Bible Strands
Jeremiah 9:4
“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jeremiah addresses the people of Judah during a period of systemic moral collapse, warning them that societal breakdown has reached a point where communal bonds are completely fractured.
The words — אִ֤ישׁ ('ish) translates literally as "each" or "every man," emphasizing that the warning applies universally to all individuals. תִּבְטָ֑חוּ (tiv.Ta.chu) means "you shall trust" or "you shall rely," functioning as a negative imperative prohibiting reliance on human relationships.
The thread — This theme of relational betrayal and the command to cease trusting companions appears in Micah 7:5, Proverbs 26:24, and Psalm 12:2.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to recognize that when deceit becomes the cultural norm, self-preservation requires withholding trust from neighbors and relatives. It demands a sober assessment of human reliability rather than a call to isolation.
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
Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
Cross-references
- Micah 7:5 Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
- Proverbs 26:24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
- Psalms 12:2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
- Leviticus 19:16 You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
- Proverbs 10:18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
- Proverbs 25:18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
- Jeremiah 6:28 All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.
- Psalms 15:3 who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,
- Proverbs 6:16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
- Matthew 10:21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.