Jeremiah 12:8
Jeremiah 12:8 in Multiple Translations
My inheritance has become to Me like a lion in the forest. She has roared against Me; therefore I hate her.
Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
My heritage is become unto me as a lion in the forest: she hath uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her.
My heritage has become like a lion in the woodland to me; her voice has been loud against me; so I have hate for her.
They've turned into a wild lion, roaring at me—that's why I hate them.
Mine heritage is vnto mee, as a lion in the forest: it crieth out against mee, therefore haue I hated it.
Mine inheritance hath been to Me as a lion in a forest, She gave forth against Me with her voice, Therefore I have hated her.
My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest. She has uttered her voice against me. Therefore I have hated her.
My heritage is to me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
My inheritance is become to me as a lion in the wood: is hath cried out against me, therefore have I hated it.
My people have become to me like [SIM] a lion in the forest. It is as though they roar at me like a lion, so now I hate them.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 12:8
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 12:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הָיְתָה
לִּ֥/י
נַחֲלָתִ֖/י
כְּ/אַרְיֵ֣ה
בַ/יָּ֑עַר
נָתְנָ֥ה
עָלַ֛/י
בְּ/קוֹלָ֖/הּ
עַל
כֵּ֥ן
שְׂנֵאתִֽי/הָ
הָיְתָה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
לִּ֥/י
Prep | Suff
נַחֲלָתִ֖/י
nachălâh
H5159
inheritance
N-fs | Suff
כְּ/אַרְיֵ֣ה
ʼărîy
H738
lion
Prep | N-ms
בַ/יָּ֑עַר
yaʻar
H3293
Jaar
Prep | N-ms
נָתְנָ֥ה
nâthan
H5414
to give
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
עָלַ֛/י
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
בְּ/קוֹלָ֖/הּ
qôwl
H6963
voice
Prep | N-ms | Suff
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
כֵּ֥ן
kên
H3651
right
Part
שְׂנֵאתִֽי/הָ
sânêʼ
H8130
to hate
V-Qal-Perf-1cs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 12:8
הָיְתָה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לִּ֥/י
""
Prep | Suff
נַחֲלָתִ֖/י
nachălâh
H5159
"inheritance"
N-fs | Suff
Inheritance refers to something passed down, like property or a family heirloom, as seen in the Bible's discussion of dividing land among tribes in Joshua. It represents a person's share or possession. The concept is crucial in understanding biblical ideas of family and legacy.
Definition: 1) possession, property, inheritance, heritage 1a) property 1b) portion, share 1c) inheritance, portion
Usage: Occurs in 191 OT verses. KJV: heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession. Compare H5158 (נַחַל). See also: Genesis 31:14; Joshua 23:4; Psalms 2:8.
כְּ/אַרְיֵ֣ה
ʼărîy
H738
"lion"
Prep | N-ms
In biblical times, a lion was a symbol of strength and power, and is often mentioned in stories like Daniel in the lions' den. The word for lion appears in various forms, including pictures or images of lions, and is used in books like 1 Kings and 2 Kings.
Definition: 1) lion 1a) pictures or images of lions
Usage: Occurs in 71 OT verses. KJV: (young) lion, [phrase] pierce (from the margin). See also: Genesis 49:9; Proverbs 22:13; Psalms 7:3.
בַ/יָּ֑עַר
yaʻar
H3293
"Jaar"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word Yaar refers to a forest or a copse of bushes, and also to a honeycomb. It is associated with Kiriath-jearim, a place name in the Bible. This word is used to describe natural environments.
Definition: honeycomb Another name of qir.yat ye.a.rim (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים "Kiriath-jearim" H7157)
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: (honey-) comb, forest, wood. See also: Deuteronomy 19:5; Isaiah 10:18; Psalms 29:9.
נָתְנָ֥ה
nâthan
H5414
"to give"
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Definition: : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up 1c2) to be put upon
Usage: Occurs in 1816 OT verses. KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. See also: Genesis 1:17; Genesis 40:21; Exodus 30:12.
עָלַ֛/י
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
בְּ/קוֹלָ֖/הּ
qôwl
H6963
"voice"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Definition: : sound/noise 1) voice, sound, noise 1a) voice 1b) sound (of instrument)
Usage: Occurs in 436 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell. See also: Genesis 3:8; Judges 5:11; Job 4:10.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
כֵּ֥ן
kên
H3651
"right"
Part
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable
Usage: Occurs in 737 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, [phrase] there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:7; Exodus 37:19; Judges 7:17.
שְׂנֵאתִֽי/הָ
sânêʼ
H8130
"to hate"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs | Suff
To hate means to feel intense dislike or hostility, as seen in the actions of enemies or foes in the Bible. It can also describe God's hatred of sin.
