure to consider God in their actions is the root cause of the people's moral decay. This phrase emphasizes the importance of acknowledging God in all aspects of life, as seen in <a href="/proverbs/3-5.htm">Proverbs 3:5-6</a>, which advises trusting in the Lord and acknowledging Him in all ways. The declaration by the LORD serves as a divine indictment against the people, highlighting their spiritual blindness and rebellion. This disregard for God is a recurring issue in the history of Israel and Judah, leading to their eventual judgment and exile. The prophetic voice of Jeremiah calls the people back to a covenant relationship with God, urging them to repent and return to Him.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a> A prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. He is known for his lamentations over the spiritual state of the nation. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_people_of_judah.htm">The People of Judah</a> The primary audience of Jeremiah's prophecies. They were in a state of moral and spiritual decline, often turning away from God to idolatry and falsehood. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a> The covenant God of Israel, who is speaking through Jeremiah, expressing His displeasure with the people's deceit and lack of knowledge of Him. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_land_of_judah.htm">The Land of Judah</a> The geographical and spiritual setting of the prophecy, representing the broader context of Israel's covenant relationship with God. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_bow_and_tongue_imagery.htm">The Bow and Tongue Imagery</a> Symbolic language used to describe the deceitful nature of the people's speech, likening their tongues to weapons of war.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_words.htm">The Power of Words</a> Our words can be as destructive as weapons. We must be mindful of how we speak, ensuring our words align with truth and righteousness. <a href="/topical/t/the_prevalence_of_deceit.htm">The Prevalence of Deceit</a> In a world where lies often prevail, Christians are called to be beacons of truth, reflecting God's character in our speech and actions. <a href="/topical/k/knowing_god_personally.htm">Knowing God Personally</a> The root of the people's sin was their lack of knowledge of God. We must prioritize a personal relationship with God, seeking to know Him through His Word and prayer. <a href="/topical/p/progression_of_evil.htm">Progression of Evil</a> Sin often leads to more sin. We must be vigilant in our spiritual lives, confessing and repenting to prevent a downward spiral. <a href="/topical/g/god's_call_to_repentance.htm">God's Call to Repentance</a> Despite the people's waywardness, God's declaration through Jeremiah is a call to return to Him. We should heed His call to repentance and transformation.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_jeremiah_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 9</a> <a href="/q/is_jeremiah_9_4's_claim_realistic_or_exaggerated.htm">In Jeremiah 9:4, is the sweeping claim that brothers deceive each other founded on real social conditions or an exaggerated portrayal? </a> <a href="/q/what_defines_a_false_witness.htm">What defines a false witness?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_job_22_12-14_align_with_god's_omniscience.htm">In Job 22:12-14, Eliphaz suggests God may not see everything; how does this align with other scriptures asserting God's omniscience?</a> <a href="/q/does_romans_11_1_contradict_ot_judgment.htm">Romans 11:1 - Does Paul's claim that God has not rejected Israel contradict Old Testament accounts of divine judgment against Israel?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jeremiah/9.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) Like their bow for lies.--The inserted words turn the boldness of the metaphor into a comparatively tame simile. They bend their tongue to be their bow of lies. The same figure meets us in <a href="/psalms/57-4.htm" title="My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.">Psalm 57:4</a>; <a href="/psalms/58-7.htm" title="Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bends his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.">Psalm 58:7</a>; <a href="/psalms/64-3.htm" title="Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:">Psalm 64:3</a>.They are not valiant for the truth upon the earth.--Better, they are not mighty for truth, i.e., faithfulness, in the land--i.e., they do not rule faithfully. It is not without some regret that we part with a phrase which has gained something of a proverbial character as applied to the champions of speculative truth or abstract right, but the above gives the true meaning of the Hebrew.They know not me.--"Know" in the sense of acknowledging and obeying (<a href="/1_samuel/2-12.htm" title="Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.">1Samuel 2:12</a>; <a href="/job/18-21.htm" title="Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knows not God.">Job 18:21</a>). This was the root evil from which all other evils issued. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 3. - And they bend their tongues, etc.; rather, and they bend their tongue as their bow of falsehood, and they use not their valor in (literally, according to) good faith. There is a sad, stern irony in these words, which remind us of Isaiah's (<a href="/isaiah/5-22.htm">Isaiah 5:22</a>) "valiant men - for drinking wine" and of our own prophet's repetition of himself in <a href="/jeremiah/22-10.htm">Jeremiah 22:10</a>, "Their valor is - untruth." A less pointed form of the same figurative statement is that of the psalmist in <a href="/psalms/64-3.htm">Psalm 64:3</a>. Upon the earth; rather, in the land. The Authorized Version pays very little regard to the context in its rendering of the ambiguous word erec. <a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>“They bend וַֽיַּדְרְכ֤וּ (way·yaḏ·rə·ḵū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1869.htm">Strong's 1869: </a> To tread, to walk, to string a, bow their tongue לְשׁוֹנָם֙ (lə·šō·w·nām) Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> The tongue like their bows; קַשְׁתָּ֣ם (qaš·tām) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7198.htm">Strong's 7198: </a> A bow, for, shooting, the iris lies שֶׁ֔קֶר (še·qer) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8267.htm">Strong's 8267: </a> Deception, disappointment, falsehood instead of וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no truth לֶאֱמוּנָ֖ה (le·’ĕ·mū·nāh) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_530.htm">Strong's 530: </a> Firmness, steadfastness, fidelity prevail גָּבְר֣וּ (gā·ḇə·rū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1396.htm">Strong's 1396: </a> To be strong, to prevail, act insolently in the land, בָאָ֑רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land for כִּי֩ (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction they proceed יָצָ֛אוּ (yā·ṣā·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> To go, bring, out, direct and proxim from evil מֵרָעָ֨ה (mê·rā·‘āh) Preposition-m | Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> Bad, evil to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to evil, רָעָ֧ה ׀ (rā·‘āh) Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> Bad, evil and they do not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no take Me into account,” יָדָ֖עוּ (yā·ḏā·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> To know declares נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5002.htm">Strong's 5002: </a> An oracle the LORD. יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/jeremiah/9-3.htm">Jeremiah 9:3 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-3.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 9:3 They bend their tongue as it were (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/9-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 9:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 9:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/9-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 9:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 9:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>