New Living Translation
Jeremiah 20:12
12O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you test those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you.
Jeremiah 20:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
- New International Version (NIV)Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.
- English Standard Version (ESV)O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But, O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous, And see the mind and heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them; For I have pleaded my cause before You.
Context of Jeremiah 20:12
10I have heard the many rumors about me. They call me “The Man Who Lives in Terror.” They threaten, “If you say anything, we will report it.” Even my old friends are watching me, waiting for a fatal slip. “He will trap himself,” they say, “and then we will get our revenge on him.” 11But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you test those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you. 13Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For though I was poor and needy, he rescued me from my oppressors. 14Yet I curse the day I was born! May no one celebrate the day of my birth.
Read all of Jeremiah 20Jeremiah 20:12 word by word
וַיהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ בֹּחֵ֣ן צַדִּ֔יק רֹאֶ֥ה כְלָי֖וֹת וָלֵ֑ב אֶרְאֶ֤ה נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙ מֵהֶ֔ם כִּ֥י אֵלֶ֖יךָ גִּלִּ֥יתִי אֶת־רִיבִֽי׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But, O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
- that triestבָּחַןbâchan · to testH974
- the righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- seestרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- the reinsכִּלְיָהkilyâh · kidneyH3629
- and the heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- thy vengeanceנְקָמָהneqâmâh · vengeanceH5360
- on them: for unto thee have I openedגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: revealH1540
- my causeרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
Cross-references for Jeremiah 20:12
- Jeremiah 17:10But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
- Psalms 7:9End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.
- Psalms 11:5The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.
- Psalms 17:3You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say.
- Psalms 26:2Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.
- Psalms 139:23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
- Revelation 2:23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.
- Jeremiah 11:20O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you make righteous judgments, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you.
- Jeremiah 12:8My chosen people have roared at me like a lion of the forest, so I have treated them with contempt.
- Jeremiah 17:18Bring shame and dismay on all who persecute me, but don’t let me experience shame and dismay. Bring a day of terror on them. Yes, bring double destruction upon them!
- Jeremiah 18:19Lord, hear me and help me! Listen to what my enemies are saying.
- 2 Chronicles 24:22That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty—by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!”
- Psalms 54:7For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.
- Psalms 59:10In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.
- Psalms 109:6They say, “Get an evil person to turn against him. Send an accuser to bring him to trial.
- Revelation 6:10They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?”
Commentaries on Jeremiah 20:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-18Verses 7-18 In the rest of the chapter we have an outbreak of deep emotion, of which the first part ends in a cry of hope Jeremiah 20:13, followed nevertheless by curses upon the day of his birth. Was this the result of feelings wounded by the indignities of a public scourging and a night spent in the stocks? Or was it not the mental agony of knowing that his ministry had (as it seemed) failed? He stands indeed before the multitudes with unbending…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-13Verses 7-13 The prophet complains of the insult and injury he experienced. But Jr 20:7 may be read, Thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded. Thou wast stronger than I; and didst overpower me by the influence of thy Spirit upon me. So long as we see ourselves in the way of God, and of duty, it is weakness and folly, when we meet with difficulties and discouragements, to wish we had never set out in it. The prophet found the grace of God mighty in him…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Jeremiah fully trusted the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (see Jeremiah 5:14), who could take revenge on the prophet’s enemies.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. triest the righteous--in latent contrast to the hasty judgments of men (Jr 11:20; 17:10). opened--that is, committed (compare 2Ki 19:14; Psa 35:1).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 20:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 20
- 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
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