Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
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 12:14

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:14

Against all mine evil neighbors - All the neighboring nations who have united in desolating Judea shall be desolated in their turn: they also are wicked, and they shall be punished. If I make them executors of my justice, it is to them no proof of my approbation. God often uses one wicked nation to scourge another; and afterwards scourges the scourger by some other scourge. In some places a felon who was condemned to be hanged is made the common hangman for the county; he himself being still... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:15

I will return, and have compassion on them - This is a promise of restoration from the captivity, and an intimation also that some of their enemies would turn to the true God with them; learn the ways of his people; that is, would abjure idols, and take Jehovah for their God; and be built in the midst of his people, that is, Jew and Gentile forming one Church of the Most High. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:14

Verse 14 The Prophet now begins to mitigate what might have beyond measure exasperated the minds of the people; and this he did, not so much for the sake of the people in general, as for the sake of the elect, a few of whom still remained. We have indeed seen that it was all over with the body of the people; for it had been said to Jeremiah, “Pray not for them, for I will not hear them,” (Jeremiah 11:14) The Prophet then knew the immutable purpose of God as to the mass of the people. Nor did... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:15

Verse 15 God does not only promise mercy here to the Jews, but also to heathen nations, of whom he would be the Judge, to punish them for the sake of his people. And that this passage is to be extended to aliens is evident from the context; for the Prophet immediately adds, “And it shall be, that when they shall learn the ways of my people, to swear in my name, Live does Jehovah, as they have taught my people to swear by Baal, then shall they be built in the midst of my people.” We hence see... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:7-17

A separate prophecy. The key to it is in 2 Kings 24:1 , 2 Kings 24:2 , where it is related that, after Jehoiakim's rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, "Jehovah sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it." The prophecy falls into two strophes or sections, 2 Kings 24:7-13 and 2 Kings 24:14-17 . In the first we have a complaint of the desolation produced by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:14

Here occurs a transition. The prophet comes forward with a denunciation in the name of Jehovah. All mine evil neighbors ; the hostile, peoples, mentioned, in 2 Kings 24:1-20 . My neighbors, because Jehovah "dwelleth in Zion." Pluck them out of their land ; viz. by deportation into a foreign land. Judah and the neighboring nations shall share the same fate. This is indicated by the use of the same verb "to pluck out" in the next clause with reference to Judah. In the ease of Judah,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:14-17

General punishment and general restoration. I. PUNISHMENT IS GENERAL . It is not selective, it is impartially administered. 1. The people of God do not escape . If the Christian falls into sin, the Law of God must be vindicated on him at least as rigorously as on the worldly man, Judah had shared the sins of her neighbors; she must also share their punishment. If sin is general, so must be its penalties. No religious position which does not secure us against wickedness... read more

Group of Brands