Definition: 1) to hate, be hateful 1a) (Qal) to hate 1a1) of man 1a2) of God 1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst) 1b) (Niphal) to be hated 1c) (Piel) hater (participle) 1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)
Usage: Occurs in 139 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, [idiom] utterly. See also: Genesis 24:60; Psalms 50:17; Psalms 5:6.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 12:8
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 12:8 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 12:8
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 12:8
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 12:8
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
- Sermons on Jeremiah 12:8
Context — God’s Answer to Jeremiah
6Even your brothers— your own father’s household— even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
7I have forsaken My house; I have abandoned My inheritance. I have given the beloved of My soul into the hands of her enemies.
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.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amos 6:8 | The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself—the LORD, the God of Hosts, has declared: “I abhor Jacob’s pride and detest his citadels, so I will deliver up the city and everything in it.” |
| 2 | Hosea 9:15 | All their evil appears at Gilgal, for there I hated them. I will drive them from My house for the wickedness of their deeds. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 2:15 | The young lions have roared at him; they have growled with a loud voice. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant. |
| 4 | Zechariah 11:8 | And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 51:38 | They will roar together like young lions; they will growl like lion cubs. |
Jeremiah 12:8 Summary
In Jeremiah 12:8, God says that His inheritance, which is His people, have become like a lion against Him, roaring in opposition. This means that God's people have turned against Him in sin and rebellion, and as a result, God has strong feelings of displeasure towards them (see Psalm 7:11). However, even in His hatred of sin, God still loves His people and desires to redeem them, as seen in John 3:16 where He gives His only Son to save them. This verse reminds us that our sin has consequences, but God's love is always available to forgive and restore us (see 1 John 1:9).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does God say He hates His inheritance in Jeremiah 12:8?
God's hatred in Jeremiah 12:8 is not like human hatred, but rather a strong dislike for the sin and rebellion of His people, as seen in Psalm 97:10 where He hates evil and in Proverbs 6:16-19 where He hates sinful actions.
What is the significance of the lion in the forest in this verse?
The lion in the forest represents the fierce and powerful opposition that God's people have become towards Him, similar to how Hosea 11:8 describes God's people as a lion that tears its prey.
How can God's inheritance become like a lion against Him?
This is a picture of how God's people, who were once His beloved inheritance, have turned against Him in rebellion and sin, much like the description in Isaiah 1:2-4 where God's people have rebelled against Him.
Is God's statement of hate in Jeremiah 12:8 contradictory to His love in John 3:16?
No, God's hate in Jeremiah 12:8 is a holy hatred towards sin and rebellion, whereas His love in John 3:16 is a redemptive love that seeks to save people from their sin, as seen in Romans 5:8 where God demonstrates His love by sending Jesus to die for sinners.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I have 'roared against' God in my own life, and how can I turn back to Him in repentance?
- How does God's statement of hate in Jeremiah 12:8 challenge my understanding of His character and love?
- In what ways can I, like God's inheritance, become a source of opposition to God's plans and purposes, and how can I avoid this?
- What does this verse reveal about the consequences of sin and rebellion against God, and how can I apply this to my own life?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 12:8
Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest,.... Which roars, and terrifies passengers from going that way; and which rends and tears in pieces all it meets with.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 12:8
Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
That is, the reason why my heart is alienated from them, is because they are altered; those that were as my sheep, following me their chief Shepherd, and the guidance of those prophets and pastors which I set over them, are become like lions in the forest roaring against me, and rending and tearing the prophets which I sent unto them.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
Jeremiah 12:8 Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.Ver. 8. Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest.] Roaring against me, and revelling in the ruin of my messengers. Ubi affectus augetur in antithesi verborum; haereditas mea, et contra me; sheep they were wont to be, now they are become lions.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
(8) As a lion in the forest.—i.e., fierce, wild, untamed, uttering its sharp yells of passion. That mood was utterly unlovable, and therefore, speaking after the manner of men, the love which Jehovah had once felt for it was turned to hatred.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
Verse 8. Mine heritage is unto me as a lion] The people are enraged against me; they roar like a furious lion against their God. They have proceeded to the most open acts of the most flagrant iniquity.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 12:8
8. as a lion] The open hostility of the people towards the Lord is likened by Him to the angry roar and fierce attack of a lion ranging the forest. He therefore withdraws and leaves it as some savage beast to the solitude that it has made for itself.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:8
8. As a lion — Fierce and uncontrollable, roaring against him with rage and blasphemy.
Sermons on Jeremiah 12:8
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bible Survey - Amos by Peter Hammond | Peter Hammond preaches on the prophet Amos, a humble and bold shepherd who fearlessly proclaimed God's truth to the Northern tribes of Israel during a time of peace and prosperity. |
|
God's Love/hate Relationship With the World by David Servant | David Servant challenges the common Christian cliché 'God loves the sinner but hates the sin,' pointing out that Scripture reveals God's hatred towards sinners as well. He emphasiz |
|
With or Without God by Matthew Little | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the devotion and departure of Israel. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a genuine and passionate relationship with God, rather tha |
|
From Babylon to Jerusalem - (Zechariah) ch.11 & 12 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of preaching from the heart rather than just from the head. He discusses the concept of burden, which is a deep concern or we |