Jeremiah 7 · Verse 4

Jeremiah 7:4

Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these.
Jeremiah 7:4, King James Version

Jeremiah 7:4 in other translations

BSBDo not trust in deceptive words, chanting: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
WEBDon’t trust in lying words, saying, ‘The LORD’s temple, the LORD’s temple, the LORD’s temple, are these.’
ASVTrust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, are these.
YLTDo not trust for yourselves Unto the words of falsehood, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, The temple of Jehovah are they!
DARBYConfide ye not in words of falsehood, saying, Jehovah's temple, Jehovah's temple, Jehovah's temple is this.
BBEPut no faith in false words, saying, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, are these.
WebsterTrust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.

What does Jeremiah 7:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. The Jews falsely thought that because their temple had been chosen by Jehovah as His peculiar dwelling, it could never be destroyed. Men think that ceremonial observances will supersede the need of holiness (Is 48:2; Mi 3:11). The triple repetition of "the temple of Jehovah" expresses the intense confidence of the Jews (see Jr 22:29; Is 6:3). these--the temple buildings which the prophet points to with his finger (Jr 7:2).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 The temple of the Lord - In the Chaldee the passage stands thus: - "Do not trust in the words of lying prophets, which say, Before the temple of the Lord ye shall worship; Before the temple of the Lord ye shall sacrifice; Before the temple of the Lord ye shall adore; thrice in the year ye shall appear before it." This the Targumist supposes to have been the reason why the words are here thrice repeated. They rather seem to express the conviction which the people had, that they should be safe while their temple service continued; for they supposed that God would not give it up into profane hands. But sacred places and sacred symbols are nothing in the sight of God when the heart is not right with him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 7:1-16

Confidence in the temple is vain. (Jr 7:1-16) The provocation by persisting in idolatry. (Jr 7:17-20) God justifies his dealings with them. (Jr 7:21-28) And threatens vengeance. (Jr 7:29-34) Verses 1-16 No observances, professions, or supposed revelations, will profit, if men do not amend their ways and their doings. None can claim an interest in free salvation, who allow themselves in the practice of known sin, or…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 7:1-16 →

Jeremiah 7:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּבְטְח֣וּtiv.te.Chuyou trustH982
לָכֶ֔םla.Khemfor <the> yourselves
אֶל\־'el-toH413
דִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.Rei<the> words ofH1697
הַשֶּׁ֖קֶרha.She.ker<the> deceptionH8267
לֵאמֹ֑רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
הֵיכַ֤לhei.Khal[the] temple ofH1964
יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahwehH3068
הֵיכַ֣לhei.Khal[the] temple ofH1964
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
הֵיכַ֥לhei.Khal[are] [the] temple ofH1964
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
הֵֽמָּה\׃He.mahtheyH1992

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 7:4

  • Micah 3:11

    The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.

  • Matthew 3:9-10

    And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  • Zephaniah 3:11

    In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

  • Jeremiah 29:31

    Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:

  • Ezekiel 13:19

    And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

  • Luke 3:8

    Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

  • 1 Samuel 4:3-4

    And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

  • Jeremiah 28:15

    Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.

  • Jeremiah 7:8-12

    Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. …

  • 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 29:23

    Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Trust.
8; 6:14; 28:15; 29:23,31; Eze 13:19; Mt 3:9,10
The temple.
9-12; 1Sa 4:3,4; Mic 3:11; Zep 3:11; Lu 3:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 7:3

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.

  • Jeremiah 7:4

    Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these.

  • Jeremiah 7:5

    For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;

Read all of Jeremiah 7

Jeremiah 7:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
No fiéis en palabras de mentira, diciendo: Templo de Jehová, templo de Jehová, templo de Jehová es éste.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ne mettez pas votre confiance en des paroles de mensonge, disant: C’est ici le temple de l’ Éternel, le temple de l’ Éternel, le temple de l’ Éternel!
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und verlasset euch nicht auf Worte der Lüge, indem man spricht: Der Tempel Jehovas, der Tempel Jehovas, der Tempel Jehovas ist dies!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Nolite confidere in verbis mendacii, dicentes: Templum Domini, templum Domini, templum Domini est!