Jeremiah 5:12

King James Version (KJV)

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

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

They have belied the Lord - כחשו kichashu . They have denied or disavowed the Lord.

It is not he - הוא לוא lo hu, he is not; there is no such being; therefore this evil shall not come upon us. On their premises, this conclusion was just. There is no judge; therefore there shall be no judgment. Thus they denied the Lord. They were atheists at heart.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

It is not he - i. e., Who speaks by the prophets.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Multitudes are ruined by believing that God will not be so strict as his word says he will; by this artifice Satan undid mankind. Sinners are not willing to own any thing to be God's word, that tends to part them from, or to disquiet them in, their sins. Mocking and misusing the Lord's messengers, filled the measure of their iniquity. God can bring trouble upon us from places and causes very remote. He has mercy in store for his people, therefore will set bounds to this desolating judgment. Let us not overlook the "nevertheless," ver. 18. This is the Lord's covenant with Israel. He thereby proclaims his holiness, and his utter displeasure against sin while sparing the sinner, Ps 89:30-35.

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Jeremiah 5:12