Jeremiah 12:2 kjv
Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
Jeremiah 12:2 nkjv
You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But far from their mind.
Jeremiah 12:2 niv
You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.
Jeremiah 12:2 esv
You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart.
Jeremiah 12:2 nlt
You have planted them,
and they have taken root and prospered.
Your name is on their lips,
but you are far from their hearts.
Jeremiah 12 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 5:28 | "They grow fat; they grow sleek. They show no interest in right, but in excess; they defend the rights of the fatherless, yet they do not defend the rights of the poor." | Highlights prosperity of the wicked |
| Psalm 73:3-12 | "For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are not plagued by the common afflictions of men, nor are they tormented like others. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes bulge from fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; highhandedly they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues walk the earth." | Personal reflection on wicked's ease |
| Job 21:7-15 | "Why do the wicked live on, grow old, and gain power? Their children are established in their company, and their descendants before their eyes. Their homes are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them. Their bulls spare their calves; their cows calve and do not miscarry. They send out their young lambs like a flock and their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and the harp and rejoice at the sound of the pipe. They spend their days in prosperity, and go down to Sheol in an instant. They say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We do not want to know your ways.’" | Questioning why wicked prosper |
| Habakkuk 1:4 | "Therefore the law is paralyzed and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; that is why justice goes forth crooked." | Justice distorted by wicked prosperity |
| Matthew 13:24-30 | Parable of the Wheat and Tares: Illustrates co-existence of good and evil until harvest. | Good and evil together until judgment |
| Luke 18:1-8 | Parable of the Persistent Widow: Jesus emphasizes that God will eventually vindicate the righteous. | God's eventual vindication |
| Revelation 18:5 | "for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities." | Divine remembrance of wickedness |
| Isaiah 26:10 | "But when favor is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; in the land of the upright they deal corruptly and do not see the majesty of the LORD." | Wicked unswayed by kindness |
| Psalm 37:1-2 | "Do not be envious of evil doers, nor be jealous of those who do iniquity. For they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb." | Exhortation against envy of the wicked |
| Psalm 73:16-20 | Continues reflection on wicked's perceived ease but concludes with their eventual destruction. | Eventual ruin of the wicked |
| Galatians 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap." | Principle of sowing and reaping |
| Ecclesiastes 8:14 | "There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are righteous ones to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked ones to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this too is vanity." | Apparent injustice on earth |
| Romans 2:4-5 | "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of judgment when his righteous judgment will be revealed." | God's patience can lead to judgment |
| Proverbs 24:19-20 | "Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked, for the wicked will have no future, and the lamp of the wicked will be put out." | Assurance of wicked's downfall |
| Jeremiah 5:26 | "‘Among my people are found wicked men. They lie in wait, like fowlers crouching to catch men." | Wickedness prevalent among God's people |
| Psalm 37:23-24 | "The LORD makes firm the steps of the one on whom his favor rests; though he may fall, he will not be hurled headlong, for the LORD upholds him." | God's upholding of the righteous |
| Malachi 3:15 | "And now we call the arrogant blessed. Indeed, those who practice wickedness are built up. Indeed, they put God to the test and escape.”" | Wicked prosper and test God |
| Matthew 24:42-44 | "Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." | Call to readiness due to unexpected coming |
| Acts 1:7 | "He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority.'" | Times and seasons are God's alone |
| Acts 17:31 | "because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the whole world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed. Providing proof of this to all by raising him from the dead.”" | Future judgment by Christ |
Jeremiah 12 verses
Jeremiah 12 2 Meaning
Jeremiah 12:2 speaks of the flourishing wicked. Despite the Lord's presence and awareness of their actions, wrongdoers prosper. The verse acknowledges that while God has planted them, their ultimate downfall is certain, implying a future judgment.
