וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁלֹ֣ום שָׁלֹ֑ום וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֹֽום׃
(Jeremiah 6:14)
And they healed the fracture of My people lightly saying “Peace, peace” but there is no peace
The Grammar of Denial
Jeremiah 6:14 is a damning indictment of false prophets and shallow leadership. It weaves together deceptive speech, superficial healing, and syntactic irony—all in a single verse. At the heart of this verse lies a deceptive healing verb וַיְרַפְּאוּ, a construct chain שֶׁבֶר עַמִּי, and a disjunctive negation וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם. But perhaps the most rhetorically potent device is the repeated lie: שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם (“peace, peace”).
In this study, we explore how grammatical construction in this verse enacts and critiques the very act of linguistic manipulation.
Morphological and Syntactic Analysis
- וַיְרַפְּאוּ (they healed) – Root: רפא; Form: Wayyiqtol, Qal, 3rd person plural masculine.
Notes: The wayyiqtol marks narrative sequence, ironically used here to begin a description of falsified action. - אֶת־שֶׁבֶר עַמִּי (the fracture of My people) – שֶׁבֶר is in construct with עַמִּי, showing possession.
Notes: The word שֶׁבֶר (fracture, breach) conveys injury or crisis, particularly military or moral collapse. - עַל־נְקַלָּה (lightly) – Root: נקַל (“light,” “trivial”); feminine singular noun functioning adverbially.
Notes: Describes the method or attitude of healing: superficially, without depth. - לֵאמֹר (saying) – Infinitive construct of אמר; introduces direct discourse.
- שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם (“Peace, peace”) – Reduplication of noun for rhetorical force, suggestive of public reassurance.
Notes: Hebrew often repeats words for emphasis or false calm, particularly in prophetic critique. - וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם (but there is no peace) – Disjunctive clause with וְ introducing contrast. אֵין is the existential negator.
Notes: The definitive punchline undercuts the repeated claim.
Table of Grammatical Features
| Phrase | Form & Function | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| וַיְרַפְּאוּ | Wayyiqtol (Qal) verb | False narrative healing begins the clause |
| אֶת־שֶׁבֶר עַמִּי | Construct chain with accusative | “The fracture of My people”; object of the healing |
| עַל־נְקַלָּה | Adverbial prepositional phrase | Indicates superficiality |
| שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם | Noun repetition | Emphasizes false assurance |
| וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם | Disjunctive existential negation | Ultimate rejection of false claim |
Semantics: Rhetoric of False Peace
The phrase שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם occurs multiple times in prophetic critique, always ironically. It is the language of propaganda—designed to lull the people into complacency, masking their true spiritual and social condition. The word שָׁלוֹם connotes wholeness, security, and covenantal well-being, making its misuse particularly egregious.
The repetition implies that the leaders are not just lying once—they are shouting it over and over. Hebrew’s use of repetition is often poetic, but here it is deeply ironic and damning.
Discourse Irony: Grammar as Judgment
The verse’s structure follows a devastating logic:
- Action: וַיְרַפְּאוּ – They healed
- Object: שֶׁבֶר עַמִּי – My people’s fracture
- Method: עַל־נְקַלָּה – Lightly, superficially
- Speech: שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם – They speak peace
- Reality: וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם – But there is no peace
This mirrors the discourse flow of deception: action without substance, language without truth, and hope without foundation.
Masoretic Features
The verse is framed with strong pausal accents. שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם ends with a zaqef gadol or similar, inviting pause after the repeated lie. The final וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם is delivered with heavy finality—marked musically and textually as the final verdict.
When Syntax Exposes Hypocrisy
Jeremiah 6:14 stands as a grammatical indictment. Its structure mimics the very falsehood it condemns: coordinated verbs and repeated nouns wrapped in deceptive calm. But Hebrew grammar doesn’t let the lie stand. The disjunctive clause וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם breaks the illusion like thunder. Here, syntax is no neutral tool—it becomes the voice of divine justice.
