Jeremiah 8:8
"How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

How do ye say, we are wise,.... Which they were continually boasting of, though they were ignorant of the judgment of the Lord, and were more stupid than the stork, turtle, crane, and swallow: and the law of the Lord is with us? this was the foundation of their boast, because the law was given to them, and not to the nations of the world, which knew not God, and therefore they must be a

wise and understanding people; and this law continued with them, they had it in their synagogues, and in their houses, and read it, and heard, or at least they might and ought to have heard and read it, and in this they trusted; of this character and cast were the Jews in the times of Christ and his apostles, Rom 2:17 to which agrees the Targum, "how say ye, we are wise, and in the law of the Lord we trust?'' Lo, certainly in vain made he it; either the law, which was made or given in vain by the Lord to this people, since they made no better use of it, and valued themselves upon having it, without acting according to it; or the pen of the scribe, which was made by him in vain to write it, as follows: the pen of the scribes is in vain; in vain, and to no purpose, were the scribes employed in writing out copies of the law, when either it was not heard or read, or however the things it enjoined were not put in practice; or the pen of the scribes was in vain, when employed in writing out false copies of the law, or false glosses and interpretations of it, such as were made by the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's time, and the fathers before them, by whose traditions the word of God was made of none effect: and so the Targum, "therefore, lo, in vain the scribe hath made the lying pen to falsify;'' that is, the Scriptures. The words may be rendered, "verily, behold, with a lie he wrought; the pen: is the lie of the scribes (h).'' (h) "utique ecce, mendacio operatus est; stylus mendacium scribarum est", Schmidt. Approved by Reinbeck. De Accent. Heb. p. 435.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (14 words)

H0349 אֵיךְ
Definition:

9;2 Samuel 1:5,14;1 Kings 12:6;Isaiah 20:6and elsewhere; often with imperfect (especially in 1 person) in an expostulationGenesis 39:9;Genesis 44:8,34;Joshua 9:7;2 Samuel 2:22;2 Samuel 12:18;Psalm 137 9;2 Samuel 1:5,14;1 Kings 12:6;Isaiah 20:6and elsewhere; often with imperfect (especially in 1 person) in an expostulationGenesis 39:9;Genesis 44:8,34;Joshua 9:7;2 Samuel 2:22;2 Samuel 12:18;Psalm 137

Possible Meanings:
  • How? (semantic_range)
  • How! (semantic_range)
H0559 אָמַר
Definition:

1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe 1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe

Possible Meanings:
  • lamb (semantic_range)
H2450 חָכָם
Definition:

667t.; constructחֲכַםIsaiah 3:39t.; pluralחֲכָמִיםDeuteronomy 1:1339t.; constructחַכְמֵיExodus 28:34t.; suffixחֲכָמֶיךָIsaiah 19:12etc. + 8 t.;feminineחֲכָמָה2 Samuel 14:2;2 Samuel 20:16; constructחַכ 667t.; constructחֲכַםIsaiah 3:39t.; pluralחֲכָמִיםDeuteronomy 1:1339t.; constructחַכְמֵיExodus 28:34t.; suffixחֲכָמֶיךָIsaiah 19:12etc. + 8 t.;feminineחֲכָמָה2 Samuel 14:2;2 Samuel 20:16; constructחַכ

Possible Meanings:
  • wise (semantic_range)
  • skilful (semantic_range)
  • wise in the administration of affairs (semantic_range)
  • shrewd (semantic_range)
  • crafty (semantic_range)
H0587 אֲנַחְנוּ
Definition:

8;Genesis 29:4;Genesis 37:7;Genesis 42:11,13;Numbers 9:7;Deuteronomy 1:28,41;Joel 2:17,18, etc. Likeאֲנִי, following a participle as its subjectGenesis 19:13;Numbers 10:29;Judges 19:18;2 Kings 18:26; 8;Genesis 29:4;Genesis 37:7;Genesis 42:11,13;Numbers 9:7;Deuteronomy 1:28,41;Joel 2:17,18, etc. Likeאֲנִי, following a participle as its subjectGenesis 19:13;Numbers 10:29;Judges 19:18;2 Kings 18:26;

Possible Meanings:
  • we (semantic_range)
H8451 תּוֹרָה
Definition:

5direction, instruction, law(possibly in first instance fromcastinglots, WeG i, 470; H 394(less confidently WeSkizzen iii, 167), SS SmAT Rel. Geschichte. 36BenzArchaeology 408NowArchaeology ii, 97, op 5direction, instruction, law(possibly in first instance fromcastinglots, WeG i, 470; H 394(less confidently WeSkizzen iii, 167), SS SmAT Rel. Geschichte. 36BenzArchaeology 408NowArchaeology ii, 97, op

H3068 יְהוָֹה
Definition:

7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when 7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when

