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Commentary on Jeremiah 12 verses 7–13
The people of the Jews are here marked for ruin.
I. God is here brought in falling out with them and leaving them desolate; and they could never have been undone if they had not provoked God to desert them. It is a terrible word that God here says (Jer 12:7): I have forsaken my house - the temple, which had been his palace; they had polluted it, and so forced him out of it: I have left my heritage, and will look after it no more. His people that he has taken such delight in, and care of, are now thrown out of his protection. They had been the dearly beloved of his soul, precious in his sight and honorable above any people, which is mentioned to aggravate their sin in returning him hatred for his love and their misery in throwing themselves out of the favour of one that had such a kindness for them, and to justify God in his dealings with them. He sought not occasion against them, but, if they would have conducted themselves with any tolerable propriety, he would have made the best of them, for they were the beloved of his soul; but they had conducted themselves so that they had provoked him to give them into the hand of their enemies, to leave them unguarded, an easy prey to those that bore them ill-will. But what was the quarrel God had with a people that had been so long dear to him? Why, truly, they had degenerated. 1. They had become like beasts of prey, which nobody loves, but every body avoids and gets as far off from as he can (Jer 12:8): My heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest. Their sins cry to heaven for vengeance as loud as a lion roars. Nay, they cry out against God in the threatenings and slaughter which they breathe against his prophets that speak to them in his name; and what is said and done against them God takes as said and done against himself. They blaspheme his name, oppose his authority, and bid defiance to his justice, and so cry out against him as a lion in the forest. Those that were the sheep of God's pasture had become barbarous and ravenous, and as ungovernable as lions in the forest; therefore he hated them; for what delight could the God of love take in a people that had now become as roaring lions and raging beasts, fit to be taken and shot at, as a vexation and torment to all about them? 2. They had become like birds of prey, and therefore also unworthy a place in God's house, where neither beasts nor birds of prey were admitted to be offered in sacrifice (Jer 12:9): My heritage is unto me as a bird with talons (so some read it, and so the margin); they are continually pulling and pecking at one another; they have by their unnatural contentions made their country a cock-pit. Or as a speckled bird, dyed, or sprinkled, or bedewed with the blood of her prey. The shedding of innocent blood was Jerusalem's measure-filling sin, and hastened their ruin, not only as it provoked their neighbours likewise; for those that have their hand against every man shall have every man's hand against them (Gen 16:12), and so it follows here: The birds round about are against her. Some make her a speckled, pied, or motley bird, upon the account of their mixing the superstitious customs and usages of the heathen with divine institutions in the worship of God; they were fond of a party-coloured religion, and thought it made them fine, when really it made them odious. God's turtle-dove is no speckled bird.
II. The enemies are here brought in falling upon them and laying them desolate. And some think it is upon this account that they are compared to a speckled bird, because fowls usually make a noise about a bird of an odd unusual colour. God's people are, among the children of this world, as men wondered at, as a speckled bird; but this people had by their own folly made themselves so; and the beasts and birds are called and commissioned to prey upon them. Let all the birds round be against her, for God has forsaken her, and with them let all the beasts of the field come to devour. Those that have made a prey of others shall themselves be preyed upon. It did not lessen the sin of the nations, but very much increased the misery of Judah and Jerusalem, that the desolation brought upon them was by order from heaven. The birds and beasts are perhaps called to feast upon the bodies of the slain, as in St. John's vision, Rev 19:17, Rev 19:18. The utter desolation of the land by the Chaldean army is here spoken of as a thing done, so sure, so near, was it. God speaks of it as a thing which he had appointed to be done, and yet which he had no pleasure in, any more than in the death of other sinners.
1.See with what a tender affection he speaks of this land, notwithstanding the sinfulness of it, in remembrance of his covenant, and the tribute of honour and glory he had formerly had from it: It is my vineyard, my portion, my pleasant portion, Jer 12:10. Note, God has a kindness and concern for his church, though there be much amiss in it; and his correcting it will every way consist with his complacency in it.
2.See with what a tender compassion he speaks of the desolations of this land: Many pastors (the Chaldean generals that made themselves masters of the country and ate it up with their armies as easily as the Arabian shepherds with their flocks eat up the fruits of a piece of ground that lies common) have destroyed my vineyard, without any consideration had either of the value of it or of my interest in it; they have with the greatest insolence and indignation trodden it under foot, and that which was a pleasant land they have made a desolate wilderness. The destruction was universal: The whole land is made desolate, Jer 12:11. It is made so by the sword of war: The spoilers, the Chaldean soldiers, have come through the plain upon all high places; they have made themselves masters of all the natural fastnesses and artificial fortresses, Jer 12:12. The sword devours from one end of the land to the other; all places lie exposed, and the numerous army of the invaders disperse themselves into every corner of that fruitful country, so that no flesh shall have peace, none shall be exempt from the calamity nor be able to enjoy any tranquillity. When all flesh have corrupted their way, no flesh shall have peace; those only have peace that walk after the Spirit.
