Jeremiah 12

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:3

But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried my heart toward thee: here seemeth to be something understood, viz. But, Lord, it is otherwise with me, I am maligned, and my life is hunted after; yet, Lord, thou knowest the sincerity of my heart before and towards thee, thou hast had experience of me in the discharge of my prophetical office, and knowest that I have been faithful in revealing to the people what thou didst reveal to me, yet for this it is they seek my life and would... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:4

The prophet seems to give a reason of his former passion and prayer against those wicked men he before reflected on, because they were the cause of the nation’s ruin, which is also asserted by the psalmist, Psalms 107:34. A land is said to mourn, metaphorically, when it is brought to an ill complexion, and looketh unpleasantly, the grass and green herbs in it being destroyed by enemies, or drought, or vermin. Nay, the effects of their wicked courses reached to the very beasts and birds, because... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:5

That these are the answer of God to the prophet is reasonably well agreed by the best interpreters, as also that this is a proverbial expression; but as to the application of it in this place, there is some difference. Some make it this: If thou dost not understand what is done by the men of thine own city, how canst thou think to fathom my dispensations of providence in the government of the world? But this sense seemeth not very probable, because the sense of the proverb seemeth to be, If... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:6

The men of Anathoth, thine own town and country, and those of thy own family, have conspired evil against thee secretly. They have called a multitude after thee; either they have exposed thee to the rage and rudeness of a multitude, or they have accused thee to a multitude. Though therefore they give thee many fair words, yet repose no trust nor confidence in them, but look to thyself. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:7

God by his house here understandeth the temple, which God is said here to have forsaken with respect to his gracious manifestations in it to the people that came thither to worship him. By his heritage he means the whole body of the Israelites, called God’s heritage not in this chapter only, but Jeremiah 2:7; Joel 2:17; Micah 7:14; whom God threateneth to leave with respect to his special providence, by which he had taken care of them; upon which account Canaan is called the land which God... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:8

That is, the reason why my heart is alienated from them, is because they are altered; those that were as my sheep, following me their chief Shepherd, and the guidance of those prophets and pastors which I set over them, are become like lions in the forest roaring against me, and rending and tearing the prophets which I sent unto them. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:9

Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird: the word in the Hebrew signifies to dye, or colour, and interpreters are here divided, whether to interpret it of a bird coloured by nature (so our translators understood it, and therefore have translated it speckled) or by accident, as ravenous birds are coloured by the blood of other birds killed by them. Hence some interpret the text as a reflection upon the Jews for their cruelty, coloured by their oppression and innocent bloodshed. Others, of... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:10

By pastors most here think civil persons, not ecclesiastical officers, are meant; but they are divided, some interpreting it of the rulers and princes of Nebuchadnezzar’s army, who took Jerusalem, and destroyed Judah, called God’s vineyard, Isaiah 5:1,Isaiah 5:2; others understanding it of the rulers of the Jews, who by their wicked government, and as wicked example, had ruined their country, and caused God to turn the country which he had chosen for his portion, and declared such a pleasure... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:11

They have made it desolate, Heb. He hath made it desolate; but it cannot be meant of God, for it is God that speaketh, and God is he mentioned in the next words: it must therefore either be understood of Nebuchadnezzar, the instrumental cause; or (one number being put for another) of the people or the rulers as the meritorious cause; and in that rueful state into which their sins had brought it it cried unto God. And one great cause of this sore judgment upon the land; as the people’s not... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 12:12

The prophet (as very usually) speaketh of a thing as already done which was very shortly to be done; he saith they were come up because they should come up, and no places should be so high but they should climb them, none so strong but they should subdue them. The sword of the enemy is called the sword of the Lord, because he ordereth and succeeds it, though the enemy manageth it; and he saith it shall be against all, of all ranks and orders, no flesh should have peace; by no flesh he meaneth... read more

Group of Brands