“Peace, Peace”—The Syntax and Irony of Faux Healing

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. עַל־נְקַלָּה (lightly) – Root: נקַל (“light,” “trivial”); feminine singular noun functioning adverbially.
    Notes: Describes the method or attitude of healing: superficially, without depth.
  4. לֵאמֹר (saying) – Infinitive construct of אמר; introduces direct discourse.
  5. 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.
  6. 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:

  1. Action: וַיְרַפְּאוּ – They healed
  2. Object: שֶׁבֶר עַמִּי – My people’s fracture
  3. Method: עַל־נְקַלָּה – Lightly, superficially
  4. Speech: שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם – They speak peace
  5. 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.

About Biblical Hebrew

Learn Biblical Hebrew Online. Studying Biblical Hebrew online opens a direct window into the sacred texts of the Hebrew Bible, allowing readers to engage with Scripture in its original linguistic and cultural context. By learning the language in which much of the Tanakh was written, students can move beyond translations and discover the nuanced meanings, poetic structures, and theological depth embedded in the Hebrew text. Online learning provides flexible and accessible avenues to build these skills, whether through self-paced modules, guided instruction, or interactive resources. As one grows in proficiency, the richness of biblical narratives, laws, prayers, and prophetic visions comes to life with renewed clarity, making the study of Biblical Hebrew not only an intellectual pursuit but a deeply rewarding spiritual and cultural journey.
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