Jeremiah 12:9 Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her? Go, gather all the beasts of the field; bring them to devour her.

◄ Jeremiah 12:9 ►

New International Version
Has not my inheritance become to me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack? Go and gather all the wild beasts; bring them to devour.

New Living Translation
My chosen people act like speckled vultures, but they themselves are surrounded by vultures. Bring on the wild animals to pick their corpses clean!

English Standard Version
Is my heritage to me like a hyena’s lair? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the wild beasts; bring them to devour.

Berean Standard Bible
Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her? Go, gather all the beasts of the field; bring them to devour her.

King James Bible
Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

New King James Version
My heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture; The vultures all around are against her. Come, assemble all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!

New American Standard Bible
“Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me? Are the birds of prey against her on every side? Go, gather all the animals of the field, Bring them to devour!

NASB 1995
“Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me? Are the birds of prey against her on every side? Go, gather all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!

NASB 1977
“Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me? Are the birds of prey against her on every side? Go, gather all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!

Legacy Standard Bible
Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me? Are the birds of prey against her on every side? Go, gather all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!

Amplified Bible
“Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me [unlike the others]? Are the birds of prey (enemies) surrounding her on every side? Go, gather all the [wild] beasts of the field; Bring them to devour [her]!

Christian Standard Bible
Is my inheritance like a hyena to me? Are birds of prey circling her? Go, gather all the wild animals; bring them to devour her.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Is My inheritance like a hyena to Me? Are birds of prey circling her? Go, gather all the wild animals; bring them to devour her.

American Standard Version
Is my heritage unto me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her round about? go ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, bring them to devour.

Contemporary English Version
My people are like a hawk surrounded and attacked by other hawks. Tell the wild animals to come and eat their fill.

English Revised Version
Is mine heritage unto me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her round about? go ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, bring them to devour.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My people are like a colorful bird of prey. Other birds of prey surround it. Go, gather all the animals in the field, and bring them to devour it.

Good News Translation
My chosen people are like a bird attacked from all sides by hawks. Call the wild animals to come and join in the feast!

International Standard Version
Is my inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to me? Are the other birds of prey all around her coming against her? Go, gather all the wild animals and bring them to devour it.

Majority Standard Bible
Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her? Go, gather all the beasts of the field; bring them to devour her.

NET Bible
The people I call my own attack me like birds of prey or like hyenas. But other birds of prey are all around them. Let all the nations gather together like wild beasts. Let them come and destroy these people I call my own.

New Heart English Bible
Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field, bring them to devour.

Webster's Bible Translation
My heritage is to me as a speckled bird, the birds around are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

World English Bible
Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field. Bring them to devour.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
[Is] My inheritance a speckled bird to Me? Is the bird around against her? Come, assemble, every beast of the field, "" Come for food.

Young's Literal Translation
A speckled fowl is Mine inheritance to Me? Is the fowl round about against her? Come, assemble, every beast of the field, Come ye for food.

Smith's Literal Translation
The ravenous hyena is my inheritance to me, rushing round about upon her; go ye, gather together all the beasts of the field, set ye upon to eat her.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Is my inheritance to me as a speckled bird? Is it as a bird died throughout? come ye, assemble yourselves, all the beasts of the earth, make haste to devour.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Is my inheritance to me like a discolored bird? Is it like a bird that has entirely changed color? Approach and assemble, all beasts of the earth! Hurry, so that you may devour!

New American Bible
My heritage is a prey for hyenas, is surrounded by vultures; Come, gather together, all you wild animals, come and eat!

New Revised Standard Version
Is the hyena greedy for my heritage at my command? Are the birds of prey all around her? Go, assemble all the wild animals; bring them to devour her.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
My heritage has become to me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; go, assemble all the wild beasts of the field, bring them to devour her.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
My inheritance was a speckled bird of prey to me, and the birds of prey circled around her. Every animal of the wilderness went and gathered around her and came to eat her

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Is My heritage unto Me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her round about? Come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Is not my inheritance to me a hyaena's cave, or a cave round about her? Go ye, gather together all the wild beasts of the field, and let them come to devour her.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

God's Answer to Jeremiah
…8My inheritance has become to Me like a lion in the forest. She has roared against Me; therefore I hate her. 9Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her? Go, gather all the beasts of the field; bring them to devour her. 10Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have trampled My plot of ground. They have turned My pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 56:9
Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.

