| The Falsifying Scribes |
In various places in the Gospels, Yahshua is very critical of the scribes andthe Pharisees. Even before this time, there was severe criticism of the scribes. In the eighthchapter of the Book of Jeremiah, the prophet relays the message of Yahweh in regard to thesemen. This essay refers to verses eight and nine of this chapter.
Below, the verse is quoted from twenty-one versions of the Scriptures.Although the wording may differ slightly, or one version may be more forceful than another,the message is basically the same. Some implications are stated following the renditions.
| Versions Compared |
|
|
| Jeremiah8: 8, 9 |
| AAT | How can you say: We are wise, and the LORD's law is with us. Surely the scholars with their lying pens have made it a lie. Wise men feel ashamed , confused , and caught. You see, they have rejected the LORD's Word, so what wisdom have they got? |
| AB | How can you say, We are wise and we have the written laws of the Lord [and are learned inits language and teachings]? Lo, the truth is, the lying pen of the scribes has made of thelaw a falsehood [a mere code of ceremonial observances]. [Mark 7: 13] The wise men shall be put to shame, they shall be dismayed and taken captive. Lo, they haverejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom and broad, full intelligence is in them? |
| GW | "How can you say that you are wise and that you have the LORD'steachings"? The scribes have used their pens to turn these teachings into lies. Wise people are put to shame, confused, and trapped. They have rejected the word ofthe LORD. They don't really have any wisdom. |
| JBK | How can you say, We are wise, and the Tora of the LORD is with us? Surely, the pen wroughtin vain, in vain the scribes. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, theyhave rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? |
| KJV | How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain madehe it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of theLORD; and what wisdom is in them? |
| KTC | What, still boasting that you are wise, that the Lord's law finds its home among you? Nay,but the scribes, with their false penmanship, have construed all amiss. In all their wisdom,how disappointed, how bewildered, how entrapped! God's word they cast away, and wisdom leftthem. |
| LB | How can you say, "We understand his laws," when your teachers have twisted them up to meana thing I never said? These wise teachers of yours will be shamed by exile for this sin, forthey have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they then so wise? |
| LBP | How do you say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, surely the lying penof the scribes has made it for falsehood. The wise men are ashamed, they are defeated and caught because they have rejected the word ofthe LORD, and there is no wisdom in them. Footnote: The scribes have interpreted it falsely, and written wrong comments onit. |
| LXX | How will you say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? In vain have the scribesused a false pen. The wise men are ashamed, and alarmed, and taken; because they have rejected the word of theLord; what wisdom is there in them? |
| MNT | What! you say, "We are wise, we do have his directions" -- when lo, your scribes have written them wrong, and falsified them? No, the "wise" shall be discomfited, dismayed and tricked. They have rejected the Eternal's word; so what "wisdom" have they? |
| NAB | How can you say, "We are wise, and we have the law of the LORD"? Why, that has been changed into falsehood by the lying pen of the scribes! The wise are confounded, dismayed and ensnared; Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, of what avail is their wisdom? Footnote: Lying pen of the scribes: because the interpretations and ordinancesof the scribes ran counter to the word of the Lord. |
| NBV | How dare you say, "We are wise, and the teaching of the LORD is with us"? But see, thefalsifying pen of the scribes made it into a fabrication. The wise men are put to shame, theyare dumfounded and trapped; since they have spurned the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdomis there in them? Footnote: Jeremiah implies that the scribes have falsified the traditional body ofdivine directions respecting religious practices. |
| NCV | You keep saying, "We are wise, because we have the teachings ofthe LORD." But actually, those who explain the Scriptures have written lies with their pens. These wise men refused to listen to the word of the LORD, so they are not really wise at all. They will be ashamed. They will be shocked and trapped. |
| NIV | How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD," when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have? |
| NJB | How can you say, "We are wise, since we have Yahweh's Law?" Look how it has been falsified by the lying pens of the scribes! The wise are put to shame, alarmed, caught out because they rejected Yahweh's word. What price their wisdom now? |
| NLT | How can you say, "We are wise because we have the law of the LORD," when your teachershave twisted it so badly? These wise teachers will be shamed by exile for their sin, for theyhave rejected the word of the LORD. Are they so wise after all? |
| REB | How can you say, "We are wise, we have the law of the LORD," when scribes with their lying pens have falsified it? The wise are put to shame; they are dismayed and trapped. They have spurned the word of the LORD, so what sort of wisdom is theirs? |
| SGAT | How can you say, "We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us"? When lo! the lying pen of the scribes Has turned it into a lie! So the wise shall be put to the blush, They shall be dumbfounded and taken; For lo! they have spurned the word of the LORD -- And what wisdom, then, have they? |
| SISR | How do you say, "We are wise, and the Torah of Yahweh is with us"? But look, thefalse pen of the scribe has worked falsehood. The wise shall be put to shame, they shall be broken down and caught. See, they have rejectedthe Word of Yahweh, so what wisdom do they have? |
| TBR | How can you say, "We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us"? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a law. The wise men shall be put to shame, they shall be dismayed and taken; lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD, and what wisdom is in them? Footnote: The people evidently denied Jeremiah's charges, asserting that they livedby the Mosaic Law. Jeremiah retorts that the leaders destroy the Law in a greedy effort toobtain gain. |
| TEV | How can you say that you are wise and that you know my laws? Look, the laws have beenchanged by dishonest scribes. Your wise men are put to shame; they are confused and trapped.They have rejected my words; what wisdom do they have now? |
| Implications |
Basically, what is being told through the prophet is that the scribes havemade changes in the Law of Yahweh in their writings. Does this mean that the text of Scripturecontaining the Law has been altered by the scribes to change its meaning? Does it mean thatthey have written misinterpretations of the Law?
