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 4:10 ►

New International Version
Then I said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD! How completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ when the sword is at our throats!”

New Living Translation
Then I said, “O Sovereign LORD, the people have been deceived by what you said, for you promised peace for Jerusalem. But the sword is held at their throats!”

English Standard Version
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, surely you have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘It shall be well with you,’ whereas the sword has reached their very life.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

New King James Version
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Surely You have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, Saying, ‘You shall have peace,’ Whereas the sword reaches to the heart.”

New American Standard Bible
Then I said, “Oh, Lord GOD! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace’; yet a sword touches the throat.”

NASB 1995
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace’ whereas a sword touches the throat.”

NASB 1977
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Surely Thou hast utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace’; whereas a sword touches the throat.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace’; whereas a sword touches the throat.”

Amplified Bible
Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Surely You have completely deceived and misled this people and Jerusalem, [for the prophets represented You as] saying [to Your people], ‘You will have peace,’ but [in fact] a sword reaches to their throat.”

Christian Standard Bible
I said, “Oh no, Lord GOD, you have certainly deceived this people and Jerusalem, by announcing, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at our throats.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I said, “Oh no, Lord GOD, You have certainly deceived this people and Jerusalem, by announcing, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at our throats.”

American Standard Version
Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the life.

Contemporary English Version
I said, "You are the LORD God. So why have you fooled everyone, especially the people of Jerusalem? Why did you promise peace, when a knife is at our throats?"

English Revised Version
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I said, "Almighty LORD, you certainly have deceived these people and Jerusalem. You said that everything would go well for them, but a sword is held at their throats."

Good News Translation
Then I said, "Sovereign LORD, you have completely deceived the people of Jerusalem! You have said there would be peace, but a sword is at their throats."

International Standard Version
Then I replied, "Ah, Lord GOD, you have completely deceived this people and Jerusalem when you said, 'You will have peace,' while the sword is at their throat!"

Majority Standard Bible
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.?

NET Bible
In response to all this I said, "Ah, Lord GOD, you have surely allowed the people of Judah and Jerusalem to be deceived by those who say, 'You will be safe!' But in fact a sword is already at our throats."

New Heart English Bible
Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD. Surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, 'You shall have peace;' whereas the sword reaches to the heart."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth to the soul.

World English Bible
Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace;’ whereas the sword reaches to the heart.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And I say, “Aah! Lord YHWH, "" Surely you have entirely forgotten this people and Jerusalem, "" Saying, Peace is for you, "" And a sword has struck to the soul!”

Young's Literal Translation
And I say, 'Ah, Lord Jehovah, Surely thou hast entirely forgotten this people and Jerusalem, saying, Peace is for you, And struck hath a sword unto the soul!'

Smith's Literal Translation
And saying, Ah, Lord Jehovah! surely, deceiving, thou didst deceive to this people and to Jerusalem, saying, Peace shall be to you; and the sword reached even to the soul.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God, hast thou then deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying: You shall have peace: and behold the sword reacheth even to the soul?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I said: “Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God! Could it be that you have deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying: ‘Peace shall be yours,’ while, behold, the sword reaches even to the soul?”

New American Bible
“Ah! Lord GOD,” they will say, “You really did deceive us When you said: You shall have peace, while the sword was at our very throats.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, how utterly you have deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘It shall be well with you,’ even while the sword is at the throat!”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then I said, I beseech thee, O LORD God, surely I have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem; for I have said, You shall have peace; and behold, the sword reaches into the soul.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I said: “I beg you, LORD JEHOVAH God, I have truly deceived this people and I said to Jerusalem: you shall have peace, and behold, you have brought a sword unto the soul!”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said I: 'Ah, Lord GOD! surely Thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying: Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I said, O sovereign Lord, verily thou hast deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, There shall be peace; whereas behold, the sword has reached even to their soul.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Disaster from the North
…9“In that day,” declares the LORD, “the king and officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear, and the prophets will be astounded.” 10Then 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.” 11At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A searing wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward the daughter of My people, but not to winnow or to sift;…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Ezekiel 13:10
Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built,

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.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-11
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. / For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,

Jeremiah 6:14
They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Jeremiah 8:11
They dress the wound of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Jeremiah 14:13-14
“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.’” / “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Lamentations 2:14
The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.

Ezekiel 13:16
those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw a vision of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.’

Isaiah 9:15-16
The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies. / For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.

2 Peter 2:1-3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Treasury of Scripture

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, You shall have peace; whereas the sword reaches to the soul.

Jeremiah 1:6
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

Jeremiah 14:13
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.

Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

surely

Jeremiah 14:13,14
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place…

1 Kings 22:20-23
And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner…

Isaiah 63:17
O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

ye shall have

Jeremiah 5:12
They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

Jeremiah 6:14
They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 8:11
For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

the sword

Jeremiah 4:18
Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

Exodus 9:14
For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

Lamentations 2:21
The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied.

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Ah Alas Completely Deceived Entirely Forgotten Greatly Jerusalem Life Peace Reached Reaches Reacheth Soul Sovereign Struck Surely Sword Throat Throats Touches True. Utterly Whereas Words

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Jeremiah 4

1. God calls Israel by his promise
3. He exhorts Judah to repentance by fearful judgments
19. A grievous lamentation for Judah

Berean Study Bible

Then I said
This phrase introduces a personal lament from the prophet Jeremiah. The Hebrew word for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which often conveys a deep, personal communication. Jeremiah is expressing a heartfelt cry, indicating the depth of his relationship with God and his role as an intermediary for the people. This reflects the intimate and often burdensome role of a prophet, who must convey God's messages even when they are difficult or misunderstood.

