Jeremiah 12:1

Lexham English Bible

Contextual Overview

¹ You will be in the right, O Yahweh, when I complain to you. Even so, let me speak my claims with you. Why does the way of the wicked succeed? All those who deal treacherously with treachery are at ease. ² Not only do you plant them, they take root. They grow, but also they produce fruit. You are near in their mouths, but far from their inmost beings. ³ But you, O Yahweh, you know me, you see me, and you test that my heart is with you. Tear them apart like sheep for the slaughtering, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. ⁴ How long will the land mourn, and the vegetation of every field dry up, because of the wickedness of those who live in it? The animals and the birds are swept away, because they have said, "He does not see our future." ⁵ "If you run with foot soldiers and they have made you weary, then how will you compete with horses? If you have fallen in a peaceful land, then how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan? ⁶ For even your relatives, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you, even they call loudly after you. You must not trust in them, though they speak kindly to you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Righteous: Jeremiah 11:20, Genesis 18:25, Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalms 51:4, Psalms 119:75, Psalms 119:137, Psalms 145:17, Daniel 9:7, Habakkuk 1:13-17, Zephaniah 3:5, Romans 3:5, Romans 3:6

talk: or, reason the case, Job 13:3, Isaiah 41:21

Wherefore doth: Jeremiah 5:28, Job 12:6, Job 21:7-15, Psalms 37:1, Psalms 37:35, Psalms 73:3-28, Psalms 92:7, Psalms 94:3, Psalms 94:4, Proverbs 1:32, Habakkuk 1:4, Malachi 3:15

deal: Jeremiah 12:6, Jeremiah 5:11, Isaiah 48:8, Hosea 6:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:3 - Behold Exodus 5:22 - returned Exodus 32:11 - why doth Joshua 7:7 - wherefore Judges 20:21 - destroyed Judges 21:3 - why is 2 Samuel 14:12 - speak one word 1 Kings 17:20 - hast thou also 2 Chronicles 22:12 - Athaliah Nehemiah 9:33 - Howbeit Job 4:17 - Shall mortal Job 5:3 - taking Job 8:17 - roots Job 9:24 - earth Job 10:3 - shine upon Job 23:7 - There Job 24:1 - not see Job 24:23 - it be given Job 34:10 - far Job 36:3 - ascribe Job 36:6 - preserveth Psalms 36:6 - judgments Psalms 37:7 - fret Psalms 73:5 - They are Psalms 73:12 - these Psalms 89:38 - But Ecclesiastes 7:15 - there is a wicked Ecclesiastes 7:25 - the reason Isaiah 24:16 - the treacherous Jeremiah 9:2 - an assembly Jeremiah 32:16 - I Prayed Lamentations 1:18 - Lord Ezekiel 18:25 - my Daniel 8:12 - and it practiced Habakkuk 2:1 - when I am reproved Romans 2:2 - judgment Romans 9:14 - Is there unrighteousness

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great. And you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:3
And I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse. And all families of the earth will be blessed in you."

Genesis 12:6
And Abram traveled through the land up to the place of Shechem, to the Oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanites were in the land at that time.

Genesis 12:10
And there was a famine in the land. And Abram went down to Egypt to dwell as an alien there, for the famine was severe in the land.

Genesis 12:11
And it happened that as he drew near to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "Look now, I know that you are a woman beautiful of appearance,

Genesis 15:7
And he said to him, "I am Yahweh, who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give this land to you, to possess it."

Nehemiah 9:7
You are Yahweh, the God who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham.

Isaiah 41:9
you whom I grasped from the ends of the earth and called from its remotest parts and told, "You are my servant; I have chosen you and I have not rejected you."

Isaiah 51:2
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah; she brought you forth. For I called him alone, but I blessed him and made him numerous."

Ezekiel 33:24
"Son of man, the inhabitants of these ruins on the soil of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was one man, and he took possession of the land, and we are many; the land has been given for us as a possession.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee,.... The six first verses of this chapter properly belong to the preceding, being of the same argument, and in strict connection with the latter part of it. Jeremiah appears to be under the same temptation, on account of the prosperity of the wicked, as Asaph was, Psalms 73:1 only he seems to have been more upon his guard, and less liable to fall by it; he sets out: with this as a first principle, an undoubted truth, that God was righteous, and could do nothing wrong and amiss, however unaccountable his providences might be to men: he did not mean, by entering the list with him, or by litigating this point, to charge him with any unrighteousness this he took for granted, and was well satisfied of, that the Lord was righteous, "though", says he, "I plead with thee" t; so some read the words. De Dieu renders them interrogatively, "shall I plead with thee?" shall I dare to do it? shall I take that boldness and use that freedom with thee? I will. The Targum is the reverse,

"thou art more just, O Lord, than that I should contend before thy word:''

yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments; not of his laws, statutes, word, and ordinances, sometimes so called; but rather of his providences, which are always dispensed with equity and justice, though not always manifest; they are sometimes unsearchable and past finding out, and will bear a sober and modest inquiry into them, and debate concerning them; the people of God may take the liberty of asking questions concerning them, when they are at a loss to account for them. So the Targum,

"but I will ask a question of judgments before thee.''

The words may be rendered, "but I will speak judgments with thee" u; things that are right; that are agreeable to the word of God and sound reason; things that are consistent with the perfections of God, particularly his justice and holiness; which are founded upon equity and truth; I will produce such reasons and arguments as seem to be reasonable and just.

Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? or they prosper in all their ways? whatever they take in hand succeeds; they enjoy a large share of health of body; their families increase, their trade flourishes, their flocks and herds grow large and numerous, and they have great plenty of all outward blessings; and yet they are wicked men, without the fear of God, regard not him, nor his worship and ways; but walk in their own ways which they have chosen, and delight in their abominations. Some understand this, as Jarchi, of Nebuchadnezzar, to whom God had given greatness and prosperity, to destroy the house of God; but by what follows, in the latter part of the next verse, it appears that God's professing people, the Jews, are meant, and most likely the priests at Anathoth.

Wherefore are all they happy; easy, quiet, secure, live in peace and plenty:

that deal very treacherously? with God and men, in religions and civil affairs.

t כי אריב אליך "etiamsi contendam tecum", Cocceius, Gataker. u אך משפטים אדבר אותך "verum tamen judicia loquar tecum", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Schmidt.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Yet let me talk ... - Rather, yet will I speak with thee on a matter of right. This sense is well given in the margin. The prophet acknowledges the general righteousness of God’s dealings, but cannot reconcile with it the properity of the conspirators of Anathoth This difficulty was often present to the minds of the saints of the Old Testament, see Job 21:7 ff; Psalms 37:0; Psalms 73:0.

Happy - Rather, secure, tranquil.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XII

This chapter is connected with the foregoing. The prophet

expostulates with God concerning the ways of Providence in

permitting the wicked to prosper, 1-4.

It is intimated to him that he must endure still greater

trials, 5,

from his false and deceitful brethren, 6;

but that still heavier judgments awaited the nation for their

crimes, 7-13.

That God, however, would at length have compassion on them;

restore them to their land; and turn his judgments against

those that oppressed them, if not prevented by their becoming

converts to the true religion, 14-17.

NOTES ON CHAP. XII

Verse Jeremiah 12:1. Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee — The prophet was grieved at the prosperity of the wicked; and he wonders how, consistently with God's righteousness, vice should often be in affluence, and piety in suffering and poverty. He knows that God is righteous, that every thing is done well; but he wishes to inquire how these apparently unequal and undeserved lots take place. On this subject he wishes to reason with God, that he may receive instruction.