Focused Passage

Jeremiah 12:5-6

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

5 “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?

6 Even your brothers—your own father’s household—even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 5

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 9:24 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 4:12 Classic cross-references Proverbs 24:10 Classic cross-references Hebrews 12:3 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 10:13 Classic cross-references

Original words

If כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction you have raced רַ֙צְתָּה֙ H7323 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular with אֶת־ H854 Preposition men on foot רַגְלִ֥ים׀ H7273 Adjective - masculine plural and they have worn you out וַיַּלְא֔וּךָ H3811 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person masculine singular how וְאֵ֥יךְ H349 Conjunctive waw | Interjection can you compete תְּתַֽחֲרֶ֖ה H8474 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular with אֶת־ H854 Preposition horses הַסּוּסִ֑ים H5483 Article | Noun - masculine plural If you אַתָּ֣ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular stumble בוֹטֵ֔חַ H982 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular in a peaceful שָׁלוֹם֙ H7965 Noun - masculine singular land וּבְאֶ֤רֶץ H776 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct how וְאֵ֥יךְ H349 Conjunctive waw | Interjection will you do תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular in the thickets בִּגְא֥וֹן H1347 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of the Jordan הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ H3383 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

Matthew 10:36 Classic cross-references Proverbs 26:25 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 9:4 Classic cross-references Mark 6:4 Classic cross-references Psalms 12:2 Classic cross-references

Original words

Even כִּ֧י H3588 Conjunction . . . גַם־ H1571 Conjunction your brothers אַחֶ֣יךָ H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular your own father’s אָבִ֗יךָ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular household וּבֵית־ H1004 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct even גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction they הֵ֙מָּה֙ H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural have betrayed בָּ֣גְדוּ H898 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural you בָ֔ךְ Preposition | second person masculine singular even גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction they הֵ֛מָּה H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural have cried קָרְא֥וּ H7121 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural aloud מָלֵ֑א H4392 Adjective - masculine singular against you אַחֲרֶ֖יךָ H310 Preposition | second person masculine singular Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb trust תַּאֲמֵ֣ן H539 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular them בָּ֔ם Preposition | third person masculine plural though כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction they speak יְדַבְּר֥וּ H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural well טוֹבֽוֹת׃ס H2896 Noun - feminine plural of you אֵלֶ֖יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular

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