Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Yet you know me, LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! New Living Translation But as for me, LORD, you know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts. Drag these people away like sheep to be butchered! Set them aside to be slaughtered! English Standard Version But you, O LORD, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. Berean Standard Bible But You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage. King James Bible But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. New King James Version But You, O LORD, know me; You have seen me, And You have tested my heart toward You. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, And prepare them for the day of slaughter. New American Standard Bible But You know me, LORD; You see me And examine my heart’s attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter, And set them apart for a day of slaughter! NASB 1995 But You know me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter And set them apart for a day of carnage! NASB 1977 But Thou knowest me, O LORD; Thou seest me; And Thou dost examine my heart’s attitude toward Thee. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter And set them apart for a day of carnage! Legacy Standard Bible But You, O Yahweh, You know me; You see me; And You test my heart’s attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter And set them apart for a day of carnage! Amplified Bible But You, O LORD, know me [and understand my devotion to You]; You see me; And You examine the attitude of my heart toward You. Drag out the faithless like sheep for the slaughter [O LORD] And set them apart for the day of slaughter. Christian Standard Bible As for you, LORD, you know me; you see me. You test whether my heart is with you. Drag the wicked away like sheep to slaughter and set them apart for the day of killing. Holman Christian Standard Bible As for You, LORD, You know me; You see me. You test whether my heart is with You. Drag the wicked away like sheep to slaughter and set them apart for the day of killing. American Standard Version But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. Contemporary English Version But you know, LORD, how faithful I've always been, even in my thoughts. So drag my enemies away and butcher them like sheep! English Revised Version But thou, O LORD, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. GOD'S WORD® Translation You know me, O LORD. You see me and test my devotion to you. Drag them away like sheep to be slaughtered. Prepare them for the day of slaughter. Good News Translation But, LORD, you know me; you see what I do and how I love you. Drag these evil people away like sheep to be butchered; guard them until it is time for them to be slaughtered. International Standard Version You know me, LORD. You see me and test my thoughts toward you. Pull the wicked out like sheep for slaughter; set them apart for the day of butchering. NET Bible But you, LORD, know all about me. You watch me and test my devotion to you. Drag these wicked men away like sheep to be slaughtered! Appoint a time when they will be killed! New Heart English Bible But you, LORD, know me; you see me, and try my heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. Webster's Bible Translation But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried my heart towards thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage. World English Bible But you, Yahweh, know me. You see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd You, O YHWH, You have known me, "" You see me, and have tried my heart with You, "" Draw them away as sheep to slaughter, "" And separate them for a day of slaughter. Young's Literal Translation And Thou, O Jehovah, Thou hast known me, Thou seest me, and hast tried my heart with Thee, Draw them away as sheep to slaughter, And separate them for a day of slaughter. Smith's Literal Translation And thou, Jehovah, knew me: thou wilt see me, and thou didst try my heart with thee: pluck them out as sheep for the slaughter, and consecrate them to the day of slaughter. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd thou, O Lord, hast known me, thou hast seen me, and proved my heart with thee: gather them together as sheep for a sacrifice, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. Catholic Public Domain Version And you, O Lord, have known me well. You have seen me, and you have tested my heart with you. Gather them together like a flock for the sacrifice and sanctify them for the day of slaughter. New American Bible LORD, you know me, you see me, you have found that my heart is with you. Pick them out like sheep for the butcher, set them apart for the day of slaughter. New Revised Standard Version But you, O LORD, know me; You see me and test me—my heart is with you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut thou, O LORD, knowest me; thou hast seen me and tried my heart before thee; prepare them like sheep for the slaughter, and invite them for the day of destruction. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you, LORD JEHOVAH, you have known me, and you have seen me and you tested my heart before you. Prepare them as sheep for slaughter and summon them to the day of killing OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But Thou, O LORD, knowest me, Thou seest me, and triest my heart toward Thee; Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, And prepare them for the day of slaughter. Brenton Septuagint Translation But thou, Lord, knowest me; thou hast proved my heart before thee; purify them for the day of their slaughter. