Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.
Thou hast ... deceived. God, having even the false prophets in His hands, is here said to do that which, for inscrutable purposes, He permits them to do (Exodus 9:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:11: cf. Jeremiah 8:5, "Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they bold fast deceit, they refuse to return;" which passage shows that the dupes of error were self-prepared for it, and that Gods predestination did not destroy their moral freedom, as voluntary agents.) The false prophets foretold "peace," because they knew that the Jews wished to have this foretold to them, though God, by his prophets, foretold the opposite: and the Jews believed them rather than God; God overruled this to His purposes (Jeremiah 5:12; Jeremiah 14:13; Ezekiel 14:9).
Whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul - rather, 'reacheth to the life.'