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Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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New Life Version

Jeremiah 8:8

"How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the Law of the Lord is with us'? See, the lying hand of the writers has made it into a lie.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Blindness;   Church;   Impenitence;   Pen;   Self-Righteousness;   Wisdom;   Thompson Chain Reference - Pens;   Scribes;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Lie;   Scribes;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Pentateuch;   Scribes;   Writing;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jeremiah;   Sin;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Pen;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Writing;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Scribes;   Writing;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ezra;   Jeremiah (2);   Wisdom;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Jeremiah;   Wisdom;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“How can you claim, ‘We are wise;the law of the Lord is with us’?In fact, the lying pen of scribeshas produced falsehood.
Hebrew Names Version
How do you say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the Sofrim has worked falsely.
King James Version
How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
English Standard Version
"How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.
New American Standard Bible
"How can you say, 'We are wise, And the Law of the LORD is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes Has made it into a lie.
New Century Version
"‘You keep saying, "We are wise, because we have the teachings of the Lord ." But actually, those who explain the Scriptures have written lies with their pens.
Amplified Bible
"How can you say, 'We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us [and we are learned in its language and teachings]'? Behold, [the truth is that] the lying pen of the scribes Has made the law into a lie [a mere code of ceremonial observances].
World English Bible
How do you say, We are wise, and the law of Yahweh is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has worked falsely.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Howe doe yee say, Wee are wise, and the Lawe of the Lorde is with vs? Loe, certeinly in vaine made hee it, the penne of the scribes is in vaine.
Legacy Standard Bible
"How can you say, ‘We are wise,And the law of Yahweh is with us'?But behold, the lying pen of the scribesHas made it into a lie.
Berean Standard Bible
How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us?' But in fact, the lying pen of the scribes has produced a deception.
Contemporary English Version
You say, "We are wise because we have the teachings and laws of the Lord ." But I say that your teachers have turned my words into lies!
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘How can you say, "We are wise; Adonai 's Torah is with us," when in fact the lying pen of the scribes has turned it into falsehood?
Darby Translation
How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? Behold, certainly the lying pen of the scribes hath made it falsehood.
Easy-to-Read Version
"‘You keep saying, "We have the Lord 's teachings. So we are wise!" But this is not true, because the scribes have lied with their pens.
George Lamsa Translation
How do you say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, surely the lying pen of the scribes has made it for falsehood.
Good News Translation
How can you say that you are wise and that you know my laws? Look, the laws have been changed by dishonest scribes.
Lexham English Bible
How can you say, ‘We are wise and the law of Yahweh is with us'? Look, surely the lying stylus of the scribes has made it a lie.
Literal Translation
How do you say, We are wise, and the Law of Jehovah is with us? Behold, the lying pen of the scribes has certainly worked deceit.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
How darre ye saye then: we are wise, we haue the lawe of the LORDE amonge vs? Beholde, the disceatfull penne of the scrybes, setteth forth lies:
American Standard Version
How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely.
Bible in Basic English
How is it that you say, We are wise and the law of the Lord is with us? But see, the false pen of the scribes has made it false.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
How do ye say: 'We are wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us'? Lo, certainly in vain hath wrought the vain pen of the scribes.
King James Version (1611)
How doe ye say, We are wise, and the Law of the Lord is with vs? Loe, certainly, in vaine made he it, the pen of the scribes is in vaine.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howe dare ye say then, we are wyse, we haue the lawe of the Lorde among vs? Truely in vayne hath he prepared his penne, and vainely haue the writers written it.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
How will ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? In vain have the scribes used a false pen.
English Revised Version
How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Hou seien ye, We ben wise men, and the lawe of the Lord is with vs? Verili the fals writyng of scribis wrouyte leesyng.
Update Bible Version
How do you say, We are wise, and the law of Yahweh is with us? But, look, the false pen of the scribes has wrought falsely.
Webster's Bible Translation
How do ye say, We [are] wise, and the law of the LORD [is] with us? Lo, certainly in vain he hath made [it]; the pen of the scribes [is] in vain.
New English Translation
How can you say, "We are wise! We have the law of the Lord "? The truth is, those who teach it have used their writings to make it say what it does not really mean.
New King James Version
"How can you say, "We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us'? Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood.
New Living Translation
"‘How can you say, "We are wise because we have the word of the Lord ," when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies?
New Revised Standard
How can you say, "We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us," when, in fact, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
How can ye say, Wise, are, we, And the law of Yahweh, is with us? But indeed lo! falsely, hath dealt the false pen of the scribes!
Douay-Rheims Bible
How do you say: We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Indeed the lying pens of the scribes hath wrought falsehood.
Revised Standard Version
"How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us'? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.
Young's Literal Translation
How do ye say, We [are] wise, And the law of Jehovah [is] with us? Surely, lo, falsely it hath wrought, The false pen of scribes.
THE MESSAGE
"‘How can you say, "We know the score. We're the proud owners of God 's revelation"? Look where it's gotten you—stuck in illusion. Your religion experts have taken you for a ride! Your know-it-alls will be unmasked, caught and shown up for what they are. Look at them! They know everything but God 's Word. Do you call that "knowing"?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"How can you say, 'We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes Has made it into a lie.

