Jeremiah 12:2

2 You planted them,^[a] and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips,^[b] but far from their conscience.^[c][d]

Jeremiah 12:2 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 12:2

Thou hast planted them
In the land of Canaan, fixed the bounds of their habitation, given them a firm and comfortable settlement; for all the good things, even of the wicked, come from God: yea, they have taken root;
as everything that is planted does not; but these did, though it was downwards in the earth, on which their hearts were set, and so were strengthened and established in their worldly circumstances: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit;
but to themselves, not to God; not fruits of righteousness or good works; they grow, not in grace and holiness, but in their worldly substance; and they brought forth fruit, not such as were meet for repentance, but they had great riches, and numerous families; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions, "they produce children, and bring forth fruit." The Targum is,

``they become rich, yea, they possess substance.''

Thou art near in their mouth;
they often made use of the name of God, either in swearing by it, or praying to him in an external manner; they called themselves the Lord's people, and boasted of being his priests, and employed in his service; they took his covenant, and the words of his law, into their mouths, and taught them the people, and yet had no sincere regard for these things: and far from their reins;
from the affections of their hearts, and the desires of their souls; they had no true love for God, nor fear of him, nor faith in him. The Targum is,

``near are the words of thy law in their mouth, and far is thy fear from their reins.''

Jeremiah 12:2 In-Context

1 You will be righteous, Lord, even if I bring a case against You. Yet, I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? [Why] do the treacherous live at ease?

2 You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their conscience.

3 As for You, You know me, Lord; You see me. You test whether my heart is with You. Drag the wicked away like sheep to slaughter, and set them apart for the day of killing.

4 How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? Because of the evil of its residents, animals and birds have been swept away, for [the people] have said, "He cannot see what our end will be."

5 If you have raced with runners and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?

Footnotes

• [a] Jr 17:7-8; Ps 1:3
• [b] Lit are near in their mouth
• [c] Lit kidneys
• [d] Ps 28:3; Isa 29:13