Bible/Jeremiah/2

Jeremiah 2:12

2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

KJV

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“Be astonished, you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.

Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord.

Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be you very desolate, says the LORD.

2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

What does Jeremiah 2:12 mean?

Jeremiah 2:12 is a verse in the book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁמֵם (shâmêm), שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim), שָׂעַר (sâʻar). It connects to 20 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Be
astonished,שָׁמֵםshâmêm/shaw-mame'/H8074to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
O
ye
heavens,שָׁמַיִםshâmayim/shaw-mah'-yim/H8064the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)
at
this,
and
be
horribly
afraid,שָׂעַרsâʻar/saw-ar'/H8175to storm; by implication, to shiver, i.e. fear
be
ye
veryמְאֹדmᵉʼôd/meh-ode'/H3966properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated)
desolate,חָרַבchârab/khaw-rab'/H2717to parch (through drought) i.e. (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill
saithנְאֻםnᵉʼum/neh-oom'/H5002an oracle
the
LORD.יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

Commentary on Jeremiah 2:12

HENRY_FULL · Jeremiah 2:12
rate, and will not take time for consideration and consultation; they do things illegal and unjustifiable, because they scorn to be hampered by laws and constitutions; they break their faith, because they scorn to be bound by their word, and provoke the people, because they scorn to please them. Thus they bring a city into a snare by their ill conduct, or (as the margin reads it) they set a city on fire; they sow discord among the citizens and run them into confusion. Those are scornful men that mock at religion, the obligations of conscience, the fears of another world, and every thing that is sacred and serious. Such men are the plagues of their generation; they bring God's judgments upon a land, set men together by the ears, and so bring all to confusion. 2. Who are the men that are the blessings of a land—the wise men who by promoting religion, which is true wisdom, turn away the wrath of God, and who, by prudent counsels, reconcile contending parties and prevent the mischievous consequences of divisions. Proud and foolish men kindle the fires which wise and good men must extinguish. 9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. A wise man is here advised not to set his wit to a fool's, not to dispute with him, or by contending with him to think either of fastening reason upon him or gaining right from

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 4:5

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

1 Samuel 15:11

It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

1 Samuel 20:31

For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. shall: Heb. is the son of death

1 Samuel 22:11

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

1 Kings 21:20

And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

1 Kings 22:8

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

2 Chronicles 18:7

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

Jeremiah 13:15

Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

Jeremiah 18:20

Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.

Jeremiah 40:14

And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not. to slay: Heb. to strike thee in soul?

Mark 6:18

For John had said unto Herod It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

Mark 6:19

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: a quarrel: or, an inward grudge

Mark 6:24

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

Luke 23:34John 5:34John 15:18John 15:19Romans 10:11 John 3:121 John 3:13

Topics

IdolatryIngratitude to GodJews, the

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Jeremiah 2:12.

Jeremiah 49:30

Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you. get: Heb. flit greatly

Jeremiah 51:53

Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.

Joshua 10:11

And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

Frequently asked questions

What does Jeremiah 2:12 say?

Jeremiah 2:12 (King James Version) reads: "Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD."

Is Jeremiah 2:12 in the Old or New Testament?

Jeremiah 2:12 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah.

Reflect

As you read Jeremiah 2:12, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Jeremiah 2:12
2:11Read all of Jeremiah 22:13