Jeremiah 12:6
4 How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.”
5 “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?
Even your brothers— your own father’s household— even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
7 I have forsaken My house; I have abandoned My inheritance. I have given the love of My life into the hands of her enemies.
8 My inheritance has become to Me like a lion in the forest. She has roared against Me; therefore I hate her.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Even your brothers— your own father’s household— even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
- KJV
- For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
- WEB
- For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you! Even they have cried aloud after you! Don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.
- ASV
- For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; even they have cried aloud after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
- DARBY
- For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee, even they have cried aloud after thee. Believe them not, though they speak good [words] unto thee.
- BLB
- For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you, even they have called a multitude after you. Do not have faith in them, even though they may speak good things to you!
- ÅB
- For selv dine brødre og din fars hus, selv de er troløse mot deg, selv de skriker etter deg av full hals; tro dem ikke når de taler fagre ord til deg!
- OTB
- Selv dine brødre og din fars hus, selv de har forrådt deg; de har ropt høyt mot deg. Stol ikke på dem, selv om de taler vennlig til deg.”
- B1930
- For selv dine brødre og din fars hus, selv de er troløse mot dig, selv de skriker efter dig av full hals; tro dem ikke når de taler fagre ord til dig!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 26:25
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
Read in contextPsalms 12:2
They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
Read in contextJeremiah 9:4
“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
Read in contextMicah 7:5–6
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.
Read in contextGenesis 37:4–11
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Read in contextMatthew 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.
Read in contextJeremiah 11:19
For I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter; I did not know that they had plotted against me: “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more.”
Read in contextPsalms 69:8
I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,
Read in context