The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to assume Jeremiah is just saying these "wise men" are intellectually foolish. But the punchline is sharper: their "wisdom" is utterly useless because they've rejected the very Word of God that defines true wisdom. Their pride has blinded them, making their cleverness a snare rather than a strength.
The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is confronting the religious leaders and intellectuals of Jerusalem, whom he calls "wise men," but who have proven foolish in their rejection of God's word. These leaders, confident in their own understanding and traditions, have ignored the prophetic warnings and embraced a false sense of security. Instead of genuine wisdom, which is rooted in obedience to God, they are about to face shame and capture when the promised judgment arrives.
What do you do when your smartest plans fall apart? Jeremiah points to a specific kind of wisdom that leads not to success, but to utter disgrace.
The Illusion of Intelligence
Jeremiah calls out the 'wise men' of Judah, but their wisdom is exposed as utterly useless. They are 'dismayed and taken' – caught off guard and overwhelmed with shame.
This isn't about a lack of intelligence or strategic thinking. These 'wise men' likely prided themselves on their knowledge, their political maneuvering, and their understanding of worldly affairs. Yet, all their cleverness couldn't save them from the impending disaster.
Their downfall highlights a crucial truth: wisdom that doesn't align with God's truth is ultimately foolishness. It's a facade that crumbles under pressure, leaving those who trust in it exposed and ashamed.
Why did Judah's 'wise men' face such a devastating end? The answer lies in a deliberate choice that sealed their fate.
The Unseen Foundation
The verse makes the reason for their shame crystal clear: 'behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD.' This is the root cause of their downfall.
Their rejection wasn't a passive overlooking; it was an active turning away from God's truth as delivered by the prophets. They chose their own path, their own understanding, and their own counsel over the very words of the Creator.
When we disregard or dismiss what God has revealed – His commands, His warnings, His promises – we sever ourselves from the true source of wisdom. The 'wisdom' we cling to becomes a dangerous deception, built on sand, incapable of withstanding the storms of life or the judgment of God.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
dabar · Hebrew Noun
The revealed message, command, or decree of God; it represents the absolute authority and truth of God that brings life and demands obedience.
Jeremiah's sharp rebuke in this verse is directed at the intellectual and religious leaders of Judah. These 'wise men,' likely priests and scribes, relied on their learning and traditions but rejected the direct word of God spoken through prophets. Their supposed wisdom proved useless because it lacked a foundation in obedience to the LORD, leading to their eventual shame and capture during the Babylonian invasions.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and captures many fortified cities. Jerusalem is besieged but ultimately spared.
626 BC - 586 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Ministry
Jeremiah prophesies during a tumultuous period, warning Judah about impending judgment from Babylon due to their unfaithfulness to God.
609 BC
Josiah's Death
King Josiah, a righteous ruler, is killed in battle at Megiddo. His death marks a turning point, leading to a decline in Judah's spiritual and political stability.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and takes a first group of exiles, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and many more of Judah's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar utterly destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the kingdom of Judah and sending the remaining population into Babylonian exile.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's sentiment, showing a powerful ruler who relied on her wisdom and knowledge but was ultimately undone because she rejected the Lord's warnings and trusted in her own capabilities. It highlights how self-proclaimed wisdom crumbles when it stands against God's authority.
Proverbs 1:7This verse directly states that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom, contrasting sharply with Jeremiah's indictment. It implies that those who reject God's word, no matter how learned they appear, lack genuine wisdom.
1 Corinthians 1:19-20Paul quotes Isaiah, emphasizing that God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the learned. This reinforces Jeremiah's point that human wisdom is futile and even foolish when it opposes or ignores God's revealed truth.
Jeremiah 6:14This earlier verse from Jeremiah describes the same false security and superficial healing offered by the prophets and priests, who declared 'Peace, peace!' when there was no peace. It shows the consistent rejection of God's true word by those in authority, leading to the same ultimate shame and dismay.
calvinJeremiah 8:9: "The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?"
- Pudefacti sunt sapientes, territi sunt et capti sunt (tcht significat proprie frangere, vel, conterere, sed transferter ad animum, et tunc significat terrere; dicit igitur esse territos, deinde illaqueatos; postea adjungit causam, nempe,) quia respuerunt in verbo (sed v est supervacuum, verbum ergo) Jehova (reprobarunt, vel repudiarunt,) et sapientia…
jfbJeremiah 8:9: "The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?"
- dismayed—confounded.what wisdom—literally, "the wisdom of what?" that is, "wisdom in what respect?" the Word of the Lord being the only true source of wisdom (Ps 119:98-100; Pr 1:7; 9:10).
It's easy to assume Jeremiah is just saying these "wise men" are intellectually foolish. But the punchline is sharper: their "wisdom" is utterly useless because they've rejected the very Word of God that defines true wisdom. Their pride has blinded them, making their cleverness a snare rather than a strength.
Jeremiah is confronting the religious leaders and intellectuals of Jerusalem, whom he calls "wise men," but who have proven foolish in their rejection of God's word. These leaders, confident in their own understanding and traditions, have ignored the prophetic warnings and embraced a false sense of security. Instead of genuine wisdom, which is rooted in obedience to God, they are about to face shame and capture when the promised judgment arrives.
Jeremiah is confronting the religious leaders and intellectuals of Jerusalem, whom he calls "wise men," but who have proven foolish in their rejection of God's word. These leaders, confident in their own understanding and traditions, have ignored the prophetic warnings and embraced a false sense of security. Instead of genuine wisdom, which is rooted in obedience to God, they are about to face shame and capture when the promised judgment arrives.
"The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" — It's easy to assume Jeremiah is just saying these "wise men" are intellectually foolish. But the punchline is sharper: their "wisdom" is utterly useless because they've rejected the very Word of God…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026