The Meaning of Jeremiah 12:2 Explained

Jeremiah 12:2

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.

Darby: Thou hast planted them, they also have taken root: they advance, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, but far from their reins.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Jeremiah 12:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord had been responsible for these wicked people coming into existence, growing, and flourishing, like trees. This was a result of His "common grace" (cf. Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:35). They spoke freely about Yahweh, but they did not really take Him into consideration.

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 12:2 mean?

You have planted them yes they have taken root they grow they bear fruit Near You [are] in their mouth but far from their mind
נְטַעְתָּם֙ גַּם־ שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ יֵלְכ֖וּ עָ֣שׂוּ פֶ֑רִי קָר֤וֹב אַתָּה֙ בְּפִיהֶ֔ם וְרָח֖וֹק מִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם

נְטַעְתָּם֙  You  have  planted  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: נָטַע  
Sense: to plant, fasten, fix, establish.
גַּם־  yes 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ  they  have  taken  root 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁרַשׁ  
Sense: to uproot, take root, deal with the roots.
יֵלְכ֖וּ  they  grow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
עָ֣שׂוּ  they  bear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
פֶ֑רִי  fruit 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פְּרִי  
Sense: fruit.
קָר֤וֹב  Near 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָרֹוב  
Sense: near.
אַתָּה֙  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
בְּפִיהֶ֔ם  in  their  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
וְרָח֖וֹק  but  far 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָחֹוק  
Sense: remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones.
מִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם  from  their  mind 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: כִּלְיָה  
Sense: kidneys.