Jeremiah 12:4

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2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root;
They grow, yes, they bear fruit.
^aYou are near in their mouth
But far from their¹ mind.

3 But You, O Lord, ^aknow me;
You have seen me,
And You have ^btested my heart toward You.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
And prepare them for ^cthe day of slaughter.

4 How long will ^athe land mourn,
And the herbs of every field wither?
^bThe beasts and birds are consumed,
^cFor the wickedness of those who dwell there,
Because they said, “He will not see our final end.”

The Lord Answers Jeremiah

5 “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,
Then how can you contend with horses?
And if in the land of peace,
In which you trusted, they wearied you,
Then how will you do in ^athe floodplain of the Jordan?

6 For even ^ayour brothers, the house of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you;
Yes, they have called¹ a multitude after you.
^bDo not believe them,
Even though they speak¹ smooth words to you.

7 “I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage;
I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.

8 My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest;
It cries out against Me;
Therefore I have ^ahated it.

9 My¹ heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture;
The vultures all around are against her.
Come, assemble all the beasts of the field,
^aBring them to devour!

10 “Many ^arulers have destroyed ^bMy vineyard,
They have ^ctrodden My portion underfoot;
They have made My¹ pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

<< Jeremiah 12:3

Jeremiah 12:5 >>

Jeremiah 12:4

The Hebrew divides this verse differently. "How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of the whole field wither? Because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein cattle and fowl have ceased to be: for he will not see, say they, our latter end." The people mock the prophet, saying, In spite of all his threatenings we shall outlive him.

Jeremiah complained that at a time of great general misery powerful men throve upon the ruin of others: even the innocent cattle and fowl suffered with the rest. To him it seemed that all this might have been cured by some signal display of divine justice. If God, instead of dealing with men by general and slow-working laws, would tear (out some of the worst offenders from among the rest, the land might yet be saved.

**Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Jeremiah 12:4:**

Jeremiah 11:1
Jeremiah 13:27
Jeremiah 23:10
Romans 8:19

<< Jeremiah 12:3

Jeremiah 12:5 >>

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