Jeremiah 12:17 kjv
But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 12:17 nkjv
But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 12:17 niv
But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 12:17 esv
But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD."
Jeremiah 12:17 nlt
But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
Jeremiah 12 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:15 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these curses shall come upon you..." | Warnings for disobedience |
| Deut 11:26 | "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse..." | Choice and consequences |
| Josh 24:20 | "If you forsake the LORD... he will turn and do you harm and consume you..." | Covenant loyalty |
| Isa 60:12 | "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish..." | Nations serving God |
| Zech 14:17 | "And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem... there will be no rain on them." | Universal accountability |
| Ps 33:10 | "The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing..." | God's sovereignty |
| Ps 33:11 | "The counsel of the LORD stands forever..." | Divine decree |
| Prov 1:24 | "Because I have called and you refused... I will also laugh at your calamity..." | Rejection of wisdom |
| Jer 1:10 | "See, I have appointed you this day over nations... to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow..." | Jeremiah's commission |
| Jer 18:7 | "If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it..." | Conditional judgment |
| Jer 18:9 | "And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will build and plant it..." | Conditional blessing |
| Jer 31:28 | "And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down... so I will watch over them to build and to plant..." | God's restorative work |
| Jer 42:10 | "If you will only remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up..." | Conditional presence |
| Amos 9:15 | "I will plant them on their own land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them..." | Permanent planting |
| Zeph 2:13 | "He will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria..." | Judgment on nations |
| Ezek 28:26 | "And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards..." | Future security |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings..." | God controls nations |
| Acts 17:26 | "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries..." | Nations appointed by God |
| Rom 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..." | Universal sin |
| Rom 2:6 | "He will render to each one according to his works..." | Divine justice |
| Heb 3:18 | "And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?" | Consequences of unbelief |
| 2 Pet 3:7 | "But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." | Final judgment |
| Rev 11:18 | "...and for destroying the destroyers of the earth." | Judgment on earth |
| Rev 20:12 | "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened... and the dead were judged..." | Final judgment |
Jeremiah 12 verses
Jeremiah 12 17 Meaning
Jeremiah 12:17 pronounces God's unwavering judgment against any nation that refuses to listen to His word and obey His commands. It states that such a nation will face complete and irreversible eradication, demonstrating the Lord's supreme authority and the ultimate consequence of rejecting His divine path. This verse acts as a stark counterpoint to the preceding promise of integration and blessing for those nations who choose to learn and walk in God's ways.
Jeremiah 12 17 Context
Jeremiah chapter 12 follows Jeremiah's passionate complaint to God about the prosperity of the wicked. God responds by revealing His greater plans, particularly concerning Judah and its "evil neighbors" (Jer 12:14), the surrounding nations that oppressed Israel and Judah. Verses 14-16 outline a two-fold destiny for these nations: first, they will be "uprooted" from their land, echoing the judgment threatened against Judah itself. However, a remarkable promise of restoration is then given if they, like Judah, diligently learn God's ways and swear by His name. Verse 17 directly follows this conditional promise, presenting the grim alternative: if they refuse to obey, their fate is sealed as complete destruction. This verse highlights God's justice and sovereignty, applying His divine law and consequences universally, not just to His covenant people, but to all nations. Historically, this relates to the shifting geopolitics of the Ancient Near East, where empires like Babylon were used by God to execute His judgments.
Jeremiah 12 17 Word analysis
- But if: This conjunction signals a strong conditional contrast. It emphasizes choice and its antithetical consequence, contrasting sharply with the positive outcome offered in verse 16. It highlights the pivotal nature of "obedience."
- they will not obey:
- they: Refers primarily to the "evil neighbors" mentioned in Jeremiah 12:14, the surrounding Gentile nations that God would remove from their lands. This extends the scope of divine judgment beyond Israel to all nations.
- not obey: From the Hebrew root שָׁמַע (shama'), meaning "to hear, listen, understand, obey." This term encompasses attentive hearing that leads to action. A failure to "shama'" is not just ignorance but an active refusal to heed God's instruction, implying stubborn rebellion against His revealed will.
- I will utterly uproot:
- I will: Emphasizes divine agency. It is God Himself who directly acts, not a consequence of natural events or human actions alone. His is the ultimate power and authority.
- utterly uproot: From the Hebrew verb נָתַשׁ (natash), meaning "to pluck up, pull out, tear away." The adverb "utterly" (often implicit or strengthened by infinitive absolute constructions in Hebrew, as seen here) signifies the completeness and finality of this act. It is a powerful agricultural metaphor, deeply embedded in Jeremiah's call (Jer 1:10) and recurring throughout the book, denoting a total and foundational removal, as a plant is pulled entirely from the soil, leaving nothing behind to grow.
- and destroy: From the Hebrew verb אָבַד (abad), meaning "to perish, be destroyed, vanish." This intensifies the prior verb, conveying total annihilation and the irreversible cessation of existence. Together with "uproot," it paints a picture of comprehensive and unrecoverable devastation.
- that nation: From the Hebrew word גּוֹי (goy), meaning "nation, people, gentile." Here, it specifically denotes the nations distinct from Israel, the "evil neighbors" from whom Judah sought peace or alliance. It confirms God's judgment is not restricted to Israel but applies universally.
- declares the LORD: (נְאֻם יְהוָה - neum YHWH). This is a common prophetic formula affirming the divine origin and unchallengeable authority of the pronouncement. It removes any doubt about the certainty or power behind these words, indicating they are a solemn and unbreakable decree from the sovereign God of Israel.
Jeremiah 12 17 Bonus section
- The phrasing "I will utterly uproot and destroy" emphasizes divine initiative and power. It is not an impersonal force but God Himself acting directly and decisively in history, demonstrating His control over the destinies of all earthly kingdoms.
- This verse provides a crucial understanding of God's universal governance. While Israel was uniquely chosen, this passage clarifies that God still holds all other nations accountable for their actions and their response to Him, regardless of whether they have the same covenant knowledge as Israel.
- The severity of the language, especially the pairing of "uproot" and "destroy," underscores that some spiritual rebellion against God leads to a point of no return where a nation's existence, as an entity, becomes completely forfeit in God's eyes.
Jeremiah 12 17 Commentary
Jeremiah 12:17 serves as a stark declaration of God's universal sovereignty and unwavering justice. It reveals that the Lord’s authority extends over all nations, not just His covenant people, Israel. While the preceding verses offered a conditional promise of restoration and blessing for surrounding nations that would learn to follow God, this verse presents the unavoidable counterpoint: explicit and absolute destruction for those who refuse. The language of "utterly uproot and destroy" is intense, echoing the very commission given to Jeremiah in 1:10, emphasizing the completeness and divine determination of the judgment. This is not merely a threat but a certain decree, affirmed by "declares the LORD." It highlights that while God is gracious and offers opportunities for repentance and allegiance, His patience has a limit, and rejection of His revealed will ultimately leads to total annihilation for entities, whether individuals or nations, that steadfastly rebel against Him. This truth stands for all time: the ultimate destiny of any nation rests in its posture towards the living God.