Bible Strands
Jeremiah 7:8
But look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jeremiah addresses the people of Judah in the temple court, immediately following God’s conditional promise to let them remain in the land if they amend their conduct. He confronts their false security as they prepare to repeat the sins enumerated in the surrounding verses.
The words — The Hebrew בֹּטְחִים (bo.te.Chim) means "relying" or "trusting," paired with עַל־דִּבְרֵי הַשֶּׁקֶר (al-divrei ha-sha.qer), "on the words of deception." The phrase לְבִלְתִּי הוֹעִיל (le-vilti ho.'il) literally renders "to no profit" or "to no avail," emphasizing the futility of their trust.
The thread — This theme of futile trust in false assurances appears in Isaiah 28:15 regarding a covenant with death, Isaiah 30:10 where leaders demand pleasant messages instead of truth, and Jeremiah 4:10 where a promise of peace proves deceptive.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers examine the foundation of their security, recognizing that reliance on misleading promises yields no lasting benefit. It requires a direct assessment of whether one’s trust rests on verifiable truth or empty assurances.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 28:15 For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”
- Isaiah 30:10 They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
- Jeremiah 4:10 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, how completely You have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at our throats.”
- Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
- Jeremiah 7:4 Do not trust in deceptive words, saying: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
- Jeremiah 8:10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
- Jeremiah 14:13 “Ah, Lord GOD!” I replied, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’”
- Jeremiah 23:14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
- Jeremiah 23:26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the delusion of their own minds?
- Jeremiah 23:32 “Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD.