Jeremiah 12:2 ESV

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

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 12:2-3

Jeremiah 12:2-3. Thou hast planted them In a rich soil, by thy power: they have taken root; they grow Their prosperity seems to be confirmed and settled by thy providence. Thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins They talk of thee, and profess piety, but do not believe in and obey thee from their hearts; the true character this of hypocrites, who, according to Isaiah, honour God with their mouths, but their hearts are far from him, Isaiah 29:13. But thou, O Lord, knowest... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-17

Jeremiah’s complaint; God’s answer (12:1-17)As he thinks back on the treachery of the people of Anathoth, Jeremiah is prompted to complain to God. Innocent people suffer, whereas wicked people live at ease. Why is it, he asks, that God allows the wicked to prosper? God gives them life and food, and they grow fat and prosperous, though their hearts are far from God (12:1-2). Jeremiah, by contrast, remains true to God, yet he suffers. Indeed, the whole land suffers because of the sins of people... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jeremiah 12:2

near. Anathoth was a city of priests. mouth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the words uttered by it. reins = kidneys. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the affections. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:2

Jeremiah 12:2. They grow, &c.— Thou art near in their mouth, but far from their reins; signifies, agreeably to another passage in Scripture, They honour thee with their lips, while their heart is far from thee, See Isaiah 29:13.Matthew 15:8; Matthew 15:8. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 12:2

2. grow—literally, "go on," "progress." Thou givest them sure dwellings and increasing prosperity. near in . . . mouth . . . far from . . . reins— (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8). Hypocrites. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 12:2

The Lord had been responsible for these wicked people coming into existence, growing, and flourishing, like trees. This was a result of His "common grace" (cf. Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:35). They spoke freely about Yahweh, but they did not really take Him into consideration. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:1-17

1-4. The prosperity of the wicked perplexes Jeremiah.1. Wherefore, etc.] The question was one which much exercised men of pre-Christian times who had no clear view of any but temporal rewards and punishments. See Psalms 37, 39, 49, 73, and Job (specially Jeremiah 21:7) The plots of his fellow-townsmen at Anathoth (see Jeremiah 11) were probably the occasion of this outburst of Jeremiah’s. 2. Near in their mouth, etc.] They honour God with their lips but their heart is far from Him. 4. A drought... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jeremiah 12:2

(2) Thou hast planted them.—The words express, of course, the questioning distrust of the prophet. The wicked flourish, so that one would think God had indeed planted them. Yet all the while they were mocking Him with hypocritical worship (here we have an echo of Isaiah 29:13), uttering His name with their lips while He was far from that innermost being which the Hebrew symbolised by the “reins.” read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Jeremiah 12:1-17

Trivial Trouble Jeremiah 12:5 The proof that so many of us have little real trouble is found in the fact that we so piercingly bewail trifling losses and pains; were the distresses more acute, we should say less about them. I. The habit of pampering ourselves shows how far we have lost sight of the seriousness of life. The sacramental host of God has ever been prepared to accept great losses and sufferings for the high rewards it contemplates. 'The noble army of martyrs' is the glory of God's... read more