3.See whence all this misery comes. (1.) It comes from the displeasure of God. It is the sword of the Lord that devours, Jer 12:12. While God's people keep close to him the sword of their protectors and deliverers is the sword of the Lord, witness that of Gideon; but when they have forsaken him, so that he has become their enemy and fights against them, then the sword of their invaders and destroyers becomes the sword of the Lord; witness this of the Chaldeans. It is because of the fierce anger of the Lord (Jer 12:13); it was this that kindled this fire among them and made their enemies so furious. And who may stand before him when he is angry? (2.) It is their sin that has made God their enemy, particularly their incorrigibleness under former rebukes (Jer 12:11): The land mourns unto me; the country that lies desolate does, as it were, pour out its complaint before God and humble itself under his hand; but the inhabitants are so senseless and stupid that none of them lays it to heart; they do not mourn to God, but are unaffected with his displeasure, while the very ground they go upon shames them. Note, When God's hand is lifted up, and men will not see, it shall be laid on, and they shall be made to feel, Isa 26:11.
4.See how unable they should be to guard against it (Jer 12:13): "They have sown wheat, that is, they have taken a great deal of pains for their own security and promised themselves great matters from their endeavors, but it is all in vain; they shall reap thorns, that is, that which shall prove very grievous and vexatious to them. Instead of helping themselves, they shall but make themselves more uneasy. They have put themselves to pain, both with their labour and with their expectations, but it shall not profit; they shall not prevail to extricate themselves out of the difficulties into which they have plunged themselves. They shall be ashamed of your revenues, ashamed that they have depended so much upon their preparations for war and particularly upon their ability to bear the charges of it." Money constitutes the sinews of war; they thought they had enough of that, but shall be ashamed of it; for their silver and gold shall not profit them in the day of the Lord's anger.
Dearly beloved, it is fitting that we should not abuse our rank as clergy, so as to make it an occasion of pride, but diligently keep and observe God’s commandments, to be in reality what in name we profess to be. For if the Holy Scriptures say, “Their lots shall not profit them,” what pride in our clerical position will be able to help us who sin not only in thought and feeling but also in speech?
(Verse 13) They sowed wheat and harvested thorns: they received an inheritance, but it will not benefit them. LXX: You have sown wheat and harvested thorns: their clergy will not benefit them. They expected better things, but the worst came: they hoped for success, but endured adversity: they received an abundance of all things from the Lord, which will not benefit them. According to the Septuagint, all heretics sow wheat and harvest thorns, while the Lord waits for them to bear fruit, but they do not bring forth judgment, only outcry. But it is said also of Ecclesiastics who scatter the words of the Lord and his doctrine by evil conduct. Concerning them it is inferred: Their clergy shall not profit them. For what can bishops' name and presbyters, or the rest of the Ecclesiastical order, do to help them, when they are burdened more by their own dignities and suffer powerful torments severely, and when more has been entrusted to them, more is required of them (Wisdom 6).
The house of God has been made a den of thieves! This is the house of which Jeremiah says, “Has not my house become for me the den of a hyena?” Here we have “you have made it a den of thieves,” in Jeremiah, “the den of a hyena.” We have to know the nature of this animal. Then from that, we shall be able to learn why the prophet called God’s house a hyena’s den. The hyena is never seen in the daytime but always at night. Never is it seen in the light but always in the darkness.
I beg you, therefore, and admonish you again and again: do not look to your military experience for a standard of clerical obligation. Under Christ’s banner, do not seek worldly gain, lest having more than when you first became a clergyman, you hear people say, to your shame, “Their portion shall not profit them.” Welcome poor people and strangers to your homely table, that with them Christ may be your guest.
The Edomites and the Moabites and the Ammonites and the foreigners were always of a hateful and malicious disposition toward the Jews. When they saw the misfortunes brought against the Jews, they exulted over the Jews. For this reason he teaches them in advance of the future calling again of the Jews. And he calls their rulers “shepherds.” … Having foretold through these words [v. 15] of the return that would take place under Cyrus and Darius, he also teaches them in advance of the things that would take place after these things.… He spoke also [vv. 16-17] of the utter rejection of the nation of the Jews, for “I will remove that nation by destruction, says the Lord.”