Possible Meanings:
  • Yahweh (semantic_range)
  • the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
  • life-giver (semantic_range)
H0854 אֵת
Definition:

25;Joshua 14:12, next2 Samuel 24:24; then repeatedly (but not exclusively)1 Kings 20—2 Kings 8, & in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, e.g.1 Kings 20:25(but1 Kings 20:23אִתָּם)1 Kings 22:7,8,24 (besideמֵאִתִּי)2 Kin 25;Joshua 14:12, next2 Samuel 24:24; then repeatedly (but not exclusively)1 Kings 20—2 Kings 8, & in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, e.g.1 Kings 20:25(but1 Kings 20:23אִתָּם)1 Kings 22:7,8,24 (besideמֵאִתִּי)2 Kin

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H0403 אָכֵן
Definition:

a.surely, truly, especially at beginning of a speech (stronger & more decided thanאַח)Genesis 28:16;Exodus 2:14;1 Samuel 15:32;Isaiah 40:7;Isaiah 45:15;Jeremiah 3:23(twice in verse);Jeremiah 4:10;Jere a.surely, truly, especially at beginning of a speech (stronger & more decided thanאַח)Genesis 28:16;Exodus 2:14;1 Samuel 15:32;Isaiah 40:7;Isaiah 45:15;Jeremiah 3:23(twice in verse);Jeremiah 4:10;Jere

Possible Meanings:
  • but indeed (semantic_range)
  • but in fact (semantic_range)
H2009 הִנֵּה
Definition:

2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro 2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro

Possible Meanings:
  • hither (semantic_range)
H8267 שֶׁקֶר
Definition:

764t.;שָׁ֑קֶרExodus 5:942t.; pluralשְׁקָרִיםPsalm 101:73t.; suffixשִׁקְרֵיהֶםJeremiah 23:22; —1deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one : a molten imageJeremiah 10:14=Jeremiah 51:17; gif 764t.;שָׁ֑קֶרExodus 5:942t.; pluralשְׁקָרִיםPsalm 101:73t.; suffixשִׁקְרֵיהֶםJeremiah 23:22; —1deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one : a molten imageJeremiah 10:14=Jeremiah 51:17; gif

Possible Meanings:
  • do (semantic_range)
  • deal falsely (semantic_range)
  • thou wilt not do falsely (semantic_range)
  • deal falsely (semantic_range)
H6213 עָשָׂה
Definition:

A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly,

Possible Meanings:
  • press (semantic_range)
  • squeeze (semantic_range)
H5842 עֵט
Definition:

8stylus(√ dubious; Köii. 1, 83(after older authorities) compare Arabic,sink, penerate); —׳עonly construct:1of iron, for use on stone or metalJeremiah 17:1(בְּצִמֹּרֶן שָׁמִירwith diamond-point),Job 19 8stylus(√ dubious; Köii. 1, 83(after older authorities) compare Arabic,sink, penerate); —׳עonly construct:1of iron, for use on stone or metalJeremiah 17:1(בְּצִמֹּרֶן שָׁמִירwith diamond-point),Job 19

H8267 שֶׁקֶר
Definition:

764t.;שָׁ֑קֶרExodus 5:942t.; pluralשְׁקָרִיםPsalm 101:73t.; suffixשִׁקְרֵיהֶםJeremiah 23:22; —1deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one : a molten imageJeremiah 10:14=Jeremiah 51:17; gif 764t.;שָׁ֑קֶרExodus 5:942t.; pluralשְׁקָרִיםPsalm 101:73t.; suffixשִׁקְרֵיהֶםJeremiah 23:22; —1deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one : a molten imageJeremiah 10:14=Jeremiah 51:17; gif

Possible Meanings:
  • do (semantic_range)
  • deal falsely (semantic_range)
  • thou wilt not do falsely (semantic_range)
  • deal falsely (semantic_range)
H5608 סָפַר
Definition:

10, 2masculine singularסָפַרְתָּהPsalm 56:9,וְסָפַרְתָּ֫Leviticus 25:8, etc.;ImperfectיִסְמֹּרPsalm 87:6+Job 38:37where read probablyיִסְמֹּר(Bu) forᵑ0יְסַמֵּר,יִסְמּוֺרJob 31:4,וַיִּסְמֹּר2Chron 2:1; 10, 2masculine singularסָפַרְתָּהPsalm 56:9,וְסָפַרְתָּ֫Leviticus 25:8, etc.;ImperfectיִסְמֹּרPsalm 87:6+Job 38:37where read probablyיִסְמֹּר(Bu) forᵑ0יְסַמֵּר,יִסְמּוֺרJob 31:4,וַיִּסְמֹּר2Chron 2:1;

Possible Meanings:
  • secretary (semantic_range)
  • scribe (semantic_range)

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

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