Jeremiah 12:2
New International Version
You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

New Living Translation
You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts.

English Standard Version
You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart.

Berean Standard Bible
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But far from their mind.

New American Standard Bible
You have planted them, they have also taken root; They grow, they have also produced fruit. You are near to their lips But far from their mind.

NASB 1995
You have planted them, they have also taken root; They grow, they have even produced fruit. You are near to their lips But far from their mind.

NASB 1977
Thou hast planted them, they have also taken root; They grow, they have even produced fruit. Thou art near to their lips But far from their mind.

Legacy Standard Bible
You have planted them; they have also taken root; They grow; they have even produced fruit. You are near to their lips But far from their inmost being.

Amplified Bible
You have planted them, they have also taken root; They grow, they have even produced fruit. You are honored by their [hypocritical] lips But [You are] far from their heart and mind.

Christian Standard Bible
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their conscience.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their conscience.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
You plant them like trees; you let them prosper and produce fruit. Yet even when they praise you, they don't mean it.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You plant them, and they take root. They grow, and they produce fruit. They speak well of you with their lips, but their hearts are far from you.

Good News Translation
You plant them, and they take root; they grow and bear fruit. They always speak well of you, yet they do not really care about you.

International Standard Version
You plant them and they take root, they grow and bear fruit. "You are near to us," they say with their mouths, but the truth is that you're far from their hearts.

Majority Standard Bible
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

NET Bible
You plant them like trees and they put down their roots. They grow prosperous and are very fruitful. They always talk about you, but they really care nothing about you.

New Heart English Bible
You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou hast planted them, yes, they have taken root: they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

World English Bible
You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root. They grow. Yes, they produce fruit. You are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You have planted them, "" Indeed, they have taken root, "" They go on, indeed, they have made fruit, "" You [are] near in their mouth, "" And far off from their reins.

Young's Literal Translation
Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root, They go on, yea, they have made fruit, Near art Thou in their mouth, And far off from their reins.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou didst plant them; they took root; they went on, also they made fruit: thou being near in their mouth, and far off from their reins.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root: they prosper and bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You planted them, and they took root. They are prospering and bearing fruit. You are near to their mouths, but far from their hearts.

New American Bible
You planted them; they have taken root, they flourish and bear fruit as well. You are upon their lips, but far from their thoughts.

New Revised Standard Version
You plant them, and they take root; they grow and bring forth fruit; you are near in their mouths yet far from their hearts.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thou hast planted them; yea, their roots have become strong; they grow, they bring forth fruit; thou art near in their mouth, and far from their hearts.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
You planted them and their roots grew strong, they grew also; they produced fruit. You are near in their mouths, and you are far from their kidneys
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root; they have begotten children, and become fruitful; thou art near to their mouth, and far from their reins.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Prosperity of the Wicked
1Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? 2You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts. 3But 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.…

Cross References
Psalm 37:35-36
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, / yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. / But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. / When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. ...

Psalm 73:3-12
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. / They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. / They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men. ...

Job 21:7-16
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? / Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes. / Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them. ...

Mark 4:16-19
Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy. / But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. / Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word, ...

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 by men.

Matthew 15:8
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

Hosea 10:1-2
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars. / Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.

Luke 8:13-14
The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away. / The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.

Psalm 92:7
that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.

Isaiah 57:11
Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me?

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 gain.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

James 1:21-22
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. / Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

Proverbs 12:3
A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.


Treasury of Scripture

You have planted them, yes, they have taken root: they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

hast.

Jeremiah 11:17
For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.

Jeremiah 45:4
Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.

Ezekiel 17:5-10
He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree…

grown.

Isaiah 19:13
The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.

Ezekiel 33:31
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

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Advance Always Bear Far Forth Fruit Grow Heart Hearts Lips Mind Mouth Mouths Planted Plantest Produced Reins Root Thoughts
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Advance Always Bear Far Forth Fruit Grow Heart Hearts Lips Mind Mouth Mouths Planted Plantest Produced Reins Root Thoughts
Jeremiah 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.














You planted them
This phrase acknowledges God's sovereign role in the establishment of nations and peoples. The Hebrew root for "planted" is "nata," which conveys intentionality and care, much like a gardener with a plant. In the historical context, this reflects God's covenant relationship with Israel, where He "planted" them in the Promised Land. It serves as a reminder of God's providence and the expectation of faithfulness from those He establishes.

and they have taken root
The imagery of taking root suggests stability and growth. The Hebrew word "sharash" implies a deep, secure anchoring. This can be seen as a metaphor for how the people of Israel were meant to be deeply rooted in God's laws and commandments. However, the verse hints at a disconnect between their physical establishment and their spiritual fidelity.

they grow and produce fruit
Growth and fruitfulness are often used in Scripture to symbolize prosperity and the results of one's actions. The Hebrew word for "grow" is "parach," which means to flourish or blossom. "Fruit" (Hebrew "peri") signifies the outcomes or consequences of one's life. In a spiritual sense, this should reflect righteousness and justice, but the context here suggests a divergence from God's intended purpose.

You are ever on their lips
This phrase highlights a superficial religiosity. The Hebrew word "saphah" for "lips" indicates speech or outward expression. The people of Israel were known for their religious rituals and proclamations of faith. However, this external devotion was not matched by internal commitment, a theme echoed by Jesus in the New Testament when He criticized the Pharisees for similar behavior.

but far from their hearts
The heart, "leb" in Hebrew, represents the center of one's being, including emotions, will, and intellect. This phrase underscores the disconnect between outward expressions of faith and true devotion. Historically, this was a recurring issue for Israel, as they often fell into idolatry and disobedience despite their covenant with God. The verse serves as a cautionary reminder of the importance of genuine faith that permeates both actions and intentions.

(2) Thou hast planted them.--The words express, of course, the questioning distrust of the prophet. The wicked flourish, so that one would think God had indeed planted them. Yet all the while they were mocking Him with hypocritical worship (here we have an echo of Isaiah 29:13), uttering His name with their lips while He was far from that innermost being which the Hebrew symbolised by the "reins."

Verse 2. - Far from their reins; i.e. from their heart (the seat of strong impulses and desires); comp. Psalm 16:7; Psalm 26:2.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You planted them,
נְטַעְתָּם֙ (nə·ṭa‘·tām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5193: To strike in, fix, to plant

and
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

they have taken root.
שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ (šō·rā·šū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8327: To root, strike into the soil, to pluck from it

They have grown
יֵלְכ֖וּ (yê·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

and
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

produced
עָ֣שׂוּ (‘ā·śū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

fruit.
פֶ֑רִי (p̄e·rî)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6529: Fruit

You
אַתָּה֙ (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are ever on their lips,
בְּפִיהֶ֔ם (bə·p̄î·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

but far
וְרָח֖וֹק (wə·rā·ḥō·wq)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7350: Remote, of place, time, precious

from their conscience.
מִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (mik·kil·yō·w·ṯê·hem)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3629: A kidney, the mind


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 12:2 You have planted them yes they have (Jer.)
Jeremiah 12:1
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