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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 12:13 stands as a potent prophetic indictment against Judah, vividly portraying the futility and bitter consequences of their unrighteous endeavors. Through striking agricultural metaphors, the verse declares that despite their strenuous labor and investment, the people will harvest only barrenness and pain instead of expected prosperity, ultimately facing profound shame and loss. This devastating outcome is presented as a direct, inescapable consequence of the Lord's intense and righteous wrath against their persistent disobedience and covenant infidelity, underscoring the immutable principle that actions divorced from God's will inevitably lead to unprofitable and humiliating results.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 12:13 is masterfully crafted with several potent literary devices that amplify its prophetic message and underscore its theological weight. The most prominent is Metaphor, specifically an Agricultural Metaphor, where the act of "sowing wheat" and "reaping thorns" vividly illustrates the spiritual and moral principle of sowing and reaping. Wheat symbolizes valuable, expected produce, while thorns represent worthlessness, pain, and a cursed outcome, creating a stark Juxtaposition that emphasizes the complete reversal of natural expectations due to divine intervention. The phrase "put themselves to pain, but shall not profit" employs Antithesis, setting up opposing ideas (strenuous labor versus utter lack of gain) to powerfully highlight the futility of their efforts. The declaration that they "shall be ashamed of your revenues" utilizes Irony, as revenues are typically a source of pride and security, but here they become a source of profound humiliation and disappointment. Finally, the concluding phrase "fierce anger of the LORD" is a powerful Anthropomorphism, attributing human emotion (anger) to God, thereby conveying the intense, consuming nature of His righteous indignation and unequivocally identifying the divine hand as the direct cause of their suffering and desolation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 12:13 profoundly articulates the immutable biblical principle that actions have inevitable consequences, particularly within the framework of a covenant relationship with God. It serves as a stark reminder that human effort, no matter how diligent or arduous, is ultimately futile and unproductive when it is rooted in disobedience or undertaken in defiance of divine will. The "fierce anger of the LORD" is not an arbitrary outburst but a just and holy response to Judah's persistent idolatry, social injustice, and covenant infidelity, reflecting God's unwavering holiness and His commitment to the terms of His covenant. This verse stands as a solemn warning that a life lived apart from God's guidance, or in active rebellion against His commands, will inevitably lead to a harvest of bitterness, shame, and loss, rather than the anticipated blessings and prosperity. It underscores the absolute sovereignty of God over all outcomes, even agricultural and economic ones, and His ultimate control over the flourishing or desolation of a nation.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 12:13 offers a timeless and profoundly sobering challenge for both personal and communal introspection. It compels us to critically examine the underlying foundations and motivations of our endeavors, prompting us to ask whether our efforts are truly aligned with God's revealed will and rooted in genuine faith, or if they are self-serving, unrighteous, or even defiant. The verse issues a stark warning: investing our precious time, energy, and resources into pursuits that contradict God's Word or disregard His presence will ultimately yield a harvest of "thorns"—bitter disappointment, spiritual barrenness, and profound shame, rather than the expected "wheat" of blessing, fruitfulness, and true profit. It calls us to consider the ultimate source of our security, success, and flourishing, reminding us that true prosperity and lasting gain come not from our own strength, cunning, or self-reliance, but from living in humble obedience and complete dependence on the Lord. This passage urgently calls us to repent of any areas where we might be "sowing wind" and instead to sow righteousness, trusting that God alone possesses the power and grace to bring forth a bountiful and truly profitable harvest that honors Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "sowing wheat, but shall reap thorns" mean metaphorically?
Answer: This powerful metaphor signifies a complete and devastating reversal of expected outcomes, directly attributed to divine judgment. "Sowing wheat" represents the diligent investment of effort, time, and resources into something valuable and productive, with the natural expectation of a good, nourishing, and profitable return. "Reaping thorns," however, means that despite all the strenuous effort, the actual outcome is worthless, painful, and utterly unproductive. It vividly illustrates the principle that when individuals or nations live in persistent disobedience to God, their labor, no matter how intense or well-intentioned, will ultimately yield bitter disappointment, profound shame, and spiritual barrenness instead of the anticipated prosperity or gain. It serves as a striking image of futility and a divine curse upon unrighteous endeavors, emphasizing that true and lasting profit comes only through God's blessing, which is contingent upon faithfulness and obedience, a truth consistently taught throughout the prophetic books, as exemplified in Isaiah 5:2.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 12:13, with its stark imagery of futile human labor yielding a cursed harvest, finds its ultimate and profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the redemptive work of Jesus. Humanity, through its inherent sin and persistent rebellion, has consistently "sown thorns" of self-reliance, idolatry, and disobedience, leading inevitably to a harvest of spiritual death and eternal separation from God Romans 6:23. We "put ourselves to pain" in our striving for self-righteousness or earthly profit apart from God, only to discover that we "shall not profit" spiritually, for "all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment" in His sight Isaiah 64:6. However, Jesus Christ, the perfect "wheat" of God, willingly entered this cursed reality. He was "sown" into the earth, enduring the "thorns" of our sin—the very curse of the law—and the full weight of the "fierce anger of the LORD" on the cross, becoming a curse for us that we might be redeemed Galatians 3:13. Through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death, He transformed the cursed harvest of humanity into a harvest of righteousness, forgiveness, and eternal life for all who believe. We no longer reap the thorns of our own futile efforts, but by faith in Him, we "profit" eternally, receiving the abundant fruit of His perfect obedience and the blessing of reconciliation with God 2 Corinthians 5:21. He is the true revenue, the ultimate profit, who takes away our shame and offers us an everlasting harvest of grace, peace, and glory.