Jeremiah 12

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:14-17

Mercy and judgment. In these verses we have one of the "larger words "which make the whole world's testament of salvation and life. The threatenings are stern and will be executed to the letter; but the promises seem to transcend the immediate occasion. A gate of hope and redemption was herein opened to multitudes who at that date were not included in the covenant of Israel. The conditions upon which their possible comprehension within the future Israel is based are moral and spiritual,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:14-17

The tide that has no ebb, but overflows. Such is the grace of God. I. IT HAS NO EBB . It seemed to be going back in regard to those to whom the prophet wrote. What terrible calamities were threatened and also came! How dark the face of God seemed towards them! But they were to be restored Jeremiah 12:14 , "I will pluck out the house of Judah from among ye. And even yet God's mercies to his ancient people are not done. Another restoration is to be theirs. "The gifts and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:15

I will return, and have compassion . The rendering is too Hebraistic; the sense is simply, I will again have compassion . The prophets offer no partial or "nationalistic" view; of the mercy of God (comp. on Jeremiah 48:47 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:16

Israel has been converted and restored, and if the other nations follow his example and swear by my name , i.e. adopt the religion of Jehovah (comp. Isaiah 19:18 ), they shall be rewarded by being suffered to dwell safely in Israel's midst. Observe the contrast with Jeremiah 12:14 . Before, Israel had dwelt amidst them to his own detriment; now they shall dwell amidst Israel to their profit. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 12

Some divide Jeremiah 12:0 into three extracts Jeremiah 12:1-7, Jeremiah 12:14-17 from discourses of Jeremiah not preserved at length; others regard it as a connected discourse occasioned by a drought in the days of Josiah (compare Jeremiah 12:4); others see in the “evil neighbors” Jeremiah 12:14, an allusion to the bands of Syrians etc., who infested the land after Jehoiakim’s revolt from Nebuchadnezzar. More probably the outburst of expostulation Jeremiah 12:1-4 was occasioned by the plot of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 12:1

Yet let me talk ... - Rather, yet will I speak with thee on a matter of right. This sense is well given in the margin. The prophet acknowledges the general righteousness of God’s dealings, but cannot reconcile with it the properity of the conspirators of Anathoth This difficulty was often present to the minds of the saints of the Old Testament, see Job 21:7 ff; Psalms 37:0; Psalms 73:0.Happy - Rather, secure, tranquil. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 12:2

Their veins - i. e., their heart. The reins were regarded by the Jews as the seat of the affections. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 12:3

Thou hast seen me ... - Rather, “Thou seest me and triest mine heart” at all times, and knowest the sincerity of its devotion” toward Thee.”Pull them out - The original is used Jeremiah 10:20 of the rending asunder of the cords of the tent, and Ezekiel 17:9 of the tearing up of roots. Jeremiah does not doubt God’s justice, or the ultimate punishment of the wicked, but he wants it administered in a summary way.Prepare - literally, “sanctify,” i. e., devote. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 12:4

The Hebrew divides this verse differently. “How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of the whole field wither? Because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein cattle and fowl have ceased to be: for he will not see, say they, our latter end.” The people mock the prophet, saying, In spite of all his threatenings we shall outlive him.Jeremiah complained that at a time of great general misery powerful men throve upon the ruin of others: even the innocent cattle and fowl suffered with the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 12:5-6

Yahweh rebukes Jeremiah’s impatience, showing him by two proverbial sayings, that there were still greater trials of faith in store for him. Prosperous wickedness is after all a mere ordinary trial, a mere “running with the footmen;” he will have to exert far greater powers of endurance.And if in the land ... - Rather, “and in a land of peace thou art secure; but how wilt thou do amid the pride of Jordan?” if thou canst feel safe only where things are tranquil, what wilt thou do in the hour of... read more

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