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Prosperity of the Wicked…2You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts. 3But You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage. 4How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.”… Cross References Psalm 139:1-4 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. / You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. / You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. ... Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. / Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” John 2:24-25 But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. / He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man. Psalm 7:9 Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds. Revelation 2:23 Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 1 Chronicles 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. Romans 8:27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Proverbs 17:3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. Psalm 26:2 Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind. Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve. Psalm 44:21 would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart? Acts 1:24 And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen 1 Kings 8:39 be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men— Treasury of Scripture But you, O LORD, know me: you have seen me, and tried my heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. knowest. Jeremiah 11:20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause. 2 Kings 20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 1 Chronicles 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. toward. Jeremiah 17:18 Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction. Jeremiah 18:21-23 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle… Jeremiah 20:12 But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause. the day. Jeremiah 11:19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. Psalm 44:22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. James 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Jump to Previous Apart Attitude Death Drag Draw Examine Heart Heart's Prepare Proved Pull Pulled Searching Seest Separate Sheep Slaughter Test Testing Thoughts Towards Tried Triest TryJump to Next Apart Attitude Death Drag Draw Examine Heart Heart's Prepare Proved Pull Pulled Searching Seest Separate Sheep Slaughter Test Testing Thoughts Towards Tried Triest TryJeremiah 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. But You know me, O LORD; This phrase emphasizes God's omniscience and personal relationship with Jeremiah. The prophet acknowledges that God has an intimate understanding of his character and intentions. This reflects the biblical theme that God knows the hearts of all people (1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 139:1-4). Jeremiah's appeal to God's knowledge of him underscores his sincerity and the authenticity of his prophetic mission. You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage. Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahThe prophet who is speaking in this verse, expressing his deep trust in God and his frustration with the wicked. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The God of Israel, who knows and tests the hearts of His people. 3. The Wicked Those who oppose God and His prophet, whom Jeremiah asks God to judge. 4. Sheep to be slaughtered A metaphor for the impending judgment and destruction of the wicked. 5. Day of Carnage A prophetic reference to the time of God's judgment against the wicked. Teaching Points God's OmniscienceGod knows us intimately, including our thoughts and intentions. We can take comfort in His understanding and guidance. Testing of the Heart God tests our hearts to refine our faith and character. We should welcome His testing as a means of growth. Righteous Anger and Justice It's natural to feel anger towards injustice, but we must trust God to execute judgment in His perfect timing. Metaphors of Judgment The imagery of sheep to be slaughtered serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of God's judgment. It calls us to live righteously and warn others of the coming judgment. Prayer and Trust Like Jeremiah, we should bring our concerns and frustrations to God in prayer, trusting Him to act justly. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 12:3?2. How does Jeremiah 12:3 encourage us to trust God's knowledge of our hearts? 3. What does Jeremiah 12:3 reveal about God's justice and discernment? 4. How can we apply "test my heart" in our daily spiritual walk? 5. How does Jeremiah 12:3 connect with Hebrews 4:12 on God's word discerning hearts? 6. In what ways can we align our actions with God's will, as Jeremiah seeks? 7. How does Jeremiah 12:3 challenge our understanding of God's justice and fairness? 8. What does Jeremiah 12:3 reveal about God's knowledge of human hearts? 9. How does Jeremiah 12:3 address the problem of evil and suffering? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 12? 11. Ezekiel 34 - Are there any inconsistencies with other prophetic books about how judgment is executed and who is held accountable? 12. What is the Lord's oracle? 13. In Job 33:14, if God truly speaks in multiple ways, why is there no verifiable evidence of such divine communication today? 