And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.
Read it in contextThe LORD's Answer to Jeremiah and Promise of Restoration for Nations
Start reading at Jeremiah 12:1 (Jeremiah 12:1 to Jeremiah 12:17).
The passage begins with Jeremiah's complaint to the LORD and continues through the LORD's response, including judgment on Judah and surrounding nations, and a conditional promise of restoration and inclusion.
12:1Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
12:2Thou 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.
12:3But 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.
12:4How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
12:5If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
12:6For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
12:7I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
12:8Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
12:9Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.
12:10Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
12:11They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
12:12The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.
12:13They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
12:14Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.
12:15And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
12:16And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.
12:17But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Jeremiah son of Hilkiah is the prophet behind the book, with Baruch serving as his scribe. The complete collection includes narrative and a historical appendix as well as Jeremiah's dictated words. Biblical references: Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 36:4; Jeremiah 36:32. stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Jeremiah 11:1–13:27): Judah and Jerusalem hear covenant warnings and enacted messages; Jeremiah also addresses the LORD about opposition and distress. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Judah and Jerusalem before and during the Babylonian crisis, exiles in Babylon, and later readers of the preserved prophetic collection. Individual oracles name additional recipients. Biblical references: Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 29:1; Jeremiah 46:1. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is the LORD's conditional promise of inclusion and restoration for the surrounding nations (His "evil neighbours") if they turn from idolatry and diligently learn to worship Him, swearing by His name, just as they previously taught Israel to swear by Baal.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His justice and mercy, demonstrating that even nations who have troubled Israel can find a place among His people if they repent of their idolatry and learn to serve Him.
What is the literary style? The literary style is prophetic discourse, specifically a conditional promise of restoration and integration.
When
When was it written? The book of Jeremiah was written between approximately 626 and 580 B.C.
When does the event take place? The prophecy describes events that would take place in the future, after the LORD had plucked out the evil neighbours and then returned them to their land, offering them a chance for spiritual integration.
Where
Where did it happen? The prophecy concerns the land of Judah and the surrounding nations, who are identified as Israel's "evil neighbours."
Where was the author located? Jeremiah was located in Judah when he wrote much of the book, and later in Egypt.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in The LORD's Answer to Jeremiah and Promise of Restoration for Nations (Jeremiah 12:1 to Jeremiah 12:17).
Start reading at Jeremiah 12:1. The passage begins with Jeremiah's complaint to the LORD and continues through the LORD's response, including judgment on Judah and surrounding nations, and a conditional promise of restoration and inclusion.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This verse concludes a section where the LORD addresses Jeremiah's complaint about the prosperity of the wicked (Jeremiah 12:1-4), pronounces judgment on Judah (Jeremiah 12:7-13), and then declares His intention to judge and subsequently show compassion to Judah's "evil neighbours" (Jeremiah 12:14-15). Verse 16 provides the condition for these neighbours to be fully integrated into God's people, contrasting their former idolatrous influence with the requirement to learn the ways of the LORD. stated in the text
How does it point to Christ? This passage foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles (the "evil neighbours") among God's people. Just as these nations could be "built in the midst of my people" by learning the ways of the LORD and swearing by His name, so too in the New Testament, people from all nations are brought into the spiritual body of believers through faith, becoming part of God's household (Zechariah 2:11, Ephesians 2:19-22). interpretation
How do I apply it today? This passage teaches that true belonging to God's people comes through diligently learning and obeying His ways, and acknowledging Him as the one living God. Believers today are called to forsake all forms of idolatry and to live in devotion to the LORD, being built up together in His community. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah 12
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jeremiah records words associated with his prophetic ministry and accounts surrounding Judah's fall. The book is not arranged as one continuous dated diary. Read each oracle's audience, occasion, and conditions rather than assigning every promise to every reader. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Oracles and enacted signs expose covenant unfaithfulness and the coming judgment, including the warning about Babylon.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Oracles and enacted signs expose covenant unfaithfulness and the coming judgment, including the warning about Babylon.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jeremiah records words associated with his prophetic ministry and accounts surrounding Judah's fall. The book is not arranged as one continuous dated diary. Read each oracle's audience, occasion, and conditions rather than assigning every promise to every reader.
Connection to the wholeNarratives and letters contrast competing claims about the LORD's word and address life under Babylonian power, including the exiles' situation.
Connection to the wholeWords of restoration appear amid announced judgment, including the new covenant promise; their wording and named audience must remain visible.
Connection to the wholeThe accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch.
Connection to the wholeThe historical appendix recounts the disaster and closes with Jehoiachin's release, placing the preceding messages beside their historical aftermath.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.