Ah, Lord GOD
The exclamation "Ah" (Hebrew: "אֲהָהּ", ahah) is a cry of distress or lament. It reveals Jeremiah's emotional turmoil and the gravity of the situation. "Lord GOD" is a translation of "Adonai Yahweh," emphasizing both the sovereignty and the covenantal relationship of God with His people. This dual title underscores the tension between God's authority and His promises, which Jeremiah is grappling with.

how completely You have deceived
The Hebrew root for "deceived" is "נָשָׁא" (nasha), which can mean to lead astray or to allow to be misled. This is a challenging phrase, as it seems to accuse God of deception. However, from a conservative Christian perspective, it is understood as Jeremiah expressing his confusion and anguish over the apparent contradiction between God's promises of peace and the reality of impending judgment. It highlights the complexity of divine providence and human perception.

this people and Jerusalem
"People" refers to the nation of Israel, and "Jerusalem" is the capital city, representing the heart of the nation's spiritual and political life. Historically, Jerusalem was the center of worship and the location of the Temple, making it significant in God's covenant with Israel. The mention of both emphasizes the widespread impact of the perceived deception and the impending judgment.

by saying, ‘You will have peace,’
The promise of "peace" (Hebrew: "שָׁלוֹם", shalom) is central to the covenantal blessings expected by Israel. Shalom encompasses not just the absence of conflict but also completeness, welfare, and harmony. The expectation of peace was based on the people's understanding of God's promises, yet their disobedience and idolatry had led them away from the conditions of those promises.

when a sword is at our throats
The "sword" symbolizes imminent danger and judgment, often used in prophetic literature to denote warfare and destruction. The imagery of a sword "at our throats" conveys the urgency and severity of the threat facing Jerusalem. Historically, this refers to the Babylonian threat, which was a direct consequence of the nation's unfaithfulness. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commands.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) Ah, Lord God! (literally, my Lord Jehovah!) surely thou hast greatly deceived this people.--The words are startling, but are eminently characteristic. Jeremiah had been led to utter words that told of desolation and destruction. But if these were true, what was he to think of the words of the other prophets, who, speaking in the name of the Lord, had promised peace through the reign of Josiah, and even under Jehoiakim? Had not Jehovah apparently sanctioned those prophets also? and, if so, had He not deceived the people? (Comp. Jeremiah 20:7.) This seems, on the whole, preferable to the interpretations which see in it a dramatic irony representing the prophet as having shared in the hopes of the people and awakening to a terrible disappointment, or refer the words to the contrast between the glorious visions of the future in Isaiah and his own terrible predictions, or to the bolder course of an alteration of the text, so that the words would run "it is said," the complaint being represented as coming from the people.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 10. - Ah, Lord God! rather, Alas! O Lord Jehovah (see on Jeremiah 1:6). Thou hast greatly deceived this people, etc. Much difficulty has been felt in interpreting this verse, partly because it seems directly to charge Jehovah with "deceit," and partly because the prophecy, Ye shall have peace, on which this charge is founded, accords exactly with the strain of the "false prophets" (see Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 14:13; Jeremiah 23:17). Hence some (e.g., Ewald) have altered the points of the verb at the beginning of the verse., so as to enable them to render. "And one shall say," the subject understood being either a "false prophet" or one of the people. This view is not in itself impossible (Keil's objection will not bear examination), but is not absolutely necessary, for the present is not the only passage in which Jeremiah, under the influence of strong emotion, charges Jehovah with "deceit" (see Jeremiah 20:7, a synonymous word is used; and comp. 1 Kings 22:23), and the words, "Ye shall have peace, may be meant to summarize the cheering promises in Jeremiah 3:14-18. Jeremiah may (it is not incorrect to conjecture) have supposed the fulfillment of his prophecy to be nearer than it really was (comp. 1 Peter 1:11); hence his disappointment, and hence his strong language. So St. Jerome, "Quia supra dixerat, In illo tempore vocabunt Jerusalem solium Dei, etc.. et nunc dicit, Peribit cor regis, turbatur propheta et in se Deum putat esse meutitum; nec intelligit, illud multa post tempera repromissum, hoc autem vicino futurum tempore." To suppose, with Keil, that Jeremiah refers the prophecies of the "false prophets" to God as their ultimate Author, seems inconsistent with Jeremiah's own statements in Jeremiah 14:14 (comp. Jeremiah 5:13). Moreover, we have parallels elsewhere in the prophets, as well as in the Book of Job, for the use of language with regard to Providence which a calmer judgment would condemn. A notable instance is Isaiah 63:17, where the Jewish Church, through its mouthpiece the prophet, throws the responsibility of its errors upon Jehovah. Depressed by melancholy, they give way for the moment to those human "thoughts" which are not as "My thoughts." They felt the "burden of the mystery." Unto the soul; i.e. unto the life.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then I said,
וָאֹמַ֞ר (wā·’ō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Ah,
אֲהָ֣הּ ׀ (’ă·hāh)
Interjection
Strong's 162: Alas!

Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD,
יְהוִ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

how completely
אָכֵן֩ (’ā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 403: Firmly, surely, but

You have deceived
הַשֵּׁ֨א (haš·šê)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5377: To lead astray, to delude, to seduce

this
הַזֶּה֙ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

people
לָעָ֤ם (lā·‘ām)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and Jerusalem
וְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֣ם (wə·lî·rū·šā·lim)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

by saying,
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘You will have
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

peace,’
שָׁל֖וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

when a sword
חֶ֖רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

is at
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

our throats.”
הַנָּֽפֶשׁ׃ (han·nā·p̄eš)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 4:10 Then said I Ah Lord Yahweh! (Jer.)