Jeremiah 6 12

Jeremiah 6:12 kjv

And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 6:12 nkjv

And their houses shall be turned over to others, Fields and wives together; For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD.

Jeremiah 6:12 niv

Their houses will be turned over to others, together with their fields and their wives, when I stretch out my hand against those who live in the land," declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 6:12 esv

Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and wives together, for I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land," declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 6:12 nlt

Their homes will be turned over to their enemies,
as will their fields and their wives.
For I will raise my powerful fist
against the people of this land,"
says the LORD.

Jeremiah 6 verses

Jeremiah 6 12 Meaning

Jeremiah 6:12 declares a severe divine judgment upon the people of Judah due to their widespread apostasy and social injustice. It pronounces the comprehensive and imminent dispossession of their most vital assets—their homes, land, and even their families—which will be transferred to foreign hands. This will occur when the LORD executes His judgment against the unrepentant inhabitants of the land, signaling the utter collapse of their security and inheritance as a direct consequence of their sin.

Jeremiah 6 12 Context

Jeremiah 6 is a chapter of relentless condemnation and prophetic warning against Judah and Jerusalem. Following chapters describing the nation's spiritual apostasy and persistent rebellion against God (Jer 5), this chapter vividly portrays the impending destruction as a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness. The LORD calls for vigilance and repentance (Jer 6:1, 6:8), but the people refuse to listen (Jer 6:10). They are depicted as corrupt from the least to the greatest, with false prophets proclaiming "peace, peace," when there is no peace (Jer 6:13-14). Jeremiah 6:12 explicitly details how this judgment will manifest: a total loss of property and family. This particular verse comes after a warning that God will bring a destructive enemy from the north, and immediately precedes further indictment of the people's insatiable greed and corruption. Historically, this prophecy points to the Babylonian invasions and subsequent exile, a period when Jerusalem was plundered and its inhabitants dispossessed, fulfilling these dire predictions.

Jeremiah 6 12 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This conjunction acts as an explanatory "because" or "for this reason," directly linking the severe judgment that follows to the unrepentant sins and refusal to heed God's warnings outlined in the preceding verses.
• their houses (בָּתֵּיהֶם, bateyhem): Refers to permanent dwellings and symbolizes security, heritage, and the culmination of labor. For Israelites, houses were not just shelters but central to family and generational continuity. The loss represents a complete disruption of life.
• shall be turned over (יֵהָפְכוּ, yehafku): From the root הָפַךְ (haphak), meaning "to turn," "to overthrow," or "to overturn." This is a passive verb, implying divine agency or an action divinely orchestrated. It signifies a radical reversal of fortunes, a catastrophic dispossession where what was rightfully theirs (under covenant) will be irrevocably transferred.
• to others (לַאֲחֵרִים, la'acherim): Emphasizes that the houses, fields, and wives will not just be lost but acquired by unfamiliar, often enemy, individuals or groups, intensifying the shame, degradation, and completeness of the loss.
• their fields (שָׂדוֹתֵיהֶם, sadowteyhem): Agricultural land, crucial for sustenance and a direct link to the inheritance of the Promised Land (Lev 25:23). Its loss means the collapse of their economic basis, ancestral claims, and ability to sustain themselves within their homeland.
• and their wives (וּנְשֵׁיהֶם, u'nesheyhem): The inclusion of wives, alongside property, highlights the extreme nature of the judgment. In ancient warfare, the seizing or ravishing of women was a common horror of conquest, signifying utter defeat, personal violation, and the breaking of the societal fabric (Deut 28:30). It’s the ultimate degradation.
• together (יַחְדָּיו, yachdav): This adverb means "simultaneously" or "altogether." It underscores the comprehensive nature of the calamity; nothing of value or intimacy will be spared from the devastating blow.
• when I stretch out my hand (כִּי־אַטֶּה אֶת־יָדִי, ki-ateh et-yadi): "To stretch out the hand" (אֲטָה אֶת־יָדִי) is a powerful anthropomorphic expression of divine action. In the Old Testament, it signifies a decisive act of God, whether for salvation (Exo 3:20) or, as here, for severe judgment and punishment, indicating the certainty and force of His intervention.
• against the inhabitants of the land (עַל־יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ, 'al yoshve ha'aretz): Broadens the scope of the judgment beyond specific groups or leaders to encompass all who reside in the land of Judah, signifying a widespread and national condemnation due to pervasive sin.
• declares the LORD (נְאֻם־יְהוָה, ne'um-YHWH): This is a prophetic formula, acting as an authentication stamp, asserting that the words are not human conjecture but a direct, authoritative pronouncement from YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and divine origin of the judgment.

Word-group analysis:

• their houses... their fields and their wives together: This grouping emphasizes the total and devastating loss of security, sustenance, and personal dignity. The triad of property (houses, fields) and family (wives) represents everything that gave life meaning, stability, and inheritance in ancient Israel, all swept away in a single catastrophe. It signifies the undoing of covenant blessings.
• shall be turned over to others: This phrase highlights the complete dispossession and ironic reversal. The very land and property that the people coveted and often gained unjustly (Mic 2:2) will now be unjustly taken from them by foreign invaders, a direct consequence of divine justice.

Jeremiah 6 12 Bonus section

The prophecy in Jeremiah 6:12 points to the ultimate failure of Judah to maintain its covenant responsibilities. The "houses," "fields," and "wives" represent not only material wealth but the very fabric of their societal structure and their inheritance as the people of God in the Promised Land. The phrase "turned over to others" signifies an end to their distinctive national existence in their homeland, a consequence foretold centuries earlier in the curses of Deuteronomy 28. The comprehensiveness of the judgment ("together") underscores the prophetic message that no aspect of their life would remain untouched by the impending disaster. This warning served as a potent counter-narrative to the false prophets who preached peace and security, highlighting the certainty of God's word despite human denials or desires for comfort. It also implicitly judges those who gained property through injustice, as they would lose even what they believed they possessed. The ultimate "transfer" was to the Babylonian invaders, illustrating God's use of pagan nations as instruments of His righteous judgment against His own errant people.

Jeremiah 6 12 Commentary

Jeremiah 6:12 delivers a stark and comprehensive prophecy of divine judgment against Judah. It highlights God's justice in responding to widespread moral and spiritual corruption. The verse details an absolute reversal of fortune: the very foundations of Israelite identity—secure homes, productive land, and family continuity—will be irrevocably lost and transferred to outsiders. This isn't merely a natural disaster or military defeat; it is explicitly a divinely ordained action, symbolized by "the LORD stretching out His hand." This demonstrates God's active involvement in history and His unwavering commitment to His covenant, which included both blessings for obedience and severe curses for persistent disobedience. The tragedy is amplified by the fact that the people, despite numerous warnings (as seen in surrounding chapters), refused to heed the call to repentance, ensuring the certain fulfillment of this dire word.

Examples of practical usage/application:

• Warnings Against Covetousness: The verse reminds us that earthly possessions are temporary and can be lost. Our ultimate security should not rest in material wealth but in God.
• Importance of Righteousness: It underscores that societal breakdown and divine judgment are consequences of widespread sin, emphasizing the need for personal and communal righteousness.
• God's Sovereignty: It powerfully affirms that God is sovereign over all nations and events, bringing about justice even through unlikely means (foreign invaders).