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Jeremiah 12:17

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 12:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, saith Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, saith Jehovah.
Jeremiah 12:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14Thus saith Jehovah against all mine evil neighbors, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.
15And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
16And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Jehovah liveth; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people.
17But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, saith Jehovah.
← Jeremiah 12:16Jeremiah 13:1 →
← Full Chapter 12 Jeremiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But if they will not obey, etc.] Or “hear”f251; the word of the Lord, and hearken to the ministers of the Gospel, and be subject to the ordinances of it; or as the Targum, “will not receive instruction:” I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the Lord: root it up from being a nation, strip it of all its privileges and enjoyments, and destroy it with an everlasting destruction; (see <381416>Zechariah 14:16-18).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Isa 60:12). Many of these figurative acts being either not possible, or not probable, or decorous, seem to have existed only in the mind of the prophet as part of his inward vision. [So CALVIN]. The world he moved in was not the sensible, but the spiritual, world. Inward acts were, however, when it was possible and proper, materialized by outward performance but not always, and necessarily so. The internal act made a naked statement more impressive and presented the subject when extending over long portions of space and time more concentrated. The interruption of Jeremiah's official duty by a journey of more than two hundred miles twice is not likely to have literally taken place. Next:…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:17 If these nations refused to obey the Lord, they would be uprooted and destroyed (1:10). • I, the Lord, have spoken: This statement gave God’s declaration the force of a divine decree.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“if: Psa 2:8-12; Isa 60:12; Zac 14:16-19; Luk 19:27; Th2 1:8; Pe1 2:6-8 pluck: Jer 12:14-17, Jer 18:7, Jer 31:28; Eze 19:12; Dan 7:4-8, Dan 11:4 Next: Jeremiah Chapter 13”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 12 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification