“Everyonetake heed to his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; For every brother will utterly supplant, And every neighbor will walk with slanderers.
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.
- BSB “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
- 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 7:5–6Don’t trust in a neighbor. Don’t put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth!
- Prov 26:24–25A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
- Ps 12:2–3Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
- Lev 19:16“‘You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people. “‘You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.
- Jer 6:28They are all grievous rebels, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly.
- Prov 25:18A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
- Prov 10:18He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
- Ps 15:3He who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;
- Matt 10:21“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
- Prov 6:16There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
- 1 Pet 2:1–2Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
- Ezek 22:9Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood. In you they have eaten on the mountains. They have committed lewdness among you.
- Prov 6:19a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
- Jer 12:6For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; even they have cried aloud after you! Don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.
- Gen 27:35–36He said, “Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing.”
- Gen 32:28He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
- Luke 21:16You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.
- 1 Th 4:6that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
- Ps 55:11–12Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
- Matt 10:17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
- Matt 10:34–35“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.