Contextual Overview

4 "You will say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: "Do men fall and not get up again? Does one turn away and not return? 5 Why then have the people of Jerusalem always turned away from Me? They hold on to what is false, and will not return. 6 I have listened and heard, but they have not said what is right. No man turned from his sinful way, saying, ‘What have I done?' Every one turns to his own way like a horse running into battle. 7 Even the stork in the sky knows her times. And the turtle-dove, crane, and swallow keep the time of their coming. But My people do not know the Law of the Lord. 8 "How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the Law of the Lord is with us'? See, the lying hand of the writers has made it into a lie. 9 The wise men are put to shame. They are troubled and taken. See, they have turned away from the Word of the Lord, and what kind of wisdom do they have? 10 So I will give their wives to others, and their fields to new owners. Because from the least to the greatest, every one is always wanting much. From the man of God to the religious leader, no one can be trusted in what he does. 11 They have healed the hurt of My people very little, saying, ‘Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. 12 Were they ashamed because of the hated sin they had done? They were not ashamed at all. They did not even know how to turn red. So they will fall among those who fall. When I punish them, they will be put down," says the Lord.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

We: Job 5:12, Job 5:13, Job 11:12, Job 12:20, John 9:41, Romans 1:22, Romans 2:17-29, 1 Corinthians 3:18-20

the law: Psalms 147:19, Hosea 8:12

Lo: Matthew 15:6

in vain: etc. or, the false pen of the scribes worketh for falsehood, Proverbs 17:6, Isaiah 10:1, Isaiah 10:2

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 15:31 - turn the counsel 1 Chronicles 2:55 - the scribes 2 Chronicles 34:13 - scribes 2 Chronicles 34:14 - the law Ezra 7:6 - scribe Nehemiah 8:1 - Ezra Psalms 119:99 - than all Psalms 119:100 - because Psalms 119:126 - they Jeremiah 2:8 - and they that Jeremiah 48:14 - How Hosea 4:6 - because Matthew 2:4 - scribes Matthew 6:23 - If Mark 7:13 - the word Luke 7:30 - rejected Luke 11:35 - General John 3:10 - Art Romans 2:23 - that makest Romans 3:31 - do we 1 Corinthians 4:10 - are wise 2 Corinthians 6:1 - ye Galatians 2:21 - Christ 1 Timothy 1:7 - understanding

