Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword of the LORD will devour from one end of the land to the other; no one will be safe. New Living Translation On all the bare hilltops, destroying armies can be seen. The sword of the LORD devours people from one end of the nation to the other. No one will escape! English Standard Version Upon all the bare heights in the desert destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the land to the other; no flesh has peace. Berean Standard Bible Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace. Berean Literal Bible Upon all the barren heights in the desert the destroyers have come; for the sword of YHWH is devouring from one end of the land even to the other end of the land! No peace is unto any flesh. King James Bible The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. New King James Version The plunderers have come On all the desolate heights in the wilderness, For the sword of the LORD shall devour From one end of the land to the other end of the land; No flesh shall have peace. New American Standard Bible “On all the bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For the sword of the LORD is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; There is no peace for anyone. NASB 1995 “On all the bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For a sword of the LORD is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; There is no peace for anyone. NASB 1977 “On all the bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For a sword of the LORD is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; There is no peace for anyone. Legacy Standard Bible On all the bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For a sword of Yahweh is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; There is no peace for any flesh. Amplified Bible “Destroyers have come On all the caravan roads in the desert, For the sword of the LORD (Babylon) is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; No one has peace or a way of escape. Berean Annotated Bible Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD {YHWH} devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace. Christian Standard Bible Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the LORD has a sword that devours from one end of the earth to the other. No one has peace. Holman Christian Standard Bible Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the LORD has a sword that devours from one end of the earth to the other. No one has peace. American Standard Version Destroyers are come upon all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Jehovah devoureth from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh hath peace. Contemporary English Version A destroying army marches along desert roads and attacks everywhere. They are my deadly sword; no one is safe from them. English Revised Version Spoilers are come upon all the bare heights in the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD devoureth from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh hath peace. GOD'S WORD® Translation Looters swarm all over the bare hills in the desert. The LORD's sword destroys them from one end of the land to the other. No one will be safe. Good News Translation Across all the desert highlands people have come to plunder. I have sent war to destroy the entire land; no one can live in peace. International Standard Version On all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will come. Indeed, a sword of the LORD will devour from one end of the land to the other. There will be no peace for any person. NET Bible A destructive army will come marching over the hilltops in the desert. For the LORD will use them as his destructive weapon against everyone from one end of the land to the other. No one will be safe. New Heart English Bible Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of the LORD devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh has peace. Webster's Bible Translation The spoilers have come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleOver all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace. World English Bible Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land. No flesh has peace. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSpoilers have come in on all high places in the plain, "" For the sword of YHWH is consuming, "" From the end of the land even to the end of the land, "" There is no peace to any flesh. Berean Literal Bible Upon all the barren heights in the desert the destroyers have come; for the sword of YHWH is devouring from one end of the land even to the other end of the land! No peace is unto any flesh. Young's Literal Translation On all high places in the plain have spoilers come in, For the sword of Jehovah is consuming, From the end of the land even unto the end of the land, There is no peace to any flesh. Smith's Literal Translation They spoiling came upon all the hills of the desert: for the sword of Jehovah consumed from the extremity of the land even to extremity of the land: no peace to all flesh. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe spoilers are come upon all the ways of the wilderness, for the sword of the Lord shall devour from one end of the land to the other end thereof: there is no peace for all flesh. Catholic Public Domain Version The devastators have arrived, over all the ways of the wilderness. For the sword of the Lord will devour, from one end of the earth even to its furthest limits. There is no peace for all that is flesh. New American Bible Upon every height in the wilderness marauders have appeared. The LORD has a sword that consumes the land from end to end: no peace for any living thing. New Revised Standard Version Upon all the bare heights in the desert spoilers have come; for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the land to the other; no one shall be safe. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe robbers are come upon all highways in the wilderness; for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the land even to the other: no flesh shall have peace. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated The plunderers came on all the paths of the wilderness, because the sword of LORD JEHOVAH devours from the ends of the Earth and unto the ends of the Earth, and there is no peace to anybody OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Upon all the high hills in the wilderness spoilers are come; For the sword of the LORD devoureth From the one end of the land even to the other end of the land, No flesh hath peace. Brenton Septuagint Translation The ravagers are come to every passage in the wilderness: for the sword of the Lord will devour from one end of the land to the other: no flesh has any peace. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God's Answer to Jeremiah…11They have made it a desolation; desolate before Me, it mourns. All the land is laid waste, but no man takes it to heart. 12Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace. 13They have sown wheat but harvested thorns. They have exhausted themselves to no avail. Bear the shame of your harvest because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”… Cross References Over all the barren heights in the wilderness Jeremiah 4:11-12 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A searing wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward the daughter of My people, but not to winnow or to sift; / a wind too strong for that comes from Me. Now I also pronounce judgments against them.” Isaiah 41:18-19 I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs. / I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together, Ezekiel 6:2-3 “Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them. / You are to say: ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. the destroyers have come, Habakkuk 1:6-8 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. / They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. / Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour. Jeremiah 4:7 A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited. Isaiah 13:5 They are coming from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens—the LORD and the weapons of His wrath—to destroy the whole country. for the sword of the LORD devours Deuteronomy 32:41-42 when I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me. / I will make My arrows drunk with blood, while My sword devours flesh—the blood of the slain and captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.” Jeremiah 46:10 For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates. Ezekiel 21:3-5 and tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. / Because I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north. / Then all flesh will know that I, the LORD, have taken My sword from its sheath, not to return it again.’ from one end of the earth to the other. Deuteronomy 28:64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. Jeremiah 25:33 Those slain by the LORD on that day will be spread from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung lying on the ground. No flesh has peace. Jeremiah 6:14 They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. Ezekiel 7:25 Anguish is coming! They will seek peace, but find none. Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 24:6 Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants must bear the guilt; the earth’s dwellers have been burned, and only a few survive. Ezekiel 7:15 The sword is outside; plague and famine are within. Those in the country will die by the sword, and those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague. Treasury of Scripture The spoilers are come on all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. spoilers. Jeremiah 4:11-15 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse, … Jeremiah 9:19-21 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out… the sword. Jeremiah 15:2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. Jeremiah 34:17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. Jeremiah 47:6 O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. no. Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Matthew 24:21,22 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be… Revelation 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Jump to Previous Bare Barren Desert Destroyers Devour Devoureth Devouring Devours End Flesh Heights High Open Peace Places Spoilers Swarm Sword WildernessJump to Next Bare Barren Desert Destroyers Devour Devoureth Devouring Devours End Flesh Heights High Open Peace Places Spoilers Swarm Sword WildernessJeremiah 12 1. Jeremiah, complaining of the prosperity of the wicked, by faith sees their ruin.5. God admonishes him of his brothers' treachery against him; 7. and laments his heritage. 14. He promises to the penitent return from captivity. Over all the barren heights in the wilderness The "barren heights" refer to the elevated places often used for idol worship in ancient Israel, which were contrary to God's commands. These locations, devoid of vegetation, symbolize spiritual desolation and judgment. The wilderness often represents a place of testing and divine encounter in the Bible, as seen in the Israelites' journey in Exodus. The use of "barren" underscores the absence of life and prosperity, indicating a land under divine judgment. the destroyers have come for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other No flesh has peace Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahThe prophet who conveyed God's messages to the people of Judah, warning them of impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness. 2. The Barren Heights These are symbolic of places of idolatry and false worship, often where altars to foreign gods were erected. 3. The Wilderness Represents desolation and a place of testing, often used in the Bible to signify a place of judgment or purification. 4. Destroyers Likely referring to invading armies or forces used by God as instruments of judgment against Judah. 5. The Sword of the LORD A metaphor for divine judgment, indicating that the destruction is a direct result of God's will due to the people's disobedience. Teaching Points The Consequences of IdolatryJust as Judah faced destruction for their idolatry, we must guard against modern forms of idolatry in our lives, prioritizing God above all else. God's Sovereignty in Judgment Recognize that God's judgments are just and serve a purpose in His divine plan. This should lead us to a deeper reverence and awe of His power. The Call to Repentance The absence of peace is a call to return to God. In our lives, we should be quick to repent and seek His forgiveness when we stray. The Reality of Spiritual Warfare The "sword of the LORD" reminds us of the spiritual battles we face. We must equip ourselves with the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6. Hope in Restoration While judgment is severe, God's ultimate plan includes restoration and peace for those who turn back to Him. This should encourage us to persevere in faith. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 12:12?2. How does Jeremiah 12:12 illustrate God's judgment on a disobedient nation? 3. What lessons can we learn about God's justice from Jeremiah 12:12? 4. How does Jeremiah 12:12 connect with other warnings in the Old Testament? 5. How can we apply the warnings in Jeremiah 12:12 to modern society? 6. What actions should believers take to avoid the consequences seen in Jeremiah 12:12? 7. What historical events might Jeremiah 12:12 be referencing? 8. How does Jeremiah 12:12 reflect God's judgment on Israel? 9. What is the significance of the "sword" in Jeremiah 12:12? