Jeremiah 12 10

Jeremiah 12:10 kjv

Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Jeremiah 12:10 nkjv

"Many rulers have destroyed My vineyard, They have trodden My portion underfoot; They have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Jeremiah 12:10 niv

Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.

Jeremiah 12:10 esv

Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard; they have trampled down my portion; they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Jeremiah 12:10 nlt

"Many rulers have ravaged my vineyard,
trampling down the vines
and turning all its beauty into a barren wilderness.

Jeremiah 12 verses

Jeremiah 12 10 Meaning

This verse serves as a profound lament from God, expressing His deep anguish and anger over the devastation wrought upon His cherished people, Israel/Judah, by their own unfaithful leaders. Using the potent metaphors of a "vineyard" and a "pleasant portion," the verse describes how those entrusted with spiritual and political oversight ("many shepherds") have not only neglected but actively "destroyed" and "trodden under foot" God's chosen heritage. The consequence of their actions is the transformation of a once fruitful and beloved entity into a barren and "desolate wilderness," signifying utter ruin and the betrayal of God's divine purpose for His nation.

Jeremiah 12 10 Context

Jeremiah chapter 12 begins with the prophet Jeremiah questioning God about the prosperity of the wicked (v. 1-4), highlighting his spiritual wrestling with divine justice amidst national corruption. God's response (v. 5-6) is a challenging rhetorical question, urging Jeremiah to prepare for even greater difficulties, especially from those closest to him. Verses 7-9 introduce God's own lament, expressing His sorrow and decision to abandon His "house" and "heritage" because of their rebellious actions and idolatry. Jeremiah 12:10 then details how this beloved "vineyard" became desolate, directly attributing the destruction to "many shepherds"—a metaphor for the religious and political leaders of Judah. Historically, Judah in Jeremiah's era (late 7th to early 6th century BCE) was on the precipice of Babylonian exile. It was characterized by systemic corruption, idolatry, social injustice, and the spiritual blindness of its leadership, directly contradicting their covenant responsibilities and leading the people astray.

Jeremiah 12 10 Word analysis

• Many shepherds (רֹעִים רַבִּים, ro'im rabbim): "Shepherds" (a common biblical metaphor for leaders: kings, priests, prophets) denote those entrusted with the care and guidance of God's people. "Many" signifies that this was not an isolated issue but a widespread systemic failure of leadership across the nation. Their collective neglect and malfeasance are implicated in the disaster.
• have destroyed (אִבְּדוּ, ibbadu): From the Hebrew root ’āḇaḏ, meaning "to perish, be ruined, destroy utterly." This indicates a complete and catastrophic devastation, suggesting either malicious intent or gross negligence that resulted in the ruin of God's spiritual and national heritage.
• my vineyard (כַּרְמִי, karmî): A rich and frequently used biblical metaphor for Israel or Judah (e.g., Isa 5, Ps 80), symbolizing God's carefully cultivated people, chosen and nurtured to produce righteousness and spiritual fruit. The possessive "my" emphasizes God's personal ownership and deep investment in them.
• they have trodden my portion under foot (רָמְסוּ אֶת־חֶלְקָתִי, ramsû ’eṯ-ḥelqāṯî):
  • trodden (רָמְסוּ, ramsû): "To trample, subjugate, or disrespect." This action implies severe mistreatment, violence, and utter contempt, degrading something valuable and sacred.
  • my portion (חֶלְקָתִי, ḥelqāṯî): Signifies an allotted share, inheritance, or piece of land. Here it represents God's people, Israel, as His special heritage (Deut 32:9). This phrasing emphasizes God's intimate relationship and rightful claim.
• they have made (שָׂמוּ, sāśmū): Indicates an active role in transforming something. The leaders are portrayed as the agents of this destructive change.
• my pleasant portion (חֶלְקַת חֶמְדָּתִי, ḥelqaṯ ḥemdaṯî): "Desired, delightful, or precious heritage." Ḥemdaṯî reinforces the value and beauty God saw in His people and land, intensifying the tragedy of its desecration. This was a place of divine pleasure and blessing.
• a desolate wilderness (לְמִדְבַּר יְשִׁימוֹן, ləmiḏbar yəšîmôn): "Wilderness" (miḏbar) and "wasteland/desolation" (yəšîmôn) together depict utter barrenness, emptiness, and ruin. This stark image portrays the ultimate consequence of corrupt leadership: a complete reversal of divine blessing, replacing fruitfulness with sterility and vibrancy with lifelessness, devoid of God's presence and productivity.

Words-Group Analysis:

• Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard: This juxtaposition sharply contrasts the expected role of shepherds (protection, nourishment) with their actual destructive behavior towards God's beloved and cultivated people, highlighting a profound betrayal of trust and responsibility.
• they have trodden my portion under foot; they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness: These two parallel clauses amplify the severity of the destruction. "Trodden under foot" vividly conveys contempt and violence against something sacred. The resulting "desolate wilderness" speaks of complete and irreversible ruin, transforming a place of divine beauty and anticipated fruitfulness into utter barrenness due to the unfaithfulness of those appointed to care for it.

Jeremiah 12 10 Bonus section

The transformation from "vineyard" to "desolate wilderness" is highly significant, portraying not just damage but a complete reversal of God's creative and redemptive work. In the Ancient Near East, a king's failure often resulted in land becoming barren. God's vineyard, representing Israel as a divinely ordered society, had been reduced to chaos. This severe consequence from internal corruption by "shepherds" directly contrasts with God's ultimate plan to raise up a Good Shepherd, who would tend His flock with righteousness and bring true restoration, foreshadowing the redemptive work of Christ (Jn 10). The lament anticipates the Babylonian exile, a period where Judah experienced literal desolation, but also points to the spiritual barrenness that precedes and justifies such physical judgments.

Jeremiah 12 10 Commentary

Jeremiah 12:10 is a poignant divine lament revealing God's anguish over the self-inflicted spiritual and national ruin of Judah. It fundamentally identifies unfaithful leadership—"many shepherds" comprising kings, priests, and prophets—as the primary agents responsible for "destroying" and "trampling" His people ("my vineyard," "my pleasant portion"). This imagery stresses the catastrophic consequences of their idolatry, injustice, and failure to guide the people in truth, leading Judah into spiritual and physical barrenness, epitomized as a "desolate wilderness." The verse serves as a powerful warning about the profound accountability of those in authority to God, emphasizing that neglect or active malice in leadership has devastating, far-reaching effects on God's people and grieves His heart deeply. It underlines that internal corruption can be as destructive, if not more so, than external threats.