Jeremiah 12:3

3 But thou, O LORD, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my mind toward thee. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter.

Jeremiah 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 12:3

But thou, O Lord, knowest me
The Lord knew him before he was born, ( Jeremiah 1:5 ) , he knew what he designed him for, and what use he would make of him; and he knew him now, and loved him, and cared for him, as his prophet; he knew his sincerity and faithfulness, and took notice of it, with what integrity he performed his office, and discharged his duty; and he knew that all his enemies said of him were scandal and reproach, lies and calumnies. Thou hast seen me;
his inside, his heart, and all in it; for all things are naked and open to the eyes of an omniscient God: and tried mine heart towards thee;
he had tried him by various afflictive providences, and his heart was found towards God; the affections and desires of his soul were towards him, and he remained faithful and upright before him, and not like the wicked before mentioned. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter;
either out of the fold, or from a fat pasture; so fat sheep are plucked from the rest, in order to be killed: this shows that their riches, affluence, and plenty, served but to ripen them for ruin and destruction, and were like the fattening of sheep for slaughter; which the prophet, by this imprecation, suggests and foretells would be their case, as a righteous judgment upon them; see ( James 5:5 ) . Prepare them for the day of slaughter;
or, "sanctify them" ^F23; set them apart for it: this, doubtless, refers to the time of Jerusalem's destruction by the Chaldeans.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F23 (Mvdqhw) "et sanctifica eos", V. L. Montanus; "segrega", Piscator; "destina", Schmidt; "consecra", Cocceius.

Jeremiah 12:3 In-Context

1 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I complain to thee; yet I would plead my case before thee. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?

2 Thou plantest them, and they take root; they grow and bring forth fruit; thou art near in their mouth and far from their heart.

3 But thou, O LORD, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my mind toward thee. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter.

4 How long will the land mourn, and the grass of every field wither? For the wickedness of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because men said, "He will not see our latter end."

5 "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you fall down, how will you do in the jungle of the Jordan?