Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes a profound breakdown in trust, so severe that even the closest relationships are compromised. It warns against trusting "any brother" because each one acts like a "thorough Jacob," a deliberate allusion to the patriarch known for his craftiness and deception, showing that this betrayal runs deep within families and communities.
Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is lamenting the deep corruption of Judah, describing a society where trust has completely broken down. People are so deceitful and treacherous that they can't even rely on their closest family or neighbors, likening them to Jacob who tricked his brother. This pervasive dishonesty and slander has made normal human relationships impossible, leaving everyone on guard against betrayal.
In a world that feels increasingly untrustworthy, where do we turn? Jeremiah’s words cut deep, suggesting that even the closest bonds offer no guarantee of safety.
Jeremiah uses a powerful, ancient allusion to describe the betrayal he sees everywhere: "every brother will utterly supplant." This word 'supplant' is directly linked to the story of Jacob, who famously deceived his brother Esau to steal his birthright and blessing.
Jacob's Legacy of Deceit
Think about Jacob: he was known for his cunning, his trickery, his heel-grabbing nature from birth. When Jeremiah says people are 'utterly supplanting,' he’s not just saying they're a bit tricky. He’s saying they are acting like a 'thorough Jacob,' fully embodying this pattern of deceit. This implies a deep, ingrained tendency to outwit, undermine, and betray, even those closest to you.
The Erosion of Trust
This isn't just about a few bad apples. Jeremiah is painting a picture of a society where this deceptive spirit has become the norm. The bonds that should hold people together—family, friendship, community—have been twisted. Trust has eroded to the point where you can’t even rely on your own siblings.
Beyond outright deception, there's the insidious spread of lies. Jeremiah points to another pervasive threat: the person who actively tears others down.
Jeremiah doesn't stop at deception; he adds another layer to the societal breakdown: 'every neighbour will walk with slanders.' This isn't just about gossip; it’s about a way of life.
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More Than Just Idle Talk
The Hebrew word used here, often translated as 'slanderer' or 'talebearer,' relates to someone who goes around, moving from place to place, carrying damaging words. It evokes an image of someone actively peddling lies and rumors, like a merchant carrying wares, but instead, they carry poison.
A Lifestyle of Malice
This phrase 'walk with slanders' suggests it’s not an occasional lapse but a chosen path, a deliberate habit. These individuals aren't just momentarily unkind; they are actively engaged in the business of tearing down reputations and sowing discord. They 'wear themselves out' in their pursuit of iniquity, finding more energy for slander than for truth.
The Community's Poison
When neighbors constantly slander each other, the very fabric of community is destroyed. Suspicion replaces fellowship, and insecurity becomes the norm. This destructive behavior creates an environment where genuine connection and peace are impossible.
Understand the original words
aqob · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
A person who intentionally misleads or acts dishonestly to gain an advantage or harm others, violating the command to love one's neighbor.
rakhil · Hebrew Noun
One who spreads false or malicious reports about others, undermining social unity and violating the biblical mandate to protect the reputation of one's neighbor.
Jeremiah's stark words about the utter breakdown of trust between neighbors and even brothers weren't just hyperbole; they reflected a society crumbling under the weight of its own deceit and corruption, right before the devastating fall of Jerusalem and the exile.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Deportation
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria, and many Israelites are deported, leading to a significant breakdown of social structures and trust.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms and Death
King Josiah implements religious reforms, but his death in battle against Egypt marks a period of instability and decline for Judah.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports many prominent Judeans, including Daniel, to Babylon, signaling the impending doom of Jerusalem.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another wave of exiles, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are taken to Babylon, further weakening the kingdom.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This is the climax of Jeremiah's warnings.
c. 586 BC onwards
Exile in Babylon
The majority of Judeans live in exile, experiencing a profound loss of homeland and national identity, and wrestling with their faith.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's sentiment of deep societal breakdown, describing a time when family trust is shattered, and one's enemies are within their own household.
Matthew 10:36Jesus quotes Micah, pointing out that the breakdown of trust can extend even to one's own family, making those closest potentially adversarial, mirroring Jeremiah's stark warning.
Genesis 27:36The phrase 'utterly supplant' directly alludes to Jacob's name and actions, highlighting that the deception Jeremiah describes is a deep-seated betrayal, akin to Jacob tricking his brother Esau.
Proverbs 11:13This verse contrasts with Jeremiah's warning by stating that a trustworthy person keeps secrets, implying that those who 'walk with slanders' are the opposite of this wise and faithful character.
Romans 3:13Paul quotes Old Testament passages describing the corruption of humanity, noting that the tongue is like an open grave, full of deceit and slander, aligning with Jeremiah's depiction of rampant falsehood.
barnesJeremiah 9:4: "Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders."
In a state of such utter lawlessness, the bonds of mutual confidence are relaxed, and suspicion takes its place. Utterly supplant - An allusion to the name of Jacob Genesis 27:36. It might be rendered, "every brother is a thorough Jacob." Will walk with slanders - Or, slandereth.
cambridgeJeremiah 9:4: "Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders."
4 . Cp. Micah 7:5 f. “The mutual distrust, which had already in the time of Hezekiah broken up families and divided the nearest friends, and made a man’s worst enemies those of his own household, had now reached the highest degree of intensity” (Stanley, J. Ch . II. 437). will utterly supplant ] The Hebrew verb emphasizes…
The text emphasizes a profound breakdown in trust, so severe that even the closest relationships are compromised. It warns against trusting "any brother" because each one acts like a "thorough Jacob," a deliberate allusion to the patriarch known for his craftiness and deception, showing that this betrayal runs deep within families and communities.
Jeremiah is lamenting the deep corruption of Judah, describing a society where trust has completely broken down. People are so deceitful and treacherous that they can't even rely on their closest family or neighbors, likening them to Jacob who tricked his brother. This pervasive dishonesty and slander has made normal human relationships impossible, leaving everyone on guard against betrayal.
Jeremiah is lamenting the deep corruption of Judah, describing a society where trust has completely broken down. People are so deceitful and treacherous that they can't even rely on their closest family or neighbors, likening them to Jacob who tricked his brother. This pervasive dishonesty and slander has made normal human relationships impossible, leaving everyone on guard against betrayal.
"Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer." — The text emphasizes a profound breakdown in trust, so severe that even the closest relationships are compromised. It warns against trusting "any brother" because each one acts like a "thorough Jacob,…
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Last reviewed October 2026