Jeremiah 12 14

Jeremiah 12:14 kjv

Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

Jeremiah 12:14 nkjv

Thus says the LORD: "Against all My evil neighbors who touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit?behold, I will pluck them out of their land and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

Jeremiah 12:14 niv

This is what the LORD says: "As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the people of Judah from among them.

Jeremiah 12:14 esv

Thus says the LORD concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the heritage that I have given my people Israel to inherit: "Behold, I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.

Jeremiah 12:14 nlt

Now this is what the LORD says: "I will uproot from their land all the evil nations reaching out for the possession I gave my people Israel. And I will uproot Judah from among them.

Jeremiah 12 verses

Jeremiah 12 14 Meaning

Jeremiah 12:14 describes a declaration from the Lord concerning the hostile nations bordering Israel who have encroached upon the land given to His people. Yahweh declares that He will uproot these wicked neighbors from their own land, indicating a divine judgment against them. Simultaneously, this judgment also extends to the house of Judah, signifying a divine discipline where Judah, too, will be uprooted from its inheritance as a consequence of its own unfaithfulness. The verse establishes God's sovereignty over all nations and His specific concern for His covenant people and their divinely appointed land.

Jeremiah 12 14 Context

Jeremiah chapter 12 follows Jeremiah's complaint to God about the prosperity of the wicked (vv. 1-4). God responds by questioning Jeremiah's readiness for greater struggles, using vivid imagery of racing horses and jungles (vv. 5-6). The Lord then shifts to describing His own distress over His inheritance, Judah, which has become like a 'many-colored bird of prey' attracting other predators (vv. 7-13). This passage laments Judah's desolation and its unfaithfulness, implying the destruction caused by enemies is God's judgment. Jeremiah 12:14 immediately follows this lament, introducing a further divine declaration that expands the scope of judgment beyond Judah to include its neighboring nations who have encroached upon Israel's divinely given land. These "wicked neighbors" are distinct from the specific destroyers mentioned in v.12 and are subject to God's universal justice.

Jeremiah 12 14 Word analysis

• כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה (Koh amar YHWH): "Thus says the LORD." This is a quintessential prophetic formula, indicating a direct, authoritative divine declaration. It underscores the certainty and divine origin of the message, establishing the Lord as the ultimate speaker and sovereign authority.
• עַל כָּל־שְׁכֵנַי הָרָעִים (al kol-sh'khenay ha-ra'im): "Concerning all my evil neighbors."
  • שְׁכֵנַי (sh'khenay - my neighbors): Refers to the nations bordering Israel, such as Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Tyre. These are God's 'neighbors' in a geographical and metaphorical sense, as they interact with His people and land.
  • רָעִים (ra'im - evil/wicked): Describes their moral character and their actions against Israel. This evil isn't just a generic moral failing, but specifically pertains to their hostility, invasion, and oppression of God's inheritance. Their 'evil' is often tied to idolatry, violence, and arrogance.
• הַנֹּגְעִים בַּנַּחֲלָה (ha-noge'im ba-nachalah): "Who touch/attack the inheritance."
  • נֹגְעִים (noge'im - who touch/attack): This verb can mean "to touch" but in this context carries the strong implication of "to strike," "to injure," or "to violate." It denotes hostile encroachment, seizing, or defiling of something sacred.
  • בַּנַּחֲלָה (ba-nachalah - the inheritance): Refers primarily to the land of Israel, which God gave as an enduring possession to His people (Num 33:55). The land is considered God's own property, thus an assault on it is an assault on Him and His covenant promise.
• אֲשֶׁר הִנְחַלְתִּי אֶת־עַמִּי אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל (asher hin’khaltí et-‘amí et-Yisra'el): "Which I caused My people Israel to inherit." This emphasizes God's active role as the Giver of the inheritance. It underscores Israel's special status as "My people" and that the land is not merely a conquest, but a divine gift and promise.
• הִנְנִי נֹתְשָׁם מֵעַל אַדְמָתָם (hin'není notsham me’al admatam): "Behold, I am about to uproot them from their land."
  • הִנְנִי (hin'není - Behold, I [am about]): Signals an imminent, firm, and personal divine action.
  • נֹתְשָׁם (notsham - I will uproot them): The verb "natash" means to pull up, tear away, pluck out, uproot. It conveys complete displacement and removal, often associated with judgment and expulsion from one's secure dwelling place (cf. Jer 1:10). This implies a reversal of fortunes, a loss of their own inherited stability.
  • אַדְמָתָם (admatam - their land): Just as Israel has its divinely given land, these nations also inhabit their own lands. God's action against them is a direct judgment on their national security and dwelling.
• וְאֵת בֵּית יְהוּדָה אֶתֹּשׁ מִתּוֹכָם (ve’et bet Yehudah ettosh mittokham): "And the house of Judah I will uproot from among them."
  • וְאֵת בֵּית יְהוּדָה (ve’et bet Yehudah - And the house of Judah): Refers to the Southern Kingdom, God's covenant people.
  • אֶתֹּשׁ (ettosh - I will uproot): The same strong verb of uprooting is used here, emphasizing a similar, severe displacement. This highlights that God's judgment is impartial, applying to His own people when they stray (1 Pet 4:17).
  • מִתּוֹכָם (mittokham - from among them): Judah will be removed from the midst of these hostile neighbors. This is a painful consequence of their own idolatry and disobedience, resulting in exile (Jer 25:9). It positions Judah in a collective judgment with the nations, yet with the underlying promise of restoration for them that is absent for the others.

