Jeremiah 5:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →People invoke God's name while making false oaths, violating the covenant command to speak truth.
The Context of Jeremiah 5:2
Despite appealing to God's name in their oaths, the people habitually speak falsehoods.
What Does Jeremiah 5:2 Mean?
The people invoke God's name—'The LORD liveth'—as an oath formula meant to add authority and credibility to their words. This was a common way to seal a promise with divine authority. Yet the verse exposes the hollow reality: they swear falsely, speaking lies even while calling on God's name to guarantee their words.
This reveals the deepest hypocrisy: religious speech without righteous action. By invoking God while lying, they show contempt for the very covenant relationship they claim to uphold. Their false oaths demonstrate that external religious expression masks internal corruption.
Jeremiah 5:2 in the Original Language
sheker (שֶׁקֶר), 'falsely' — deception, lies; a word pair with truth (emet) to indicate complete moral reversal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 5:2
What does Jeremiah 5:2 mean?
People invoke God's name while making false oaths, violating the covenant command to speak truth.
What is the context of Jeremiah 5:2?
Despite appealing to God's name in their oaths, the people habitually speak falsehoods.