Jeremiah 12:12-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 12:7-13

The people of the Jews are here marked for ruin. I. God is here brought in falling out with them and leaving them desolate; and they could never have been undone if they had not provoked God to desert them. It is a terrible word that God here says (Jer. 12:7): I have forsaken my house?the temple, which had been his palace; they had polluted it, and so forced him out of it: I have left my heritage, and will look after it no more. His people that he has taken such delight in, and care of, are... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 12:14-17

The prophets sometimes, in God's name, delivered messages both of judgment and mercy to the nations that bordered on the land of Israel: but here is a message to all those in general who had in their turns been one way or other injurious to God's people, had either oppressed them or triumphed in their being oppressed. Observe, I. What the quarrel was that God had with them. They were his evil neighbours (Jer. 12:14), evil neighbours to his church, and what they did against it he took as done... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 12:12

The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness ,.... Of Judea; or which lay between Chaldea and Judea, through which the Chaldean army came; called here the "spoilers", because they spoiled and plundered all places where they came; nor could the high, strong, and fortified places withstand them, or escape their ravage and fury. De Dieu renders it, "upon all the plains in the wilderness"; where was pasture, land for cattle, as Kimchi serves; which were trodden down and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 12:13

They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns ,.... Which may be understood literally, the land of Judea being cursed for their sins, and become barren and unfruitful, as the earth originally was for the sin of the first man, Genesis 3:19 , or rather figuratively, which some interpret of the prophets as Kimchi, sowing the good seed of the word among the Jews; but it did not take place in them, and bring forth fruit; instead thereof thorns sprung up, or evil works were done by them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 12:14

Thus saith the Lord against all mine evil neighbours ,.... Or, "concerning" F8 על כל "de omnibus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius. them; the Egyptians, Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Tyre, and Sidon; whom the Lord calls his "neighbours", because they were near the land of Canaan, where his people dwelt, to whom he vouchsafed his presence, and where the temple was in which he took up his residence; and his "evil" neighbours, because they often distressed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 12:15

And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out ,.... Not the Jews only, but more especially their neighbouring nations; after they have been plucked up and carried captive, and been in captivity some time: I will return, and have compassion on them ; or, "have compassion on them again" F9 אשוב ורהמתים "rursus misereat me illorum", Junius & Tremellius; "rursus miserabor ipsorum", Piscator; "denuo miserabor ipsorum", Cocceius. ; by returning their captivity, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 12:16

And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people ,.... Not their evil ways of sin or superstition, they sometimes stray into; but the ways which God has prescribed to them, and has directed them to walk in, and in which they do walk; and which are to be learned of the Lord, by a diligent attendance with his people on his word and ordinances; see Isaiah 2:3 , to swear by my name, the Lord liveth ; that is, to worship and serve the living God, a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 12:17

But if they will not obey ,.... Or "hear" F11 ישמעו "audierint", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "audient", Cocceius. ; the word of the Lord, and hearken to the ministers of the Gospel, and be subject to the ordinances of it; or as the Targum, "will not receive instruction:' I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the Lord : root it up from being a nation, strip it of all its privileges and enjoyments, and destroy it with an everlasting destruction; see Zechariah... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:12

The sword of the Lord shall devour - It is the sword of the Lord that has devoured, and will devour: this is what no man layeth to heart. They think these things come in the course of events. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:13

They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns - All their projects shall fail: none of their enterprises shall succeed. They are enemies to God, and therefore cannot have his blessing. read more

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