Jeremiah 8:5-6
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The repetition of the root word for "backsliding" and "return" isn't just stylistic; it emphasizes that their turning away is a perpetual turning, a deep-seated rejection of God that prevents any genuine return, not just a momentary lapse. They aren't just making mistakes; they are actively clinging to deceit, which is the opposite of returning to the truth.
Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return. I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah is questioning why his people, especially those in Jerusalem, persist in their rebellion against God. Despite facing judgment and the consequences of their actions, they refuse to turn back, clinging instead to deception. This verse directly follows God's rhetorical question about whether fallen people remain down and those who turn away stay lost, highlighting the people's stubborn refusal to repent.
Ever feel like you're stuck in a rut, repeating the same mistakes? This verse uses a powerful wordplay to describe a deeper problem than just a slip-up.
Jeremiah 8:5 highlights a perpetual turning away rather than a simple 'backsliding.' The Hebrew word used is the same root word for 'turn' and 'return.' Imagine someone repeatedly walking away from a destination, not just stumbling. This isn't an accidental fall; it's a deliberate, ongoing rejection of the right path. The phrase emphasizes a persistent, settled state of rebellion. It’s a chosen direction, not a momentary lapse.
A Deliberate Choice
This isn't about a momentary failure to return, but a persistent decision not to return. The commentary notes that the Hebrew reinforces this, showing a 'perpetual turning away' with a 'perpetual turning.' It’s like someone who walks away from home, not just once, but keeps walking further and further, with no intention of coming back.
We often think we’re seeking truth, but what if we’re actually clinging to lies? This verse points to a dangerous form of self-deception.
The people in Jeremiah’s day weren't just lost; they were actively 'holding fast to deceit.' This means they weren't passively mistaken; they were actively embracing falsehoods. This deceit could manifest in many ways:
False Gods and False Hopes
It often involved idolatry – worshipping things that were ultimately false and offered no true help or salvation. They were also holding onto a false view of their relationship with God, believing they were okay even when their actions screamed otherwise. This clinging to deceit creates a powerful barrier against returning to God.
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The Cost of Lies
When we hold onto lies, we become resistant to the truth, especially God's truth. This allegiance to deceit makes the idea of returning to God not just difficult, but actively unwelcome. It’s like trying to find your way home while deliberately choosing to follow signs pointing in the wrong direction.
Understand the original words
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.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A general term for moral rebellion, wickedness, or sin against God, often implying a state of being morally corrupt or harmful.
Jeremiah's lament in this verse echoes the desperate situation following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The people's persistent refusal to 'return' to God, clinging to deceitful practices and false security, directly led to the devastating consequences of the Babylonian exile.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Dominance
The powerful Assyrian Empire exerted significant influence and control over the region, leading to political instability and pressure on Judah.
626 BC
Assyrian Decline and Neo-Babylonian Rise
As Assyria weakened, the Neo-Babylonian Empire emerged as a new major power in Mesopotamia, setting the stage for future conflicts.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon conquered Judah, initiating the first wave of exiles to Babylon, including notable figures like Daniel.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another Babylonian invasion resulted in a larger deportation, including King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens, intensifying the crisis for Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar finally destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population, marking a devastating turning point.
586 BC - 539 BC
Babylonian Exile Period
The majority of the Judean population lived in exile in Babylon, facing a period of profound loss, questioning their faith, and grappling with their identity.
This passage directly echoes the theme of returning to God, highlighting the danger of 'backsliding' and the Lord's willingness to heal those who do.
Hosea 11:7Hosea powerfully describes God's people being 'bent to backsliding,' a state of persistent turning away from Him, much like Jeremiah's lament.
Hebrews 6:6This New Testament passage warns against 'falling away' after tasting God's goodness, underscoring the gravity of 'perpetual backsliding' and refusing to return to Him.
Luke 13:34-35Jesus' lament over Jerusalem here shows a parallel sorrow for a people who, like those in Jeremiah's time, repeatedly rejected God's messengers and opportunities for repentance.
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 repetition of the root word for "backsliding" and "return" isn't just stylistic; it emphasizes that their turning away is a perpetual turning, a deep-seated rejection of God that prevents any genuine return, not just a momentary lapse. They aren't just making mistakes; they are actively clinging to deceit, which is the opposite of returning to the truth.
The prophet Jeremiah is questioning why his people, especially those in Jerusalem, persist in their rebellion against God. Despite facing judgment and the consequences of their actions, they refuse to turn back, clinging instead to deception. This verse directly follows God's rhetorical question about whether fallen people remain down and those who turn away stay lost, highlighting the people's stubborn refusal to repent.
The prophet Jeremiah is questioning why his people, especially those in Jerusalem, persist in their rebellion against God. Despite facing judgment and the consequences of their actions, they refuse to turn back, clinging instead to deception. This verse directly follows God's rhetorical question about whether fallen people remain down and those who turn away stay lost, highlighting the people's stubborn refusal to repent.
"Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return. I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evi…" — The repetition of the root word for "backsliding" and "return" isn't just stylistic; it emphasizes that their turning away is a perpetual turning, a deep-seated rejection of God that prevents any g…
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Last reviewed October 2026