Words-group analysis:

• "Thus says the LORD concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the inheritance which I caused my people Israel to inherit": This phrase meticulously identifies the targeted group and their offense. It links the actions of the neighboring nations directly to God's own land and people, framing their hostile acts as an affront to divine prerogative. The repeated emphasis on "My people Israel" and "My inheritance" reinforces the covenant context.
• "Behold, I am about to uproot them from their land, and the house of Judah I will uproot from among them": This segment announces a twofold judgment. The parallelism of "uproot them from their land" and "uproot Judah from among them" underscores divine sovereignty over both groups. It shows God’s active intervention in historical events and highlights a temporary collective destiny, although the spiritual distinction and future hope for Judah remain unique.

Jeremiah 12 14 Bonus section

The divine judgment on the "evil neighbors" who encroached on Israel's inheritance is not necessarily one of total annihilation for all time. Jeremiah 12:15-17 immediately provides a surprising qualification: there is a potential for mercy and restoration even for these nations, should they "diligently learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, 'As the Lord lives!'" This suggests that God's ultimate plan is not just judgment but also a redemptive invitation extended even to Gentiles. It highlights the universality of God's saving grace, provided they humble themselves and embrace Yahweh as their God. This "turning point" for the nations, though contingent on their actions, echoes the broader prophetic theme of Gentile inclusion in the future kingdom, transforming hostile neighbors into genuine followers of Yahweh. This also sets up a potential dynamic where former enemies can become integrated into God's covenant family, reflecting the expansive nature of God's redemptive plan for all humanity (Isa 2:2-4; Zech 8:20-23).

Jeremiah 12 14 Commentary

Jeremiah 12:14 is a critical verse, demonstrating the panoramic scope of God's justice and sovereignty. It pivots from the internal judgment on Judah (vv. 7-13) to an external one on the surrounding hostile nations. These "evil neighbors" are condemned for "touching" or attacking Israel's land, which God explicitly states He caused His people to inherit, thus rendering their aggression a direct offense against God himself. The repeated term "uproot" (Hebrew: natash) conveys a powerful image of complete displacement, a severe and definitive act of divine judgment, reflecting a cosmic reordering. This immediate, drastic punishment on the aggressor nations confirms God's covenant faithfulness to Israel, even when Israel itself is undergoing judgment. Intriguingly, Judah also faces being "uprooted," not from its land (as the neighbors are), but "from among them," meaning it will be taken into exile alongside or through the same general upheaval, highlighting God's impartial justice. However, unlike the permanent judgment implied for the "evil neighbors," this judgment on Judah is a disciplinary one, holding a hidden promise of return (Jer 12:15-17), emphasizing the distinct covenant relationship God has with Israel. The verse thus sets the stage for a period of both national displacement for many and a unique, redemptive exile for Judah, all under God's control.