Jeremiah 12:3
in Jeremiah 12But You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
KJV
But 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.
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This verse in Jeremiah 12
Commentary
8 notes on this verseBut thou, O Lord, knowest me,.... The Lord knew him before he was born, Jer 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.
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
But You know me, O LORD
The LORD knows and can test Jeremiah's heart. Matthew Henry reads this as his comfort while others called him a false prophet. Albert Barnes notes that the verb for drag away is used of tent cords torn up at 10:20.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Verse 3.) And you, Lord, you know me: you have seen me, and you have tested my heart with you. Gather them together like a flock for the sacrifice, and sanctify them on the day of slaughter. There is no scandal, it is said, that the wicked, or all heretics, flourish for a time: For you, Lord, know me, and you have seen me, and you have tested my heart with you. How does the Father God know his Son this way?
"And you, Lord, know me, you have seen me, you have tested my heart before you; purify them for the day of their slaughter." What shall I do, that I may make these things clear? He calls the punishments a purification of those being punished; for "purify them," he says, "for the day of their slaughter." Through their being slaughtered, purify them; for "whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives."
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
18 ), in reference to which this was his comfort, that God was a witness of his integrity. God knew he was not such a one as they were (who had God near in their mouths, but far from their reins ), nor such a one as they took him to be, and represented him, a deceiver and a false prophet; those that thus abused him did not know him, 1 Cor. ii.
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The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Thou hast seen me ... - Rather, “Thou seest me and triest mine heart” at all times, and knowest the sincerity of its devotion” toward Thee.” Pull them out - The original is used Jer 10:20 of the rending asunder of the cords of the tent, and Eze 17:9 of the tearing up of roots. Jeremiah does not doubt God’s justice, or the ultimate punishment of the wicked, but he wants it administered in a summary way. Prepare - literally, “sanctify,” i. e., devote.
But thou, O Lord, knowest me - I know that the very secrets of my heart are known to thee; and I am glad of it, for thou knowest that my heart is towards thee - is upright and sincere.
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאַתָּ֤ה | veatah | and you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| יְהוָה֙ | yahweh | O Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| יְדַעְתָּ֔נִי | yeda'tani | you know me | H3045 → | 945 times |
| תִּרְאֵ֕נִי | tireni | you see me | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| וּבָחַנְתָּ֥ | uvachanta | and you test | H974 → | 29 times |
| לִבִּ֖י | libi | heart my | H3820 → | 595 times |
| אִתָּ֑ךְ | ʾitakh | with you | H854 → | 929 times |
| הַתִּקֵם֙ | hatikem | drag away them | H5423 → | 27 times |
| כְּצֹ֣אן | ketzon | like sheep | H6629 → | 274 times |
| לְטִבְחָ֔ה | letivchah | to slaughter | H2878 → | |
| וְהַקְדִּשֵׁ֖ם | vehakdishem | and set apart them | H6942 → | 171 times |
| לְי֥וֹם | leyom | to a day of | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| הֲרֵגָֽה׃ ס | haregah | slaughter | H2028 → | 5 times |
וְאַתָּ֤הand you
veatahH859 →1094 times
יְהוָה֙O Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
יְדַעְתָּ֔נִיyou know me
yeda'taniH3045 →945 times
תִּרְאֵ֕נִיyou see me
tireniH7200 →1300 times
וּבָחַנְתָּ֥and you test
uvachantaH974 →29 times
לִבִּ֖יheart my
libiH3820 →595 times
אִתָּ֑ךְwith you
ʾitakhH854 →929 times
הַתִּקֵם֙drag away them
hatikemH5423 →27 times
כְּצֹ֣אןlike sheep
ketzonH6629 →274 times
לְטִבְחָ֔הto slaughter
letivchahH2878 →
וְהַקְדִּשֵׁ֖םand set apart them
vehakdishemH6942 →171 times
לְי֥וֹםto a day of
leyomH3117 →2304 times
הֲרֵגָֽה׃ סslaughter
haregahH2028 →5 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
Psalms 17:3You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.
it leads to
- Job 23:10
Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
- Acts 11:23
When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
- Psalms 26:2
Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind.
- Psalms 39:1
I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”
- Malachi 3:2
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
- Job 23:10
Through
James 5:5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:6
But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
- Luke 16:25
But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
- 1 Timothy 5:6
Through
2 Kings 20:3“Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
it leads to
- Nehemiah 13:22
Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according…
- Nehemiah 13:22
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.