Jeremiah 9:3
New International Version
“They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me,” declares the LORD.

New Living Translation
“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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
“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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“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.

New American Standard Bible
“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.

NASB 1995
“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.

NASB 1977
“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.

Legacy Standard Bible
“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.

Amplified Bible
“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.

Christian Standard Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
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.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
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."

International Standard Version
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.

Majority Standard Bible
?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.

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
"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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
“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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“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!

Young's Literal Translation
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!

Smith's Literal Translation
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.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
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.

New American Bible
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.

New Revised Standard Version
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.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
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
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Lament over Zion
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“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. 4“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.…

Cross References
Psalm 64:3
who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

Hosea 7:16
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.

Isaiah 59:4
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.

Psalm 12:2-4
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?”

Romans 3:13-14
“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.”

James 3:6-8
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.

Isaiah 59:13
rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.

Psalm 52:2-4
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.

Micah 6:12
For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

Proverbs 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Ephesians 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.

Zechariah 8:16-17
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.

Psalm 120:2-3
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?

1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

Isaiah 5:20
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.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Jeremiah 9:5,8
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…

Psalm 52:2-4
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully…

Psalm 64:3,4
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: …

valiant.

Matthew 10:31-33
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows…

Mark 8:38
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.

Romans 1:16
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.

Jeremiah 7:26
Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

they know.

Jeremiah 4:22
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.

Jeremiah 22:16
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.

Judges 2:10
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.

Jump to Previous
Acknowledge Affirmation Bend Bent Bow Earth Evil Faith False. Falsehood Forth Good Grown Lies Mighty Prevail Proceed Ready Shoot Sin Strong Tongue Tongues Triumph Truth Valiant Words
Jump to Next
Acknowledge Affirmation Bend Bent Bow Earth Evil Faith False. Falsehood Forth Good Grown Lies Mighty Prevail Proceed Ready Shoot Sin Strong Tongue Tongues Triumph Truth Valiant Words
Jeremiah 9
1. Jeremiah laments the people for their manifold sins;
9. and for their judgment.
12. Disobedience is the cause of their bitter calamity.
17. He exhorts to mourn for their destruction;
23. and to trust not in themselves, but in God.
25. He threatens both Jews and Gentiles.














They bend their tongues like their bows
The imagery of bending tongues like bows is a powerful metaphor that conveys the deliberate and skillful manipulation of words to cause harm. In the Hebrew context, the word for "bend" (Hebrew: "דָּרַךְ" - darak) is often used in the context of preparing a bow for shooting. This suggests a premeditated action, where the tongue is used as a weapon. Historically, the bow was a common weapon of war, symbolizing strength and precision. Here, the tongue, an instrument of speech, is likened to a bow, indicating the destructive potential of deceitful words. This metaphor underscores the seriousness of falsehood and the intentional nature of deceit among the people.

lies instead of truth prevail in the land
The contrast between lies and truth highlights the moral decay present in the society Jeremiah addresses. The Hebrew word for "lies" (שֶׁקֶר - sheker) implies falsehood, deception, and betrayal. In contrast, "truth" (אֱמֶת - emet) is associated with faithfulness, reliability, and integrity. The phrase "prevail in the land" suggests that deceit has become widespread and dominant, overshadowing truth. This reflects a societal condition where falsehood is not only common but accepted, leading to a breakdown of trust and justice. The historical context of Jeremiah's time was marked by political instability and spiritual decline, making this indictment particularly poignant.

for they proceed from evil to evil
This phrase indicates a progression or escalation of wickedness. The Hebrew word for "proceed" (יָצָא - yatsa) means to go out or come forth, suggesting a continuous movement or development. "Evil" (רָעָה - ra'ah) in this context refers to moral corruption and wrongdoing. The repetition of "evil" emphasizes the depth and persistence of their sinful behavior. This progression from one evil to another signifies a deepening entrenchment in sin, where each act of wickedness leads to further moral degradation. It reflects a society that is not only stagnant in its sinfulness but actively moving towards greater corruption.

and they do not know Me,” declares the LORD
The phrase "they do not know Me" is a profound statement about the spiritual condition of the people. The Hebrew word for "know" (יָדַע - yada) implies an intimate, experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual awareness. This lack of knowledge of God indicates a broken relationship, where the people have turned away from understanding and acknowledging God's character and will. The declaration by the LORD (יהוה - Yahweh) adds weight to this indictment, as it comes from the covenant God of Israel, who desires a personal relationship with His people. This lack of knowledge is the root cause of their moral and spiritual failings, as knowing God is foundational to living a life of truth and righteousness.

(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 Psalm 57:4; Psalm 58:7; Psalm 64:3.

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 (1Samuel 2:12; Job 18:21). This was the root evil from which all other evils issued. . . .

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 (Isaiah 5:22) "valiant men - for drinking wine" and of our own prophet's repetition of himself in Jeremiah 22:10, "Their valor is - untruth." A less pointed form of the same figurative statement is that of the psalmist in Psalm 64:3. 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.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“They bend
וַֽיַּדְרְכ֤וּ (way·yaḏ·rə·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1869: To tread, to walk, to string a, bow

their tongue
לְשׁוֹנָם֙ (lə·šō·w·nām)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3956: The tongue

like their bows;
קַשְׁתָּ֣ם (qaš·tām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7198: A bow, for, shooting, the iris

lies
שֶׁ֔קֶר (še·qer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8267: Deception, disappointment, falsehood

instead of
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

truth
לֶאֱמוּנָ֖ה (le·’ĕ·mū·nāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 530: Firmness, steadfastness, fidelity

prevail
גָּבְר֣וּ (gā·ḇə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1396: To be strong, to prevail, act insolently

in the land,
בָאָ֑רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

for
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they proceed
יָצָ֛אוּ (yā·ṣā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

from evil
מֵרָעָ֨ה (mê·rā·‘āh)
Preposition-m | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

evil,
רָעָ֧ה ׀ (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

and they do not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

take Me into account,”
יָדָ֖עוּ (yā·ḏā·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3045: To know

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


Links
Jeremiah 9:3 NIV
Jeremiah 9:3 NLT
Jeremiah 9:3 ESV
Jeremiah 9:3 NASB
Jeremiah 9:3 KJV

Jeremiah 9:3 BibleApps.com
Jeremiah 9:3 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 9:3 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 9:3 French Bible
Jeremiah 9:3 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 9:3 They bend their tongue as it were (Jer.)
Jeremiah 9:2
Top of Page
Top of Page