They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

JEREMIAH 5:12KJV
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Jeremiah 5:12 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 5:12 mean?

Jeremiah 5:12 describes how the people have falsely denied the LORD and claimed that He is not the one bringing judgment, insisting that no disaster, war, or famine will come upon them. The verse shows a stubborn refusal to accept that their actions have consequences and that God is involved in what is happening.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking about the people of Judah, who are rejecting his warnings from God. The people are saying that the LORD (God) is not responsible for the threats Jeremiah announces, and they believe they are safe from harm. This reveals their deep disbelief and unwillingness to face the reality of their situation.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 5:12

  • "belied" (כָּחַשׁ, kachash): This word means to deny, lie about, or falsely represent. Here, it emphasizes that the people are not just mistaken but are actively denying the LORD’s involvement.
  • "evil" (רָעָה, ra‘ah): This word often means harm, disaster, or calamity. The people are saying that no harm will come, downplaying the seriousness of Jeremiah’s warnings.
  • "sword" (חֶרֶב, cherev): This refers specifically to war or violence. The people are denying that any military threat will reach them.
  • "famine" (רָעָב, ra‘av): This word means hunger or lack of food, pointing to one of the specific disasters they believe they will not experience.

Why Jeremiah 5:12 matters

  • This verse clears up the misunderstanding that the people’s denial was just ignorance; instead, they are willfully rejecting God’s message and messenger.
  • The verse highlights the depth of the people’s spiritual blindness and stubbornness, which is a key reason for the coming judgment described throughout Jeremiah.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain why Jeremiah’s warnings are so urgent and why the coming judgment is portrayed as unavoidable—because the people refuse to listen or repent.

Where else these words appear

“belied” Hebrew H3584 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
  • 2 Samuel 22:45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
  • Psalms 109:24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.

“famine” Hebrew H7458 · used in 88 verses

  • Genesis 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
  • 2 Kings 25:3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.
  • Jeremiah 32:24 Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.