Ezekiel 34:8
‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because My flock lacks a shepherd and has become prey and food for every wild beast, and because My shepherds did not search for My flock but fed themselves instead,

Hosea 8:1
Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.

Zephaniah 3:3
Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Ezekiel 22:25
The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.

Psalm 79:2
They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. / The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. / The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. ...

Revelation 18:2
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

Acts 20:29
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

Zechariah 11:3
Listen to the wailing of the shepherds, for their glory is in ruins. Listen to the roaring of the young lions, for the thickets of the Jordan are destroyed.

John 10:12
The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.

Isaiah 5:29
Their roaring is like that of a lion; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they carry it away, and no one can rescue it.

Treasury of Scripture

My heritage is to me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come you, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

Mine.

Speckled bird.

Jeremiah 2:15
The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

2 Kings 24:2
And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.

Ezekiel 16:36,37
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them; …

come ye.

Jeremiah 7:33
And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.

Isaiah 56:9
All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.

Ezekiel 39:17-20
And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood…

come.

Jump to Previous

Animals Assemble Attack Attacking Beasts Bird Birds Brightly Coloured Cruel Devour Field Heritage Inheritance Prey Round Side Speckled Surround Together Wild

Jump to Next

Animals Assemble Attack Attacking Beasts Bird Birds Brightly Coloured Cruel Devour Field Heritage Inheritance Prey Round Side Speckled Surround Together Wild

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.

Berean Study Bible

Is not My inheritance
The term "inheritance" in Hebrew is "נַחֲלָה" (nachalah), which often refers to the land or people that God has chosen as His own. In the context of Jeremiah, this inheritance is the nation of Israel, whom God has set apart for His purposes. Historically, Israel was chosen to be a light to the nations, a people through whom God would reveal His character and plan for redemption. This phrase underscores the deep, covenantal relationship between God and Israel, highlighting the pain and disappointment God feels over their unfaithfulness.

to Me like a speckled bird of prey
The imagery of a "speckled bird of prey" is vivid and unusual. The Hebrew word for "speckled" is "צָבוּעַ" (tsavua), which can mean colored or variegated. This suggests something that stands out, perhaps due to its unique appearance. In the ancient Near East, birds of prey were often seen as symbols of destruction or judgment. Here, the speckled bird may symbolize Israel's distinctiveness among the nations, yet also its vulnerability and the attention it draws from adversaries due to its unfaithfulness.

with other birds of prey circling against her?
The "other birds of prey" represent the surrounding nations that are hostile to Israel. Historically, Israel was often besieged by neighboring powers, such as Assyria and Babylon. The image of these birds circling suggests impending danger and judgment. This phrase conveys the idea that Israel's unique position has made it a target for those who wish to exploit or destroy it, a consequence of their departure from God's protection through disobedience.

Go, gather all the beasts of the field
The "beasts of the field" symbolize the nations and peoples that God will use as instruments of judgment against Israel. In the ancient world, wild beasts were often associated with chaos and destruction. This command to "gather" them indicates a divine orchestration of events, where God allows these nations to come against Israel as a consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness. It reflects the biblical theme that God is sovereign over all nations and uses them to fulfill His purposes.

bring them to devour her
The word "devour" in Hebrew is "אָכַל" (akal), meaning to consume or destroy. This phrase is a stark depiction of the judgment that is to come upon Israel due to their persistent rebellion against God. It serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the inevitable consequences of turning away from God's covenant. Yet, within the broader biblical narrative, such judgment is not the end; it is often a precursor to repentance and restoration, highlighting God's desire for His people to return to Him.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird.--The Hebrew is interrogative, Is mine heritage . . .? Are the birds come round about against her? The word for "bird" in both cases means a "bird of prey" (Isaiah 46:11; Genesis 15:11), and the "speckled bird" is probably, but not certainly, some less common species of vulture. The image was probably suggested by something the prophet had observed, birds of prey of one species collecting and attacking a solitary stranger of another, joined by the "beasts of the field," the wolves and jackals and hyaenas, who scent their prey. The word "speckled," perhaps, points to the bird attacked as being of more goodly plumage than the others (one, it may be, of the kingfishers that abound in Palestine), and therefore treated as a stranger and an enemy. The fact is one which strikes every observer of bird life (Tac. Ann. vi. 28; Sueton. Caes. c. 81).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - The first part of this verse is mistranslated. Instead of Mine heritage is unto me, etc., it should be, Is mine heritage unto me (i.e. to my sorrow, a dativus ethics) a colored bird of prey? Are birds of prey round about her? The passage is difficult, but the following seems the most plausible explanation: - Jehovah is represented as surprised to see his chosen people a prey to the heathen (a strongly anthropomorphic description, as if Jehovah had not anticipated that his "giving up" his people would have such sad results). It seems to him (adopting human modes of speech) as if Israel were "a colored bird of prey," the bright plumage of which excites the animosity of its less brilliant comrades, who gather round it and pull it to pieces. It is an allusion to the phenomenon, well-known to the ancients (Tacit., 'Ann.' 6:28; Suet., 'Caes.,' 81; Plin.,' Hist. Nat.,' 10:19), of birds gathering round and attacking a strange-looking bird appearing in their midst. The prophet might have simply said "a bird;" why does he say "a bird of prey ('ayit)"? Probably because he has just described the hostile attitude of Israel towards Jehovah under the figure of a lion. Some particular, rare kind of vulture seems to be intended. Sennacherib apparently uses a cognate word ('it) for the vulture ('Taylor Cylinder,' 3. 68). Bochart and Gesenius, following the Septuagint, think "hyena," and not "bird of prey," is the right rendering in the first clause; but Gesenius does not offer any other passage for the meaning bestia rapax. Come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field. There is a parallel passage in Isaiah 56:9, where, as here, the "beasts of the field (i.e. the wild beasts of the open country) are the heathen powers employed as God's instruments for chastising Israel (comp. also Ezekiel 34:5, where the same figure occurs). "The prophet adopts the strongest way of expressing that Israel, utterly bereft of his natural defenders, lies at the mercy of the great heathen empire" (note on Isaiah 56:9). Come to devour; rather, bring them to devour.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Is [not] My inheritance
נַחֲלָתִי֙ (na·ḥă·lā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion

to Me
לִ֔י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

like a speckled
צָב֤וּעַ (ṣā·ḇū·a‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6641: Colored, variegated

bird of prey,
הַעַ֨יִט (ha·‘a·yiṭ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5861: A hawk, other bird of prey

with [other] birds of prey
הַעַ֖יִט (ha·‘a·yiṭ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5861: A hawk, other bird of prey

circling
סָבִ֣יב (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

against her?
עָלֶ֑יהָ (‘ā·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Go,
לְכ֗וּ (lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

gather
אִסְפ֛וּ (’is·p̄ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the beasts
חַיַּ֥ת (ḥay·yaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

of the field;
הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

bring
הֵתָ֥יוּ (hê·ṯā·yū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 857: To arrive

them to devour her.
לְאָכְלָֽה׃ (lə·’āḵ·lāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 402: Food, eating

Links

Jeremiah 12:9 NIV
Jeremiah 12:9 NLT
Jeremiah 12:9 ESV
Jeremiah 12:9 NASB
Jeremiah 12:9 KJV

Jeremiah 12:9 BibleApps.com
Jeremiah 12:9 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 12:9 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 12:9 French Bible
Jeremiah 12:9 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 12:9 Is my heritage to me as (Jer.)