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 12? 11. How does God's apparent forsaking of His inheritance (Jeremiah 12:7) fit with the Bible's broader claim of His unwavering protection? 12. Jeremiah 10:12: How can this claim that God 'stretched out the heavens' align with scientific cosmology regarding the universe's expansion? 13. In 2 Kings 25:8, the city falls on the seventh day of the fifth month, while Jeremiah 52:12 reports the tenth day--how can these differing dates be reconciled? 14. Jeremiah 12:15 promises restoration after judgment; is there concrete historical proof of this restoration taking place? What Does Jeremiah 12:12 Mean Over all the barren heights in the wildernessJeremiah 12:12 opens with, “Over all the barren heights in the wilderness…” • These “barren heights” are literal ridges around Judah that were already stripped by drought and overgrazing (Jeremiah 14:6), making them perfect symbols of spiritual barrenness. • Earlier, Jeremiah pointed to those same heights as the stage for Judah’s idolatry (Jeremiah 3:2, 6). Their emptiness now mirrors the nation’s empty worship. • The image reminds us that when people abandon the Lord, their once-fruitful places become wastelands—physically and spiritually (Leviticus 26:33). The destroyers have come “…the destroyers have come…” • Historically the “destroyers” are the Babylonian armies sweeping south (Jeremiah 4:7; 6:22-23). • God repeatedly warned Judah that disaster would arrive by human hands yet under divine commission (Habakkuk 1:6-8). • The passage also foreshadows a final, worldwide visitation of judgment, echoed in Revelation 19:17-18 when “kings, commanders, and mighty men” fall before Christ’s return. For the sword of the LORD devours “…for the sword of the LORD devours…” • Though Babylon wields the blade, the sword is unmistakably the Lord’s (Deuteronomy 32:41-42; Isaiah 34:6). He claims ultimate ownership of the judgment. • God’s sword “devours,” stressing total consumption rather than a mere skirmish (Jeremiah 46:10). • The truth stands: the same Lord who protects His people (Psalm 91:4-5) can also discipline and judge when rebellion persists (Hebrews 10:30-31). From one end of the earth to the other “…from one end of the earth to the other.” • The scope of judgment stretches far beyond Judah. Jeremiah later repeats this in 25:31-33, picturing global upheaval. • Isaiah 24:1-6 and Zephaniah 1:2-3 announce a similar cleansing that reaches every corner. • Christ describes an end-time gathering “from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:31), affirming God’s authority over the whole planet—both to gather the redeemed and to judge the unrepentant. No flesh has peace “…No flesh has peace.” • Sin robs all humanity of peace; Isaiah 57:20-21 says, “There is no peace… for the wicked.” • Ezekiel 7:25 records a cry for “peace,” yet none comes—matching the atmosphere of Jeremiah’s day. • Paul warns that when people boast “Peace and safety,” sudden destruction follows (1 Thessalonians 5:3). • Lasting peace comes only through surrender to the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; John 14:27). Until then, humanity experiences the unrest that rebellion inevitably invites. summary Jeremiah 12:12 paints a sober picture: on Judah’s once-idolatrous high places, enemy armies—God’s own instrument—march through a land already barren. His sword consumes without geographic limit, underscoring that no one can outrun divine justice. The verse confronts every generation with the same reality: forsake God, and real, tangible judgment follows; trust Him, and peace replaces desolation. (12) All high places.--i.e., the bare treeless heights so often chosen as the site of an idolatrous sanctuary.The sword of the Lord.--As in the cry of "the sword of Jehovah and of Gideon" (Judges 7:18) all man's work in war is thought of as instrumental in working out a Will mightier than his own. The sword of the Chaldean invader was, after all, His sword. The thought was more or less the common inheritance of Israel, but it had recently received a special prominence from Deuteronomy 32:41. No flesh shall have peace.--The context limits the prediction to the offenders of the cities of Judah. As peace was for the Israelite the sum and substance of all blessedness, so its absence was the extremest of all maledictions. "Flesh" is used, as in Genesis 6:3, for man's nature as evil and corrupt. Verse 12. - Upon an high places thresh the wilderness; rather, upon all bare heights in the wilderness (see on Jeremiah 3:2). Hardly with a reference to their pollution by idolatry; the mention of "the wilderness" (or pasture-country) suggests that it is merely a feature in the impoverishment of the country (a contrast to Isaiah 49:9). The sword of the Lord shall devour; rather, the Lord hath a sword which devoureth. It is the heavenly sword (Isaiah 34:5), the symbol of Divine vengeance (see below on Jeremiah 46:5).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Overעַֽל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the barren heights שְׁפָיִ֣ם (šə·p̄ā·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 8205: Bareness, a smooth or bare height in the wilderness בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר (bam·miḏ·bār) Preposition, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech the destroyers שֹֽׁדְדִ֔ים (šō·ḏə·ḏîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin have come, בָּ֚אוּ (bā·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go for כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction the sword חֶ֤רֶב (ḥe·reḇ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword of the LORD לַֽיהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel devours אֹֽכְלָ֔ה (’ō·ḵə·lāh) Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 398: To eat from [one] end מִקְצֵה־ (miq·ṣêh-) Preposition | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7097: End, extremity of the earth אֶ֖רֶץ (’e·reṣ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land to וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while the other. קְצֵ֣ה (qə·ṣêh) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7097: End, extremity No אֵ֥ין (’ên) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle flesh בָּשָֽׂר׃ (bā·śār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man shall have peace. שָׁל֖וֹם (šā·lō·wm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace Links Jeremiah 12:12 NIVJeremiah 12:12 NLT Jeremiah 12:12 ESV Jeremiah 12:12 NASB Jeremiah 12:12 KJV Jeremiah 12:12 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 12:12 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 12:12 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 12:12 French Bible Jeremiah 12:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 12:12 Destroyers are come on all the bare (Jer.) |
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