14. Proverbs 2 depicts a direct correlation between virtue and success--why do corrupt or unethical individuals often thrive in reality? What Does Jeremiah 12:3 Mean But You know me, O LORD;– Jeremiah begins with confidence that the LORD’s knowledge is personal and exhaustive. • Psalm 139:1–3 affirms that God has “searched me and known me … You discern my thoughts from afar.” • 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that while humans look at outward appearance, “the LORD looks at the heart.” • Hebrews 4:13 declares that “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” Jeremiah’s words set the stage: every plea he makes rests on God’s perfect, intimate awareness of him. You see me and test my heart toward You. – God not only observes; He tries the heart to prove its genuineness. • Jeremiah 17:10: “I, the LORD, search the heart and examine the mind.” • Psalm 26:2: “Examine me, O LORD, and test me; try my mind and my heart.” • 1 Peter 1:7 compares such testing to fire that refines gold, revealing genuine faith. Jeremiah welcomes this scrutiny, showing a heart aligned with God and willing to be purified. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter – The prophet turns to the fate of those who resist God, using vivid shepherd imagery. • Jeremiah 11:19 pictures his own enemies plotting against him “like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter,” yet here he asks the inverse for the truly wicked. • Psalm 37:12–15 depicts the downfall of evildoers whose own swords pierce their hearts. • Isaiah 63:3–6 shows the LORD personally executing justice on the wicked. Jeremiah trusts that divine justice will be decisive and unmistakable. and set them apart for the day of carnage. – A future, appointed judgment is in view—God’s timetable, not ours. • Proverbs 16:4 states, “The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of disaster.” • Romans 2:5 speaks of storing up wrath “for the day of wrath.” • 2 Peter 2:9 says the Lord “keeps the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment.” The wicked may seem untouched now, but they are actually being reserved for a definitive reckoning. summary Jeremiah 12:3 balances personal assurance with a plea for justice. Knowing that the LORD fully understands his heart, the prophet embraces divine testing and boldly asks God to act against persistent evildoers. The verse reassures believers that: • God’s knowledge of us is total. • His testing purifies sincere hearts. • Ultimate justice is certain, though it unfolds on God’s schedule. To the faithful, this passage offers comfort; to the unrepentant, it issues a sober warning of an appointed day when God’s righteous judgment will be fully revealed. (3) Thou, O Lord, knowest me.--Like all faithful sufferers from evil-doers before and after him, the prophet appeals to the righteous Judge, who knows how falsely he has been accused. In words in which the natural impatience of suffering shows itself as clearly as in the complaints of Psalms 69, 109, he asks that the judgment may be immediate, open, terrible. As if recalling the very phrase which he had himself but lately used (Jeremiah 11:19), he prays that they too may be as "sheep for the slaughter," dragged or torn away from their security to the righteous penalty of their wrong.Prepare.--Better, devote. The Hebrew word, as in Jeremiah 6:4, involves the idea of consecration. Verse 3. - Hast seen me, and tried; rather, seest me, and triest. Pull them out. Perhaps this is correct, and there is an allusion to the figure of the plant in Ver. 2. But the verb need mean no more than "separate" (comp. Jeremiah 6:29). Prepare them; literally, consecrate them, as victims for the sacrifice.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But Youוְאַתָּ֤ה (wə·’at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you know me, יְדַעְתָּ֔נִי (yə·ḏa‘·tā·nî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 3045: To know O LORD; יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel You see me תִּרְאֵ֕נִי (tir·’ê·nî) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 7200: To see and test וּבָחַנְתָּ֥ (ū·ḇā·ḥan·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 974: To test, to investigate my heart לִבִּ֖י (lib·bî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre toward You. אִתָּ֑ךְ (’it·tāḵ) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among Drag away [the wicked] הַתִּקֵם֙ (hat·ti·qêm) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 5423: To pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off like sheep כְּצֹ֣אן (kə·ṣōn) Preposition-k | Noun - common singular Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock to the slaughter לְטִבְחָ֔ה (lə·ṭiḇ·ḥāh) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2878: Thing slaughtered, slaughtered meat, slaughter and set them apart וְהַקְדִּשֵׁ֖ם (wə·haq·di·šêm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated for the day לְי֥וֹם (lə·yō·wm) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3117: A day of carnage. הֲרֵגָֽה׃ (hă·rê·ḡāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2028: A slaughter Links Jeremiah 12:3 NIVJeremiah 12:3 NLT Jeremiah 12:3 ESV Jeremiah 12:3 NASB Jeremiah 12:3 KJV Jeremiah 12:3 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 12:3 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 12:3 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 12:3 French Bible Jeremiah 12:3 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 12:3 But you Yahweh know me (Jer.) |
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