Jérémie 12:2

2 Tu les as plantés, ils ont pris racine. Ils avancent, même ils fructifient. Tu es près de leur bouche, mais loin de leur cœur.

Jérémie 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.''

Jérémie 12:2 In-Context

1 Tu demeures juste, ô Éternel, quand je conteste avec toi; toutefois je parlerai de jugements avec toi. Pourquoi la voie des méchants prospère-t-elle? Pourquoi sont-ils en paix tous ceux qui agissent perfidement?

2 Tu les as plantés, ils ont pris racine. Ils avancent, même ils fructifient. Tu es près de leur bouche, mais loin de leur cœur.

3 Mais toi, Éternel! tu me connais, tu me vois, et tu éprouves quel est mon cœur envers toi. Traîne-les comme des brebis qu'on doit égorger, et prépare-les pour le jour du carnage!

4 Jusqu'à quand le pays sera-t-il dans le deuil, et l'herbe de tous les champs sera-t-elle desséchée? A cause de la malice de ses habitants, les bêtes et les oiseaux disparaissent. Car ils disent: Il ne verra pas notre fin.

5 Si tu as couru avec les gens de pied et qu'ils t'aient lassé, comment lutteras-tu d'ardeur avec les chevaux? Et si tu n'es en assurance que dans une terre de paix, que feras-tu devant l'orgueil du Jourdain?