Jeremiah 12:2
in Jeremiah 12You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thou 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 heart.
KJV
Thou 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.
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This verse in Jeremiah 12
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThou art near in their mouth - They have no sincerity: they have something of the form of religion, but nothing of its power.
This site's exposition
Why does the way of the wicked prosper
on Jeremiah 12:1-4
Jeremiah’s complaint continues with “Why does the way of the wicked prosper”, while the men of Anathoth who seek his life seem to thrive. Verse 2 says of them, “You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts”. Verses 3 and 4 repeat the plea of chapter 11.
This site's exposition
You planted them, and they have taken root
The LORD planted the wicked, and they took root and bore fruit, so the question of verse 1 grows sharper. Adam Clarke reads their faith as all lips and no heart, the form without the power. Barnes notes the Hebrew says kidneys, the seat of feeling.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Chapter 12 - Verses 1 onwards) Indeed, you are just, O Lord, if I argue with you (or because I want to satisfy you); however, I will speak to you about judgments. What is it that the way of the wicked prospers? It is well for all who break the law and act unjustly. You have planted them and they have taken root, they grow and bear fruit (or they have borne children and produce offspring). You are near their mouths, but far from their hearts.
"You are righteous, Lord, that I shall make my defense before you. Yet I will speak judgments to you. Why is it that the way of the ungodly prospers? All those who deal treacherously in treacheries have flourished." We still inquire whether God, who has given the Law and the Prophets, is good, seeing that "the way of the ungodly prospers" and he does not punish the ungodly. "All those who deal treacherously in treacheries have flourished." Those very ones who speak against the Creator, who blaspheme him, "have flourished, they have been planted and rooted, they have begotten children and have produced fruit." How much fruit has Marcion produced by begetting children, how much Basilides, how much Valentinus? For this is what is prophesied concerning the ungodly and said in the words "they have begotten children and produced fruit." "You are near to their mouth, but far from their reins": they name the name of Jesus, but they do not have Jesus; for they do not confess him as they ought.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
This was no uncharitable censure, for he spoke by the Spirit of prophecy, without which it is not safe to charge men with hypocrisy whose appearances are plausible. Observe, (1.) Thought they cared not for thinking of God, nor had any sincere affection to him, yet they could easily persuade themselves to speak of him frequently and with an air of seriousness.
), who dissemble in their good professions, and depart from their good beginnings and good promises, and in both they deal treacherously, very treacherously. It has been said that men cannot expect to prosper who are unjust and dishonest in their dealings; but these deal treacherously, and yet they are happy.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Thou hast planted them,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Their veins - i. e., their heart. The reins were regarded by the Jews as the seat of the affections.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
You are right, O Lord, when I contend with You When I debate with You, I know that you will be right in Your words, but I wish to argue with You so that You will let me know Your way.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| נְטַעְתָּם֙ | neta'tam | you have planted them | H5193 → | 58 times |
| גַּם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ | shorashu | they have taken root | H8327 → | |
| יֵלְכ֖וּ | yelekhu | they walk | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| גַּם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| עָ֣שׂוּ | ʾasu | they have produced | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| פֶ֑רִי | feri | fruit | H6529 → | 119 times |
| קָר֤וֹב | karov | [are] near | H7138 → | 77 times |
| אַתָּה֙ | ʾatah | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| בְּפִיהֶ֔ם | befihem | in mouth their | H6310 → | 498 times |
| וְרָח֖וֹק | verachok | and distant | H7350 → | 84 times |
| מִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ | mikilyoteihem | from kidneys their | H3629 → | 31 times |
נְטַעְתָּם֙you have planted them
neta'tamH5193 →58 times
גַּם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּthey have taken root
shorashuH8327 →
יֵלְכ֖וּthey walk
yelekhuH1980 →1546 times
גַּם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
עָ֣שׂוּthey have produced
ʾasuH6213 →2628 times
פֶ֑רִיfruit
feriH6529 →119 times
קָר֤וֹב[are] near
karovH7138 →77 times
אַתָּה֙you
ʾatahH859 →1094 times
בְּפִיהֶ֔םin mouth their
befihemH6310 →498 times
וְרָח֖וֹקand distant
verachokH7350 →84 times
מִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃from kidneys their
mikilyoteihemH3629 →31 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 15:8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
it leads to
- Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 8:21
You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
- 1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
- Isaiah 29:13
Through
Titus 1:16They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
it leads to
- 1 John 2:4
If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- 1 John 2:4
Through
Isaiah 29:13Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 33:31–33
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest…
- Mark 7:2–13
and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed.
- Ezekiel 33:31–33
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Jeremiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 10.