“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Everyone beware of his neighbor, and don’t trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV “Everyonetake heed to his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; For every brother will utterly supplant, And every neighbor will walk with slanderers.
- NASB “Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; Because every brother utterly betrays, And every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.
- NLT “Beware of your neighbor! Don’t even trust your brother! For brother takes advantage of brother, and friend slanders friend.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Society has so decayed that no one can trust even a neighbor or brother, for all deceive and slander. Sin has dissolved the bonds of basic loyalty.
Overview
God warns that even the closest relationships have become treacherous, as brothers supplant and neighbors slander. The breakdown of trust pictures the social cost of widespread sin against God. The verse shows that vertical rebellion against God produces horizontal ruin among people, underscoring humanity's need for the reconciling grace that restores both love for God and love for neighbor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 21
- Mic 7:5–6Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
- Prov 26:24–25A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
- Ps 12:2–3They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
- Lev 19:16You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
- Jer 6:28All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.
- Prov 25:18Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
- Prov 10:18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
- Ps 15:3who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,
- Matt 10:21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
- Prov 6:16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
- 1 Pet 2:1–2Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
- Ezek 22:9Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.
- Prov 6:19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
- Jer 12:6Even your brothers—your own father’s household—even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
- Gen 27:35–36But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
- Gen 32:28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”
- Luke 21:16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
- 1 Th 4:6and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.
- Ps 55:11–12Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
- Matt 10:17But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.
- Matt 10:34–35Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 9:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.