Jeremiah 12 3

Jeremiah 12:3 kjv

But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

Jeremiah 12:3 nkjv

But You, O LORD, know me; You have seen me, And You have tested my heart toward You. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, And prepare them for the day of slaughter.

Jeremiah 12:3 niv

Yet you know me, LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!

Jeremiah 12:3 esv

But you, O LORD, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter.

Jeremiah 12:3 nlt

But as for me, LORD, you know my heart.
You see me and test my thoughts.
Drag these people away like sheep to be butchered!
Set them aside to be slaughtered!

Jeremiah 12 verses

Jeremiah 12 3 Meaning

Jeremiah chapter 12, verse 3, is a deeply personal and fervent plea from the prophet Jeremiah to God. In it, Jeremiah asserts his unwavering faithfulness and sincerity, reminding God of His omniscient knowledge and thorough examination of Jeremiah’s innermost thoughts and intentions. He then vehemently requests divine intervention, asking God to swiftly remove and consecrate the wicked people—who seem to prosper despite their evil ways—for a destined day of destruction, like sheep led to their unavoidable slaughter. It reflects Jeremiah’s profound trust in God's ultimate justice and his agony over unpunished wickedness.

Jeremiah 12 3 Context

Jeremiah 12:3 is part of a "lament" or "complaint" from Jeremiah to God, forming a significant portion of what scholars call "Jeremiah's confessions." Directly preceding this verse (Jer 12:1-2), Jeremiah poses a timeless question: "Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all those happy who deal treacherously?" He observes the apparent ease and success of those who live godless lives, contrasting it with his own suffering and struggles as God's faithful prophet. In this challenging historical period, Judah was facing imminent destruction by Babylon, yet many inhabitants lived in spiritual apathy, relying on superficial religiosity. Jeremiah himself was often persecuted, misunderstood, and reviled for faithfully delivering God's unpopular messages of judgment. Verse 3, therefore, is Jeremiah's appeal to God's just character, an affirmation of his own sincerity amidst widespread corruption, and a passionate petition for God to act decisively against the wicked whose prosperity offends his righteous sense.

Jeremiah 12 3 Word analysis

• But you, O LORD: A powerful rhetorical contrast. "But you" (וְאַתָּה - v'atah) stands in stark opposition to the wicked introduced in the previous verses, shifting focus directly to God as the ultimate righteous judge and discerner. It underscores Jeremiah's personal reliance and address to divine authority.
• know (יָדַע - yada'): This Hebrew word implies an intimate, experiential, and covenantal knowledge, not merely intellectual awareness. Jeremiah asserts that God fully understands his deepest character and intentions.
• me: Highlights the prophet's personal relationship and conviction that God is thoroughly acquainted with his individual sincerity and faithfulness, in contrast to the external hypocrisy of others.
• You see (רָאָה - ra'ah): Denotes active, observant perception. God is not only aware but also actively watches and discerns the truth of Jeremiah’s heart and actions.
• me: Reinforces the personal, direct observation by God.
• and You test (בָּחַן - bachan): This term signifies examination, scrutiny, or proof, often used in metallurgy for refining metals to assess their purity. Jeremiah invokes God as the one who thoroughly evaluates and verifies the genuineness of his inner being.
• my heart (לֵב - lev): In Hebrew thought, the "heart" represents the core of one's being—the seat of intellect, will, emotion, and moral consciousness. Jeremiah proclaims that his very essence is directed authentically towards God.
• toward You: Emphasizes the steadfast orientation and devotion of Jeremiah's heart exclusively towards the LORD, contrasting with the self-serving motives of the wicked.
• Pull them out (מָשַׁךְ - mashakh): Implies drawing, dragging, or dragging forth. This is a forceful verb, signifying a decisive, unavoidable extraction from their place of deceptive prosperity.
• like sheep for the slaughter: A stark and vivid simile. This imagery portrays the wicked as defenseless, passive victims destined for inevitable destruction. It expresses Jeremiah’s desire for their swift and decisive judgment, as unarguable as a flock led to slaughter.
• And prepare them (הַקְדִּישָׁם - haqdisham): This Hebrew term, usually translated "consecrate" or "sanctify," carries a chilling irony here. While typically used for setting something apart for sacred purposes or God's use, here it signifies setting apart for an appointed, dreadful judgment—a dedication to doom rather than holiness.
• for the day of slaughter (יוֹם הֲרֵגָה - yom harega): Refers to a specific, appointed time of execution or utter destruction. This phrase emphasizes the certainty and finality of God's impending judgment on the wicked.

• But you, O LORD, know me; You see me, and You test my heart toward You: This first part is Jeremiah’s solemn assertion of his inner purity and fidelity. He appeals to God's comprehensive knowledge, sight, and testing, confident that his heart is truly directed towards God, unlike the false professions of the wicked. It serves as Jeremiah’s defense against potential accusations or even self-doubt regarding his integrity.
• Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, And prepare them for the day of slaughter: This second part shifts to a passionate imprecation against the wicked. Jeremiah urges God to take decisive action, using stark imagery to portray the wicked as utterly vulnerable and irrevocably marked for a designated, horrifying end. The ironic use of "prepare/consecrate" heightens the sense of their inescapable, divinely appointed doom.

Jeremiah 12 3 Bonus section

The "day of slaughter" imagery, while intense, points not to Jeremiah's personal vengeance but to an appeal for the implementation of divine, eschatological justice, a theme prominent in the prophetic tradition. Jeremiah's willingness to articulate such a raw and unfiltered complaint—even expressing a desire for punitive action—highlights the biblical pattern of transparent human dialogue with God, even in times of profound spiritual struggle and perceived injustice. This complaint is part of a larger theme throughout the prophetic books and Psalms where the apparent prosperity of the wicked is a significant challenge to faith, and the prophets persistently ask for God's ultimate intervention.

Jeremiah 12 3 Commentary

Jeremiah 12:3 encapsulates the profound tension of a righteous soul confronting moral chaos and divine delay. Jeremiah appeals to God’s absolute knowledge of his personal integrity and the purity of his heart, establishing his unique standing before a Holy God. This is not an act of self-righteousness, but a prophet’s confident declaration of fidelity, a plea for vindication, in stark contrast to the deceptive outward prosperity of the wicked who surround him. His subsequent request for swift and total judgment—picturing the wicked as sheep "consecrated" for an inevitable slaughter—reveals a deep anguish over injustice and a longing for God's divine hand to act decisively, validating His justice and Jeremiah’s prophetic warnings. It is a raw cry for God to reconcile the present reality with His righteous character.