The Meaning of Jeremiah 20:12 Explained

Jeremiah 20:12

KJV: But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

YLT: And, O Jehovah of Hosts, trier of the righteous, Beholder of reins and heart, I do see Thy vengeance out of them, For unto Thee I have revealed my cause.

Darby: And thou, Jehovah of hosts, who triest the righteous, who seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

ASV: But, O Jehovah of hosts, that triest the righteous, that seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But, O LORD  of hosts,  that triest  the righteous,  [and] seest  the reins  and the heart,  let me see  thy vengeance  on them: for unto thee have I opened  my cause. 

What does Jeremiah 20:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The prophet asked the Lord to allow him to witness the humiliation of his critics, since he was entrusting "vengeance" to Him, and not taking it himself. Yahweh knew the hearts and minds of both Jeremiah and his persecutors, so the Lord knew who was right and who was wrong (cf. Jeremiah 11:20).

Context Summary

Jeremiah 20:1-18 - The Folly Of Idolatry
Jeremiah 10:1-10
We are here introduced into an idol-factory. Contrasted with the manufactured idols is the majesty of our God. There is none like Him. His name is great in might; He is the King of the nations, the true and living God, and the everlasting King! Christian, fear not or be dismayed when enemies plot against you. It is a vain device that they frame. To hide in God is a sure defence from all that man can do for our hurt. O thou true and living Savior, in thy wounds harried and faithful souls become strong and brave again.
Jeremiah 10:19-25
The prophet now bids the people prepare for their captivity. Their city would be as when a shepherd removed his slight and insubstantial tent, leaving no trace. But Jeremiah's soul is lacerated and torn with the message he must needs announce. Are we called to be shepherds? Let us see to it that we seek the Lord; so only shall our flocks not be scattered, Jeremiah 10:21. Are we in perplexity as to our path in life? It is not for us to direct ourselves, but to look up for God's sure guidance, which will be given to the soul that waits for it, Jeremiah 10:23. Are we being corrected? Let us be patient; it is only when we endure without complaining that our trial works out the highest good, and God will not give us more than we can bear, Jeremiah 10:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 20

1  Pashur, smiting Jeremiah, receives a new name, and a fearful doom
7  Jeremiah complains of contempt;
10  of treachery;
14  and of his birth

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 20:12 mean?

But Yahweh of hosts You who test the righteous [And] see the mind and heart let me see Your vengeance on them for before You I have pleaded - my cause -
וַיהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ בֹּחֵ֣ן צַדִּ֔יק רֹאֶ֥ה כְלָי֖וֹת וָלֵ֑ב אֶרְאֶ֤ה נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙ מֵהֶ֔ם כִּ֥י אֵלֶ֖יךָ גִּלִּ֥יתִי אֶת־ רִיבִֽי ס

וַיהוָ֤ה  But  Yahweh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָאוֹת֙  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
בֹּחֵ֣ן  You  who  test 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּחַן  
Sense: to examine, try, prove.
צַדִּ֔יק  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
רֹאֶ֥ה  [And]  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
כְלָי֖וֹת  the  mind 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: כִּלְיָה  
Sense: kidneys.
וָלֵ֑ב  and  heart 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
אֶרְאֶ֤ה  let  me  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙  Your  vengeance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נְקָמָה  
Sense: vengeance.
מֵהֶ֔ם  on  them 
Parse: Preposition-m, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
אֵלֶ֖יךָ  before  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
גִּלִּ֥יתִי  I  have  pleaded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: גָּלָה  
Sense: to uncover, remove.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רִיבִֽי  my  cause 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רִיב 
Sense: strife, controversy, dispute.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation