Jeremiah 9:4-5
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The verse's warning against trusting neighbors and even brothers is so severe that it recalls the name Jacob, meaning "supplanter." Jeremiah isn't just saying people are untrustworthy; he's accusing them of acting like the biblical Jacob, constantly scheming and deceiving those closest to them. This highlights a total breakdown of human relationship, where even the most fundamental bonds are corrupted by deceit.
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. Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is describing a society so deeply corrupt that ordinary trust has vanished, even between close family members. He uses vivid imagery, referencing Jacob's trickery, to show that people are actively deceiving and slandering each other. This extreme breakdown of relationships is presented as a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness to God.
Why does Jeremiah compare brothers to 'supplanters'? It goes beyond a simple lie, pointing to a deep-seated pattern of deceit.
Jeremiah uses a powerful wordplay here, alluding to the story of Jacob in Genesis. Jacob famously 'supplanted' his brother Esau, first for his birthright and then for his blessing, by cunning and deceit.
From Jacob to 'Every Brother'
When Jeremiah says 'every brother will utterly supplant,' he’s not just describing occasional bad behavior. He’s painting a picture of a society where this kind of underhanded trickery has become the norm. It's as if everyone is acting like a 'thorough Jacob,' constantly looking for ways to get ahead by deceiving those closest to them.
This isn't just about being tricked in a business deal; it’s about the breakdown of fundamental trust between people who should be able to rely on each other. The very fabric of community is torn apart when deception becomes a way of life.
Beyond outright deception, Jeremiah points to another corrosive force: the constant spread of malicious gossip. What does this 'walking with slanders' truly mean?
The second part of the verse describes neighbors as those who 'go about as slanderer.' This isn't just idle gossip; it’s a deliberate and active spreading of lies and damaging rumors.
More Than Just Talk
Think about the phrase 'walk with slanders.' It suggests a person whose very gait, whose daily activity, is characterized by carrying and spreading slander. They are on the move, from place to place, actively poisoning relationships and reputations.
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This speaks to a society where malicious talk has become a business, a pastime, or even a weapon. When trust erodes, people resort to undermining each other with words, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and fear. It’s a stark reminder that words have power, and their misuse can devastate individuals and communities.
Jeremiah's warning is stark: 'Put no trust in any brother.' Why such an extreme command, and what does it reveal about God's people?
The core message of Jeremiah 9:4 is a call for extreme caution and a profound lack of trust. In a healthy society, we expect a baseline of confidence in family, friends, and neighbors. But Jeremiah declares that the corruption in Judah has reached a point where these natural bonds are no longer reliable.
When Faith Falters
This isn't a suggestion to be generally cynical. It's a prophetic diagnosis of a people who have deeply failed in their covenant relationship with God. Their 'unprogressive religion,' as some commentaries note, was focused on ritual without true righteousness.
When people abandon God's ways, the foundational principles of love, honesty, and integrity crumble. This leads to a society where betrayal by 'brothers' and slander by 'neighbors' become the norm. Jeremiah’s intense words reveal the devastating spiritual and social consequences when a nation turns its back on God and His commands.
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.
avon · Hebrew Noun
General wickedness or moral perversity; it signifies a state of being "off the path" and is fundamentally rebellion against God's law and righteous standards.
This prophecy comes at the absolute lowest point for Judah, after Jerusalem's destruction and mass exile. The breakdown of trust Jeremiah laments is the tragic culmination of societal decay and divine judgment, leaving survivors in a state of profound disillusionment and spiritual crisis.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the deportation of many Israelites and the resettlement of foreigners in their land.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms and Death
King Josiah institutes religious reforms based on a newly discovered scroll, but dies in battle against the Egyptians, destabilizing the kingdom.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon conquers Judah, and a first group of prominent Judeans, including Daniel, are exiled to Babylon.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, another wave of Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon.
587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population and leaving the land devastated. This marks the nadir of Judah's national and religious life.
c. 586 BC
Jeremiah's Ministry in Egypt
Jeremiah, after witnessing the fall of Jerusalem, is taken to Egypt, where he continues to prophesy to the remaining Judean refugees.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's sentiment precisely, describing a society where family bonds are broken, and even intimate relationships are fraught with betrayal and suspicion.
Genesis 27:36The phrase 'utterly supplant' directly alludes to Jacob's name, highlighting the deep-seated deception and cunning that has infiltrated relationships, mirroring the treacherous actions of Jacob in stealing his brother's birthright and blessing.
Proverbs 14:20This proverb directly contrasts the prophet's somber observation, stating that the poor man is alienated from his friend, but the rich has many neighbors, pointing to how social standing can even corrupt the integrity of relationships.
Matthew 10:36Jesus quotes Micah (and by extension, Jeremiah's sentiment) to warn his disciples that their mission would lead to internal conflict, where 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household,' illustrating that such societal breakdown can extend to spiritual and familial realms.
Psalms 41:9This psalm expresses a similar lament of betrayal by someone considered a close companion, 'even my close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me,' showing this theme of deep interpersonal distrust is ancient and profoundly painful.
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 verse's warning against trusting neighbors and even brothers is so severe that it recalls the name Jacob, meaning "supplanter." Jeremiah isn't just saying people are untrustworthy; he's accusing them of acting like the biblical Jacob, constantly scheming and deceiving those closest to them. This highlights a total breakdown of human relationship, where even the most fundamental bonds are corrupted by deceit.
Jeremiah is describing a society so deeply corrupt that ordinary trust has vanished, even between close family members. He uses vivid imagery, referencing Jacob's trickery, to show that people are actively deceiving and slandering each other. This extreme breakdown of relationships is presented as a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness to God.
Jeremiah is describing a society so deeply corrupt that ordinary trust has vanished, even between close family members. He uses vivid imagery, referencing Jacob's trickery, to show that people are actively deceiving and slandering each other. This extreme breakdown of relationships is presented as a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness to God.
"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. Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth;…" — The verse's warning against trusting neighbors and even brothers is so severe that it recalls the name Jacob, meaning "supplanter." Jeremiah isn't just saying people are untrustworthy; he's accusing…
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Last reviewed October 2026
