Jeremiah 12:16

And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) To swear by my name.—There is an obvious reference to the hopes expressed in Jeremiah 4:2. To acknowledge Jehovah in all the most solemn forms of adjuration (comp. Jeremiah 5:2; Psalm 63:11), and to do this, not hypocritically, but in the spirit of reverence and righteousness, was the ideal state of the restored Judah. To be led by her example of faith and holiness, instead of leading her to acknowledge Baal by like forms of speech as they had done, was the ideal state of the nations round about her. In this hope the prophet was echoing that of Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2.

Benson Commentary

Jeremiah 12:16-17. If they will diligently learn the ways of my people — If they will leave their idolatries, and learn of my people who lived among them to be worshippers of me the true God, and to swear by my name, The Lord liveth — That is, pay that homage, which they owe to the Divine Being, to me, the living and true God: as they taught my people to swear by Baal — As they drew in my backsliding people to join with them in the service of idols. Then shall they be built in the midst of my people — They shall have a portion among my people. The acceptance of the believing Gentiles is here clearly intimated, and their union with the church of God, the middle wall of partition being thrown down. Concerning the actual accomplishment of this prophecy, see Ephesians 2:13-22. But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up, &c. — But as for those, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, that shall continue in their idolatrous and superstitious practices, or that shall reject the Messiah, and continue in unbelief and disobedience, I will utterly destroy that people. Thus Isaiah 60:12, The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish: yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. Those that will not be ruled by the grace of God, shall be ruled by the justice of God. And if disobedient nations shall be destroyed, much more shall disobedient churches, from which better things are expected.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:14-17 The Lord would plead the cause of his people against their evil neighbours. Yet he would afterwards show mercy to those nations, when they should learn true religion. This seems to look forward to the times when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in. Those who would have their lot with God's people, and a last end like theirs, must learn their ways, and walk in them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The accomplishment of this blessing depends upon both Judah and the Gentiles reversing their past conduct. Then shall the believing Gentile be admitted within the fold of the true, because spiritual, Israel - Christ's Church.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16. swear by my name—(Jer 4:2; Isa 19:18; 65:16); that is, confess solemnly the true God.

built—be made spiritually and temporally prosperous: fixed in sure habitations (compare Jer 24:6; 42:10; 45:4; Ps 87:4, 5; Eph 2:20, 21; 1Pe 2:5).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Though these people be heathens, yet if they will leave their idolatries, and superstitious ways of worship, and learn to worship and serve me, as my people do and ought to worship me, and

swear by my name, The Lord liveth; that is, pay that homage which they pay to the Divine Being to me, the living and true God; owning me alone as the fountain of life, and searcher of the hearts (for there is a great homage paid to the true God in swearing by his name only, which showeth the great impiety and profaneness of other oaths); then, saith God, I will bless and prosper them also, and they shall not only have a portion in the earth, but amongst my people; which was eminently fulfilled in the conversion of the Gentiles, Romans 11:17; they were originally wild olives, and grafted in amongst the Jews, and with them made partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people,.... Not their evil ways of sin or superstition, they sometimes stray into; but the ways which God has prescribed to them, and has directed them to walk in, and in which they do walk; and which are to be learned of the Lord, by a diligent attendance with his people on his word and ordinances; see Isaiah 2:3,

to swear by my name, the Lord liveth; that is, to worship and serve the living God, a self-existent Being, who has life in himself, and of himself, and not another; and is the fountain, author, and giver of natural life to all creatures, and spiritual and eternal life to his true worshippers: swearing is here put for the whole of religious worship, as in Deuteronomy 6:13,

(as they taught my people to swear by Baal;) to worship him, and other idols:

then shall they be built in the midst of my people; become part of the spiritual building the church; being laid upon the same foundation of the apostles and prophets, and built up a holy temple; a spiritual house for the Lord to dwell in; partaking of the same privileges and ordinances as the people of God; being fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the Gospel, Ephesians 2:20, it denotes the settlement and establishment of the Gentiles with the Jews in a Gospel church state. So the Targum,

"and they shall be established in the midst of my people.''

Geneva Study Bible

And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the {r} ways of my people, to swear by my name, The {s} LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built {t} in the midst of my people.

(r) The true doctrine and manner to serve God.

(s) Read Jer 4:2.

(t) They will be of the number of the faithful, and have a place in my Church.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. to swear by my name] See on ch. Jeremiah 4:2.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - Israel has been converted and restored, and if the other nations follow his example and swear by my name, i.e. adopt the religion of Jehovah (comp. Isaiah 19:18), they shall be rewarded by being suffered to dwell safely in Israel's midst. Observe the contrast with Ver. 14. Before, Israel had dwelt amidst them to his own detriment; now they shall dwell amidst Israel to their profit.



Jeremiah 12:16

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

If then the heathen learn the ways of the people of God. What we are to understand by this is clear from the following infinitive clause: to swear in the name of Jahveh, viz., if they adopt the worship of Jahveh (for swearing is mentioned as one of the principal utterances of a religious confession). If they do so, then shall they be built in the midst of God's people, i.e., incorporated with it, and along with it favoured and blessed.