New English Translation
Jeremiah 12:2
2You plant them like trees and they put down their roots. They grow prosperous and are very fruitful. They always talk about you, but they really care nothing about you.
Jeremiah 12:2 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart.
- New King James Version (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.
Context of Jeremiah 12:2
1Lord, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives? You plant them like trees and they put down their roots. They grow prosperous and are very fruitful. They always talk about you, but they really care nothing about you. 3But you, Lord, know all about me. You watch me and test my devotion to you. Drag these wicked men away like sheep to be slaughtered! Appoint a time when they will be killed! 4How long must the land be parched and the grass in every field be withered? How long must the animals and the birds die because of the wickedness of the people who live in this land? For these people boast, “God will not see what happens to us.”
Read all of Jeremiah 12Jeremiah 12:2 word by word
נְטַעְתָּם֙ גַּם־שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ יֵלְכ֖וּ גַּם־עָ֣שׂוּ פֶ֑רִי קָר֤וֹב אַתָּה֙ בְּפִיהֶ֔ם וְרָח֖וֹק מִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thou hast plantedנָטַעnâţa‛ · to plantH5193
- them, yea, they have taken rootשָׁרַשׁshârash · to uprootH8327
- they growיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- yea, they bring forthעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- fruitפְּרִיperîy · fruitH6529
- nearקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
- in their mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- and far fromרָחֹקrâchôq râchôq · distantH7350
- their reinsכִּלְיָהkilyâh · kidneyH3629
Cross-references for Jeremiah 12:2
- Jeremiah 11:17For though I, the Lord who rules over all, planted you in the land, I now decree that disaster will come on you because the nations of Israel and Judah have done evil and have made me angry by offering sacrifices to the god Baal.”
- Jeremiah 45:4The Lord told Jeremiah, “Tell Baruch, ‘The Lord says, “I am about to tear down what I have built and to uproot what I have planted. I will do this throughout the whole earth.
- Ezekiel 17:5He took one of the seedlings of the land, placed it in a cultivated plot; a shoot by abundant water, like a willow he planted it.
- Ezekiel 19:10“‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by water. It was fruitful and full of branches because it was well-watered.
- Isaiah 19:13The officials of Zoan are fools, the officials of Memphis are misled; the rulers of her tribes lead Egypt astray.
- Ezekiel 33:31They come to you in crowds, and they sit in front of you as my people. They hear your words, but do not obey them. For they talk lustfully, and their heart is set on their own advantage.
- Matthew 15:8‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me,
- Mark 7:6He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 12:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Thou art near in their mouth - They have no sincerity: they have something of the form of religion, but nothing of its power.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Their veins - i. e., their heart. The reins were regarded by the Jews as the seat of the affections.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Jeremiah was upset that the Lord let evil people succeed and find happiness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. grow--literally, "go on," "progress." Thou givest them sure dwellings and increasing prosperity. near in ... mouth ... far from ... reins--(Is 29:13; Mt 15:8). Hypocrites.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 12:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries