Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes a chilling persistence in wrongdoing by using the same root word for "backsliding" and "return" in a way that highlights their refusal to turn back. This isn't just a simple falling away, but a tenacious clinging to "deceit" that actively prevents any possibility of genuine repentance or restoration.
Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse follows Jeremiah's lament and God's rhetorical questions about why a nation that falls doesn't get up or why one that turns away doesn't return. The prophet, speaking for God, expresses astonishment that Jerusalem continues in its persistent rebellion, clinging to lies and refusing to repent. This stubbornness directly contrasts with the hope of restoration hinted at in the preceding verses, setting up the subsequent descriptions of judgment and the people's desperate, yet futile, attempts to find safety.
Jeremiah uses a powerful wordplay that highlights the unending nature of Israel's rebellion. What does it mean for a turning to be 'perpetual'?
The verse opens with a rhetorical question, "Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding?" The Hebrew here uses the same root word for both "turned away" and "backsliding," creating a strong emphasis. It's not just a casual drift; it's a deliberate, ongoing rejection of God.
Think of it like this: a perpetual turning means they've left the path, and instead of taking even one step back toward God, they keep moving further away, making the turning itself a continuous action. This isn't a one-time mistake; it's a lifestyle of rebellion that seems to have no end in sight.
The people aren't just turning away; they're actively holding onto something. What is this 'deceit' they cling to so tightly?
The verse continues, "They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return." The "deceit" they hold onto isn't just a small lie; it represents the false gods they worship, the false security they find in their own actions, and the deceptive messages from false prophets.
It’s like they're gripping onto a faulty map, convinced it’s the right way, even though it leads them further into disaster. They refuse to let go of this lie because returning to God would mean admitting they were wrong, facing their sin, and changing their entire life's direction. It's easier, in their minds, to hold onto the familiar deceit.
Understand the original words
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meshubah · Hebrew Noun
A state of moral and spiritual rebellion characterized by willful deviation from God's revealed truth and covenantal requirements.
tarmiyt · Hebrew Noun
Falsehood or dishonesty, especially in a spiritual sense, referring to anything that deviates from the truth of God or misleads people into relying on idols and empty promises rather than the Creator.
This prophecy comes at the peak of Jerusalem's impending doom, just before its final destruction. The people's stubborn refusal to turn from deceit, despite earlier warnings and deportations, seals their fate, highlighting the tragic contrast between their supposed wisdom and their profound spiritual blindness.
Late 8th Century BC
Hezekiah's Reforms
King Hezekiah instituted reforms aimed at purging idolatry and centralizing worship in Jerusalem, following the Assyrian threat. This period saw a renewed emphasis on the Law and prophetic teaching.
c. 622 BC
Discovery of the Law Book
During repairs to the Temple, a scroll of the Law (likely Deuteronomy) was discovered by Hilkiah. This discovery likely spurred increased attention to the written word and the role of scribes.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish and begins deporting Judean elites, including young men like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's decline.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Jerusalem's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This exile severely weakens the kingdom.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar's forces finally conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and exile the remaining population to Babylon. This is the catastrophic event Jeremiah has been warning about.
c. 586 BC - 539 BC
Babylonian Exile
The majority of the Judean population lives in exile in Babylon, facing the loss of their homeland, their king, and their Temple. This period is characterized by deep sorrow and questioning of God's faithfulness.
This passage echoes Jeremiah 8:5's theme of persistent backsliding, directly asking the people to 'Return, O backsliding children!' and highlighting their persistent turning away from God.
Hosea 11:7Hosea speaks of his people being 'bent on backsliding,' a concept mirrored in Jeremiah 8:5's 'perpetual backsliding,' emphasizing the deep-rooted nature of their turning away from God.
Proverbs 1:29-30This proverb illustrates the consequence of refusing wisdom and guidance, similar to how Jeremiah 8:5 describes a people who 'refuse to return' and 'hold fast to deceit,' ultimately leading to destruction.
Luke 11:42Jesus condemns the Pharisees for loving the 'best seat' and neglecting justice and the love of God, showing a parallel to the spiritual deceit and refusal to return to true devotion described in Jeremiah 8:5.
Hebrews 10:26-27This passage warns against deliberately continuing in sin after receiving the truth, which aligns with the 'perpetual backsliding' and refusal to return in Jeremiah 8:5, highlighting the serious consequences of such a path.
barnesJeremiah 8:5: "Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return."
When men act as in Jeremiah 8:4 , why is God's own people alone an exception? Slidden back ... backsliding - The same words as "turn" and "return" in Jeremiah 8:4. They should be rendered, "Why doth this people of Jerusalem turn away with a perpetual turning?" Deceit - i. e., idolatry; because men worship in it that which is false, and it is false to the wo…
pulpitJeremiah 8:5: "Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return."
Verse 5. - Slidden back... backsliding. The verb is the same verb (in another conjugation) as in Ver. 4, and the noun is a derivative from it. The Authorized Version, therefore, has slightly weakened the force of the argument. They hold fast deceit. They cling to a false view of their relation to their God (comp. Jeremiah 4:2; Jeremiah 5:2).
The verse emphasizes a chilling persistence in wrongdoing by using the same root word for "backsliding" and "return" in a way that highlights their refusal to turn back. This isn't just a simple falling away, but a tenacious clinging to "deceit" that actively prevents any possibility of genuine repentance or restoration.
This verse follows Jeremiah's lament and God's rhetorical questions about why a nation that falls doesn't get up or why one that turns away doesn't return. The prophet, speaking for God, expresses astonishment that Jerusalem continues in its persistent rebellion, clinging to lies and refusing to repent. This stubbornness directly contrasts with the hope of restoration hinted at in the preceding verses, setting up the subsequent descriptions of judgment and the people's desperate, yet futile, attempts to find safety.
This verse follows Jeremiah's lament and God's rhetorical questions about why a nation that falls doesn't get up or why one that turns away doesn't return. The prophet, speaking for God, expresses astonishment that Jerusalem continues in its persistent rebellion, clinging to lies and refusing to repent. This stubbornness directly contrasts with the hope of restoration hinted at in the preceding verses, setting up the subsequent descriptions of judgment and the people's desperate, yet futile, attempts to find safety.
"Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return." — The verse emphasizes a chilling persistence in wrongdoing by using the same root word for "backsliding" and "return" in a way that highlights their refusal to turn back. This isn't just a simple fa…
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Last reviewed October 2026