Focused Passage

Jeremiah 12:1-4

When the Wicked Prosper and the LORD’s Inheritance Is Trampled

The chapter moves from Jeremiah's complaint about the prosperity of the wicked, to the LORD's answer that greater trials are coming, to the painful declaration that the LORD has forsaken his house and abandoned his inheritance, to the indictment of destructive shepherds who ruin the vineyard, and finally to a surprising promise of future compassion for both Judah and her neighboring nations if they learn the ways of the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

2You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

3But You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage.

4How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Righteousצַדִּ֤יקH6662Adjective - masculine singular[are] Youאַתָּה֙H859Pronoun - second person masculine singularO LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwhenכִּ֥יH3588ConjunctionI pleadאָרִ֖יבH7378Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularbefore Youאֵלֶ֑יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singularYetאַ֤ךְH389Adverbabout [Your] judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטִים֙H4639Noun - masculine pluralI wish to contendאֲדַבֵּ֣רH1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularwith Youאוֹתָ֔ךְH854Preposition | second person masculine singularWhyמַדּ֗וּעַH4069Interrogativedoes the wayדֶּ֤רֶךְH1870Noun - common singular constructof the wickedרְשָׁעִים֙H7563Adjective - masculine pluralprosperצָלֵ֔חָהH6743Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularWhy do all the faithlessבָֽגֶד׃H899Noun - masculine singular. . .כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular construct. . .בֹּ֥גְדֵיH898Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructlive at easeשָׁל֖וּH7951Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 2

Original words

You planted themנְטַעְתָּם֙H5193Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralandגַּם־H1571Conjunctionthey have taken rootשֹׁרָ֔שׁוּH8327Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common pluralThey have grownיֵלְכ֖וּH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralandגַּם־H1571Conjunctionproducedעָ֣שׂוּH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralfruitפֶ֑רִיH6529Noun - masculine singular. . .קָר֤וֹבH7138Adjective - masculine singularYouאַתָּה֙H859Pronoun - second person masculine singularare ever on their lipsבְּפִיהֶ֔םH6310Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralbut farוְרָח֖וֹקH7350Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singularfrom their heartsמִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃H3629Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Hebrew their kidneys
Verse 3

Original words

But Youוְאַתָּ֤הH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularknow meיְדַעְתָּ֔נִיH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularO LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularYou see meתִּרְאֵ֕נִיH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularand testוּבָחַנְתָּ֥H974Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularmy heartלִבִּ֖יH3820Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singulartoward Youאִתָּ֑ךְH854Preposition | second person masculine singularDrag away [the wicked]הַתִּקֵם֙H5423Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine plurallike sheepכְּצֹ֣אןH6629Preposition-k | Noun - common singularto the slaughterלְטִבְחָ֔הH2878Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularand set them apartוְהַקְדִּשֵׁ֖םH6942Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine pluralfor the dayלְי֥וֹםH3117Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof carnageהֲרֵגָֽה׃סH2028Noun - feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

How longעַד־H5704Preposition. . .מָתַי֙H4970Interrogativewill the landהָאָ֔רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularmournתֶּאֱבַ֣לH56Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularand the grassוְעֵ֥שֶׂבH6212Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof everyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructfieldהַשָּׂדֶ֖הH7704Article | Noun - masculine singularbe witheredיִיבָ֑שׁH3001Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularBecause of the evilמֵרָעַ֣תH7451Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof its residentsיֹֽשְׁבֵי־H3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructthe animalsבְהֵמוֹת֙H929Noun - feminine pluraland birdsוָע֔וֹףH5775Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularhave been swept awayסָפְתָ֤הH5595Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthe people have saidאָמְר֔וּH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralHe cannotלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleseeיִרְאֶ֖הH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerwhat our end will beאַחֲרִיתֵֽנוּ׃H319Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.