Jeremiah 9:4-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 9:4

Take ye heed every one of his neighbor . Such was the result of clinging to an unprogressive religion—one which refused to be spiritualized by the prophets. Certainly, if the established religion was so inefficacious, it was self-condemned. Hero we find the prophet depicting a state of society in which the elementary bonds are already dissolved, and suspicion becomes the natural attitude even of a good man. We find a very similar picture in the last chapter of Micah—a chapter, it is true,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 9:4-8

Falsehood. I. SIN CULMINATES IN UNIVERSAL FALSEHOOD . The intellectual aspect of sin is untruth. Every sin is a lie. The triumph of sin is the overthrow of all truth and trust. II. FALSE RELATIONS WITH GOD LEAN TO FALSE RELATIONS WITH MEN . Religion and morality mutually influence each other. The worship of a god known to be false develops a life of falseness. The hypocritical service of God is likely to be accompanied by dishonest dealings with men. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 9:4-8

The social bond a rope of sand. This is very strong language for a man to use concerning the society in which he lives, but it harmonizes with the strength of the language which the prophet has been using with respect to himself in Jeremiah 9:1 , Jeremiah 9:2 . A very bad state of things cannot be described by mild words. Such descriptions as that in this passage make plain how just and necessary the impending desolation of Jerusalem was. He who has just expressed such wishes for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 9:5

They have taught their tongue , etc.; again an intimation of the unnaturalness (in the higher sense) of vice (comp. on Jeremiah 2:33 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 9:6

Thine habitation , etc. According to St. Jerome, this is addressed to the prophet; but it is better to follow the Targum, which makes the clause refer to the Jewish people. The connection is (as Dr. Payne Smith points out)," Trust no one; for thou dwellest surrounded by deceit on every side." read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 9:2-9

From their punishment the prophet now turns to their sins.Jeremiah 9:2The 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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 9:4-6

Jeremiah 9:4-6. Take ye heed every one of his neighbour Or, of his friend, as רעהו rather signifies; of him who pretends friendship to him, or whom he has befriended. And trust ye not in a brother Against whom you must stand as much upon your guard as if you were dealing with a stranger. For every brother will utterly supplant Will deceive, overreach, and take all possible advantage of his nearest relation; and every neighbour Or friend, rather, as before; will walk with slanders... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:1-22

Mourning for Judah (8:18-9:22)The prophet is overcome with grief as he foresees the tragic end of the nation. The people wonder why God their King does not save them. God replies that it is because of their idolatry. They now realize that they can no longer expect his salvation (18-20). Nothing can heal Judah’s spiritual sickness now; the end has come. And nothing can heal the wounds of grief in Jeremiah’s heart as he sees his people suffer (21-22).Jeremiah is unable to express the extent of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jeremiah 9:4

neighbour = friend. trust ye not = do not confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 . every brother . . . supplant. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 25:26 ; Genesis 27:36 ). App-92 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Jeremiah 9:4

"Take ye heed everyone of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders. And they will deceive everyone his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith Jehovah.""Trust ye not in any brother ..." (Jeremiah 9:4). Some have been critical of... read more

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