Jeremiah 12:11
They have made it desolate, [and being] desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth [it] to heart.
They have made {H7760} it desolate {H8076}, and being desolate {H8077} it mourneth {H56} unto me; the whole land {H776} is made desolate {H8074}, because no man {H376} layeth {H7760} it to heart {H3820}.
Yes, they have made it a waste; wasted, it mourns to me; the whole land is wasted, because nobody really cares."
They have made it a desolation; desolate before Me, it mourns. All the land is laid waste, but no man takes it to heart.
They have made it a desolation; it mourneth unto me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
Cross-References
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Jeremiah 23:10 (5 votes)
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force [is] not right. -
Isaiah 42:25 (5 votes)
Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid [it] not to heart. -
Jeremiah 14:2 (3 votes)
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. -
Jeremiah 10:22 (2 votes)
Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, [and] a den of dragons. -
Isaiah 57:1 (2 votes)
¶ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come]. -
Malachi 2:2 (2 votes)
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart. -
Jeremiah 19:8 (2 votes)
And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.
Commentary
Jeremiah 12:11 vividly portrays the lamentable state of the land of Judah, afflicted by desolation and mourning. This verse underscores the severe consequences of the people's spiritual apathy and their disregard for God's covenant and warnings through His prophets.
Context
This verse is situated within Jeremiah’s ministry, a period leading up to the Babylonian exile, marked by Judah's persistent idolatry and moral decay. The prophet Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," often expressed profound grief over the nation's impending doom. In chapter 12, Jeremiah questions God about the prosperity of the wicked, and God’s response begins to outline the judgment that will befall Judah. The land itself becomes a symbol of this judgment, suffering alongside its inhabitants. The desolation described here is not accidental; it is a direct result of God's righteous judgment against a rebellious people who refused to turn from their wicked ways. This prophetic lament highlights how the land, once blessed, is now barren and grieving because of the people's sin and their failure to heed divine instruction, as forewarned in the curses of the Mosaic covenant.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "no man layeth it to heart" is crucial. In Hebrew, "layeth it to heart" (lo-sam 'al-lev) implies a failure to pay attention, to consider deeply, or to take responsibility for something. It's not merely an intellectual oversight but a profound spiritual indifference and a lack of emotional and moral engagement. This spiritual apathy prevented the people from truly grasping the severity of their actions and the impending judgment, a theme also seen in Hosea 4:6.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 12:11 offers timeless lessons for believers today:
Ultimately, Jeremiah 12:11 serves as a stark reminder that God’s warnings are not to be taken lightly, and spiritual apathy has profound and devastating consequences, leading to a state of desolation that mourns for a people who simply would not care.
Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.