Jeremiah 12:15

And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

And it shall come to pass, after {H310} that I have plucked them out {H5428} I will return {H7725}, and have compassion {H7355} on them, and will bring them again {H7725}, every man {H376} to his heritage {H5159}, and every man {H376} to his land {H776}.

Then, after I have uprooted them, I will take pity on them again and bring them back, each one to his inheritance, each one to his own land.

But after I have uprooted them, I will once again have compassion on them and return each one to his inheritance and to his land.

And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

Commentary

Jeremiah 12:15 offers a powerful message of hope and restoration amidst the prophet’s warnings of impending judgment. It reveals God’s ultimate purpose to show mercy even after He has disciplined His people.

Context

This verse follows a passage where the prophet Jeremiah laments the prosperity of the wicked and questions God's justice (Jeremiah 12:1). God responds by describing the severe judgment that will fall upon Judah and surrounding nations, comparing His people to a beloved inheritance that has been abandoned (Jeremiah 12:7). The "plucking out" refers directly to the coming Babylonian exile, a period of severe discipline for Israel's unfaithfulness. However, Jeremiah 12:15 shifts the tone dramatically, revealing God's long-term plan for restoration, not just destruction, for both Judah and even the nations that oppressed them in the wider context.

Key Themes

  • Divine Compassion and Mercy: Even after exercising severe judgment ("plucked them out"), God declares His intention to "return, and have compassion on them." This highlights God's enduring character of love and mercy, which is fundamental to His covenant relationship with His people. It assures that His discipline is not an end in itself but often a path towards ultimate good.
  • Restoration and Hope: The promise to "bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land" speaks directly to the return from the Babylonian captivity. It signifies a full restoration of their national identity, their ancestral land, and their spiritual relationship with God. This promise of future return is a recurring theme in prophetic books, offering hope beyond immediate suffering (Jeremiah 29:10).
  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: While primarily focused on Judah, the broader context of Jeremiah 12 also includes God's judgment and eventual compassion on the surrounding nations who oppressed Israel. This verse implicitly extends God's sovereign hand over all peoples, demonstrating His power to both scatter and gather.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "plucked them out" comes from the Hebrew root natash, which can mean to abandon, forsake, or let go. Here, it conveys a decisive and forceful removal due to judgment. The word for "compassion" is racham, which is a deep, visceral mercy, often likened to a mother's tender affection for her child. It signifies a profound, heartfelt pity and love. The terms "heritage" (nachalah) and "land" ('eretz) underscore the deep significance of the Promised Land to the Israelites, not just as territory, but as a divine inheritance and a symbol of their covenant with God.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 12:15 offers profound comfort and insight for believers today. It assures us that even when God's discipline or difficult circumstances "pluck us out" of our comfort zones, His ultimate intention is often restoration and renewal. It teaches us about God's faithfulness to His promises, reminding us that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). This verse encourages patience and trust in God's perfect timing, knowing that His compassion will prevail and He will ultimately bring us to our true spiritual heritage in Christ, a future hope that transcends any earthly "land" or "heritage."

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 49:6 (9 votes)

    And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 48:47 (8 votes)

    Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far [is] the judgment of Moab.

  • Jeremiah 49:39 (5 votes)

    But it shall come to pass in the latter days, [that] I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.

  • Amos 9:14 (3 votes)

    And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

  • Deuteronomy 30:3 (3 votes)

    That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

  • Deuteronomy 3:20 (2 votes)

    Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and [until] they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and [then] shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.

  • Numbers 32:18 (2 votes)

    We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.