FALSEHOOD, the Lie — and in Jeremiah it is nearly a proper noun. Not merely an untrue statement: a whole way of standing in the world that has no ground under it. The prophets 'prophesy sheqer in my name' and tell 'dreams of sheqer' (23:25, 32); the people 'walk in the sheqer' (23:14). It is the ninth commandment's word for a lying witness (Exodus 20:16) and the word for the deceitful balance (Proverbs 11:1). Its opposite in this chapter is not accuracy but emet — speaking God's word 'faithfully' (23:28) — and its natural companion is hevel, vapor: what the false prophets sell is empty, and what it makes of their hearers is empty too. → first discussed at Jer 23:25