Jeremiah 12:3 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-6

The prophet doubts not but it would be of use to others to know what had passed between God and his soul, what temptations he had been assaulted with and how he had got over them; and therefore he here tells us, I. What liberty he humbly took, and was graciously allowed him, to reason with God concerning his judgments, Jer. 12:1. He is about to plead with God, not to quarrel with him, or find fault with his proceedings, but to enquire into the meaning of them, that he might more and more see... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 12:3

But thou, O Lord, knowest me ,.... The Lord knew him before he was born, Jeremiah 1:5 , he knew what he designed him for, and what use he would make of him; and he knew him now, and loved him, and cared for him, as his prophet; he knew his sincerity and faithfulness, and took notice of it, with what integrity he performed his office, and discharged his duty; and he knew that all his enemies said of him were scandal and reproach, lies and calumnies. Thou hast seen me ; his inside, his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:3

But thou, O Lord, knowest me - I know that the very secrets of my heart are known to thee; and I am glad of it, for thou knowest that my heart is towards thee - is upright and sincere. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:3

Verse 3 The Prophet is not here solicitous about himself, but, on the contrary, undertakes the defense of his own office, as though he had said that, he faithfully discharged the office committed to him by God. Though then the Jews, and even the citizens of Anathoth, his own people, unjustly persecuted him, yet he was not excited by private wrongs; and though he disregarded these entirely, he yet could not give up the defense of his office. He then does not speak here of his own private... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-4

Moral difficulties with the providence of God. The tone of this address to Jehovah is strikingly contrasted with that to the men of Anathoth. To them he is as a lion or a brazen wall. To Jehovah he is as a fretful child, ignorant, willful, perverse, and requiring to be corrected. I. THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED A STUMBLING - BLOCK TO FAITH . ( Jeremiah 12:1 , Jeremiah 12:2 .) David even is envious over this, and many a saint has felt its bitterness in his soul.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-4

The prophet puzzled by the prosperity of the wicked. I. How THIS PUZZLE ARISES . It arises from the presence of a number of facts together, the coexistence of which the prophet finds it impossible to explain. 1. There is his assurance as to the character of Jehovah . He speaks confidently as to the Divine righteousness. Observe how it is the thing that he starts with. All our doubts will get cleared up in the end, however long the process may be, if only we start with the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-5

The prophet's complaint. The writings of the prophets are often as much historic as they are prophetic; historic of personal as well as national experiences, of inward thoughts and emotions as of outward incidents. In tracing the current of events, the writers disclose the workings of their own spirits, and in expounding and vindicating God's ways with Israel or with other nations, they indicate the method of his dealings with themselves. This was singularly true of Jeremiah, and we have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:3

Hast seen me, and tried ; rather, seest me , and triest . Pull them out. Perhaps this is correct, and there is an allusion to the figure of the plant in Jeremiah 12:2 . But the verb need mean no more than "separate" (comp. Jeremiah 6:29 ). Prepare them ; literally, consecrate them , as victims for the sacrifice. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:3

Imprecatory prayers. "Pull them out like sheep," etc. There are many of these. Some of them, like this one, are very terrible (cf. Psalms 109:1-31 .; Psalms 137:9 , etc.). How are they to be understood? how justified? Of what use are they to us now? Questions like these cannot but be started in reading such prayers. The difficulty of them has been felt by almost every Christian and even humane reader. To get rid of such difficulty— I. SOME HAVE SPIRITUALIZED THEM . The... 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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 12:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 12:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 12:3

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

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