Who are the scribes?
Halley's Bible Handbook states that "scribes were copyists of theScripture. Their business was to study and interpret, as well as copy, the Scriptures. Becauseof their minute acquaintance into the Law, they were also called lawyers, and were recognizedauthorities. The decisions of leading scribes became oral law, or 'tradition.'"
Considering how meticulous the scribes were in their copying, there isprobably less likelihood of their altering of the text. However, this possibility cannot becompletely ruled out. There is some evidence of this having been done on occasion. An exampleis the altering of Yahweh's name to LORD, L-rd, or Jehovah.
There is more evidence of the misinterpretation of the Law by the scribes.Yahshua made reference to this.
From Smith's Bible Dictionary we read, "They devoted themselves to thecareful study of the text, and laid down rules for transcribing it with the most scrupulousprecision. As time passed on, 'the words of the scribes' were honored above the Law. It was agreater crime to offend against them than against the Law. The first step was taken towardannulling the commandments of God for the sake of their own traditions."
It would appear that there may have been personal gain for scribes in theirmisinterpretation of the Law. Their status in society was very high. They were the ones whosupposedly best knew the Law.
There had been warnings against adding to or taking from the Law prior tothis time. References include Deuteronomy 4: 2, Deuteronomy 12: 32, and Proverbs 30: 5-6.Apparently, the scribes of Jeremiah's day had not heeded these warnings. The references do notmean the "Bible" as some Christians believe, but the Law. Where a version uses "Word," itmeans the Law. Yahweh stressed the importance of obeying the Law. This is clear in both theOld Covenant and the New Covenant. In Deuteronomy 28: 45 is a warning of what will happen ifpeople do not keep the Laws of Yahweh.
Does the warning given through Jeremiah have any application today? Have thescribes and teachers within Christianity done anything which would correspond to what thescribes of Jeremiah's day did? Are Christians expected to obey the Laws of Yahweh?
In Matthew 5: 17, Yahshua said that He did not come to destroy the Law or theProphets, but to fulfill them. In the next verse, He stated that nothing shall pass from theLaw until all of it be fulfilled. Many Christians claim that the Law was done away with thedeath and resurrection of Yahshua. Yet there are five of the nine feasts commanded by Yahwehthat have not been fulfilled by Yahshua. Also, Christians still observe certain of the Laws.An example is tithing. However, the only resemblance to the Law is that one-tenth of somethingis given to someone for some purpose.
When referring to the Ten Commandments, Christians tend to refer to Matthew19: 18-19. This quotation leaves out the first four. Therefore, these do not apply. If oneclosely examines the activities of Christian churches, it will be seen that most that mostdisregard one or more of these four.
Some will say that none of the Laws of the Old Covenant apply to Christians.Let us look at that claim more closely. The Ten Commandments are void, then. Such acts asmurder, theft, adultery, and idolatry are permissible. Also, the laws stated in Leviticus 18and 19 are repealed.
On the other hand, if Christians are to keep some of the laws, why should notall apply? By what authority are only a few kept? Should not such laws as stoning an adulterer,eating only clean meat, or sacrificing animals not also be kept? Are not those mentioned inActs 15: 28-29 sufficient?
What was really abolished by the death and resurrection of Yahshua? He wasthe sacrifice for the sins of the people of the world for all time. Thus, animal sacrifice isno longer required. He became the High Priest who presented the sacrifice to Yahweh. Thus, theneed for human high priests has been eliminated. Yet, the scribes of Christianity haveeliminated all that they do not want to obey and have kept those which benefit them. Thechurches tend to follow their advice. They have done away with much of the Scripture and abideby tradition and some of the teachings of Paul.
Should we heed the warnings of the writers of Deuteronomy, Proverbs, andJeremiah? Some Christians invoke their interpretation of Revelation 22: 19, stating thatnothing is to be added to the "Bible." They say that the whole "Bible" is the "word of God."Therefore, are they not vulnerable to the curses in Deuteronomy 28 if they do not follow theLaws of Yahweh? The lying pens of the scribes of the time of Jeremiah are alive and activetoday.