Cross-References

Genesis 8:10
He waited another seven days, and sent the dove from the boat again.
Genesis 8:11
The dove returned to him in the evening. In her mouth was an olive leaf that had just been picked. So Noah knew that the water had gone from the earth.
Genesis 8:12
Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove. But she did not return to him again.
Song of Solomon 1:15
"How beautiful you are, my love! How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves."
Song of Solomon 2:14
O my dove, hidden in the rock, in the secret place in the mountain-side, let me see you. Let me hear your voice. For your voice is sweet, and you are beautiful.
Matthew 10:16
"I am sending you out like sheep with wolves all around you. Be wise like snakes and gentle like doves.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How do ye say, we are wise,.... Which they were continually boasting of, though they were ignorant of the judgment of the Lord, and were more stupid than the stork, turtle, crane, and swallow:

and the law of the Lord is with us? this was the foundation of their boast, because the law was given to them, and not to the nations of the world, which knew not God, and therefore they must be a wise and understanding people; and this law continued with them, they had it in their synagogues, and in their houses, and read it, and heard, or at least they might and ought to have heard and read it, and in this they trusted; of this character and cast were the Jews in the times of Christ and his apostles, Romans 2:17 to which agrees the Targum,

"how say ye, we are wise, and in the law of the Lord we trust?''

Lo, certainly in vain made he it; either the law, which was made or given in vain by the Lord to this people, since they made no better use of it, and valued themselves upon having it, without acting according to it; or the pen of the scribe, which was made by him in vain to write it, as follows:

the pen of the scribes is in vain; in vain, and to no purpose, were the scribes employed in writing out copies of the law, when either it was not heard or read, or however the things it enjoined were not put in practice; or the pen of the scribes was in vain, when employed in writing out false copies of the law, or false glosses and interpretations of it, such as were made by the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's time, and the fathers before them, by whose traditions the word of God was made of none effect: and so the Targum,

"therefore, lo, in vain the scribe hath made the lying pen to falsify;''

that is, the Scriptures. The words may be rendered,

"verily, behold, with a lie he wrought; the pen: is the lie of the scribes h.''

h אכן הנה לשקר עשה עט שקר ספרים "utique ecce, mendacio operatus est; stylus mendacium scribarum est", Schmidt. Approved by Reinbeck. De Accent. Heb. p. 435.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The law of the Lord - The “Torah,” or written law, the possession of which made the priests and prophets so boastfully exclaim, “We are wise.”

Lo, certainly ... - Rather, Verily, lo! the lying pen “of the scribes” hath made it - the Law - into a lie. The mention of “scribes” in this place is a crucial point in the argument whether or not the Pentateuch or Torah is the old law-book of the Jews, or a fabrication which gradually grew up, but was not received as authoritative until after the return from the captivity. It is not until the time of Josiah 2 Chronicles 34:13 that “scribes” are mentioned except as political officers; here, however, they are students of the Torah. The Torah must have existed in writing before there could have been an order of men whose special business it was to study it; and therefore to explain this verse by saying that perhaps the scribes were writers of false prophecies written in imitation of the true, is to lose the whole gist of the passage. What the scribes turned into a lie was that Law of which they had just boasted that they were the possessors. Moreover, the scribes undeniably became possessed of preponderating influence during the exile: and on the return from Babylon were powerful enough to prevent the restoration of the kingly office. That there should be along with the priests and Levites men who devoted themselves to the study of the written Law, and who in the time of Josiah had acquired such influence as to be recognized as a distinct class - is just what we should expect from the rapid progress of learning, which began with Elisha’s active management of the schools of the prophets, and culminated in the days of Hezekiah. Jeremiah’s whole argument depends upon the fact that there were in his days men who claimed to be “wise” or “learned” men because of their study of the Pentateuch, and is entirely inconsistent with the assumptions that Jeremiah wrote the book of Deuteronomy, and that Ezra wrote parts of Exodus and the whole of Leviticus.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 8:8. The pen of the scribes is in vain. — The deceitful pen of the scribes. They have written falsely, though they had the truth before them. It is too bold an assertion to say that "the Jews have never falsified the sacred oracles;" they have done it again and again. They have written falsities when they knew they were such.


 
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