Jeremiah 12 2 Context
Jeremiah 12 is part of Jeremiah's ongoing lament and prophecy to Judah, set against the backdrop of imminent Babylonian invasion and exile. The prophet expresses his anguish and questions God's justice, observing the apparent prosperity and security of the wicked within his own nation. This chapter addresses Jeremiah's personal struggle with God regarding the well-being of the treacherous people of Anathoth, his hometown, and extends to a broader critique of Judah's wickedness and its impending consequences. The verse reflects Jeremiah's perplexity and the emotional weight he carried as he delivered God's severe judgments to a people who seemed untouched by their sin and even rewarded for their evil deeds in the short term.
Jeremiah 12 2 Word Analysis
כִּי (ki): "for," "indeed," "because." This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement or sentiment. Here, it links Jeremiah's questioning to God's awareness and role.
תְּשַׁקּוּ (tshqqu): Second person plural verb from שָׁקָה (shaqah), meaning "to water," "to give drink." Figuratively, it implies "to cause to flourish," "to thrive." The wickedness is not just tolerated; it's being nourished or enabled to grow.
עָנָו (anav): "humble," "meek," "poor." Often referring to the humble and oppressed, those who rely on God. Jeremiah sees these individuals suffering while the wicked prosper.
רְשָׁעִים (resha'im): "wicked," "wrongdoers," "evil people." Plural form of רָשָׁע (rasha').
שָׁלְוָה (shlevah): "peace," "tranquility," "prosperity." It denotes a state of well-being and freedom from disturbance. The wicked are enjoying this state.
נָטַעְתָּ (nata'ta): Second person singular perfect verb from נָטַע (nata'), meaning "to plant," "to establish firmly." God Himself is depicted as having planted these individuals, which amplifies the prophet's confusion.
בָּרִ֣י (bari): "healthy," "strong," "fat," "prosperous." Used in contrast to the suffering of the righteous.
כָּשָׁלוּ (kashalu): Third person plural perfect verb from כָּשַׁל (kashal), meaning "to stumble," "to fail," "to falter." The wicked, however, are not stumbling; they are firm and strong.
דָּלוּ (dalu): Third person plural perfect verb from דָּלַל (dalal), meaning "to hang," "to droop," "to be weak." Often implies suffering or distress. The wicked do not droop; they are flourishing.
Why do they prosper?: The central question stemming from the initial conjunction "ki."
God as planter of the wicked: The perplexing paradox that the flourishing wicked are established by the divine hand.
The contrast between wicked and righteous: The core observation is the apparent ease and health of the wicked versus the struggle or potential distress of the righteous.
Future certainty of judgment: Despite present appearances, God's action of planting implies an ultimate accountability.
Jeremiah 12 2 Bonus Section
The prophet's lament in this chapter is intensely personal, touching upon his feelings of betrayal by his own people (specifically from Anathoth). The flourishing of the wicked isn't just a general observation of society; it's an immediate, painful reality for Jeremiah. The Lord's response in verses 5-6 clarifies that if Jeremiah grieved over footmen, the harder trial would come with horses. This speaks to a escalating difficulty and judgment. The phrase "God cannot be mocked" (Galatians 6:7) is relevant here, as outward prosperity can be deceiving. True prosperity in God's economy is righteousness, not material gain achieved through wicked means. Jeremiah’s question is valid from a human perspective, but God's perspective transcends earthly timelines and appearances, emphasizing His ultimate control and judgment.
Jeremiah 12 2 Commentary
This verse captures a deep theological and pastoral challenge: the observed prosperity of the unrighteous. Jeremiah questions God's justice as he witnesses the wicked thriving, seemingly without consequence. The prophet's confusion stems from the very fact that these are people God Himself has "planted." This suggests they are part of His creation and, in some sense, within His providential order, making their wickedness and prosperity all the more bewildering. However, the assurance remains that their flourishing is temporary, for God knows their appointed time. The New Testament echoes this sentiment, reminding believers not to envy the wicked, as their ultimate destiny is different, marked by God's final judgment. This verse serves as a profound reminder of the limits of human understanding regarding God's sovereign plan and the importance of trusting in His ultimate justice, even when immediate circumstances appear contrary.