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Jeremiah 12:9

Jeremiah 12:9 in Multiple Translations

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.

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.

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.

My heritage is like a brightly coloured bird to me; the cruel birds are attacking her on every side: go, get together all the beasts of the field, make them come for destruction.

My people are like a spotted bird of prey to me with other birds of prey circling to attack it. Go and bring all the wild animals to eat up the carcass.

Shall mine heritage bee vnto mee, as a bird of diuers colours? are not the birdes about her, saying, Come, assemble all ye beastes of the fielde, come to eate her?

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.

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.

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.

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.

My chosen people have [RHQ] become like speckled hawks that are surrounded by vultures waiting to eat their flesh after they are dead. Tell all the wild animals to come and eat the flesh of their corpses.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 12:9

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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 12:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB הַ/עַ֨יִט צָב֤וּעַ נַחֲלָתִ/י֙ לִ֔/י הַ/עַ֖יִט סָבִ֣יב עָלֶ֑י/הָ לְכ֗וּ אִסְפ֛וּ כָּל חַיַּ֥ת הַ/שָּׂדֶ֖ה הֵתָ֥יוּ לְ/אָכְלָֽה
הַ/עַ֨יִט ʻayiṭ H5861 bird of prey Art | N-ms
צָב֤וּעַ tsâbûwaʻ H6641 variegated Adj
נַחֲלָתִ/י֙ nachălâh H5159 inheritance N-fs | Suff
לִ֔/י Prep | Suff
הַ/עַ֖יִט ʻayiṭ H5861 bird of prey Art | N-ms
סָבִ֣יב çâbîyb H5439 around N-cs
עָלֶ֑י/הָ ʻal H5921 upon Prep | Suff
לְכ֗וּ yâlak H3212 to walk V-Qal-Impv-2mp
אִסְפ֛וּ ʼâçaph H622 to gather V-Qal-Impv-2mp
כָּל kôl H3605 all N-ms
חַיַּ֥ת chay H2416 alive N-fs
הַ/שָּׂדֶ֖ה sâdeh H7704 field Art | N-ms
הֵתָ֥יוּ ʼâthâh H857 to come V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp
לְ/אָכְלָֽה ʼoklâh H402 food Prep | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 12:9

הַ/עַ֨יִט ʻayiṭ H5861 "bird of prey" Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for a bird of prey, like a hawk, that swoops down on its victims. It appears in the Bible as a symbol of power and swiftness. In the KJV, it is translated as bird or fowl.
Definition: bird of prey, a swooper
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: bird, fowl, ravenous (bird). See also: Genesis 15:11; Isaiah 46:11; Isaiah 18:6.
צָב֤וּעַ tsâbûwaʻ H6641 "variegated" Adj
Variegated means having different colors or stripes, like the hyena, which is described with this word in the Bible. It refers to something that is colored or speckled.
Definition: coloured, variegated, speckled
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: speckled. See also: Jeremiah 12:9.
נַחֲלָתִ/י֙ 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.
לִ֔/י "" Prep | Suff
הַ/עַ֖יִט ʻayiṭ H5861 "bird of prey" Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for a bird of prey, like a hawk, that swoops down on its victims. It appears in the Bible as a symbol of power and swiftness. In the KJV, it is translated as bird or fowl.
Definition: bird of prey, a swooper
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: bird, fowl, ravenous (bird). See also: Genesis 15:11; Isaiah 46:11; Isaiah 18:6.
סָבִ֣יב çâbîyb H5439 "around" N-cs
This word describes something that surrounds or encompasses, like a circle or neighborhood, and can also mean around or about, as in on every side. It is used to describe physical locations and proximity. The KJV translates it as about or circuit.
Definition: : around/border subst 1) places round about, circuit, round about adv 2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about prep 3) in the circuit, from every side
Usage: Occurs in 282 OT verses. KJV: (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side. See also: Genesis 23:17; 1 Kings 7:24; Psalms 3:7.
עָלֶ֑י/הָ 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.
לְכ֗וּ yâlak H3212 "to walk" V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To walk or go, this verb means to move from one place to another, used literally or figuratively, as in to live or die, or to lead someone.
Definition: 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.) 1b) (Hiphil) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. See also: Genesis 3:14; Exodus 5:8; Deuteronomy 28:14.
אִסְפ֛וּ ʼâçaph H622 "to gather" V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To gather means to bring people or things together, often for a purpose like worship or community. It can also mean to take away or remove something, like gathering a harvest. This word appears in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: 1) to gather, receive, remove, gather in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to gather, collect 1a2) to gather (an individual into company of others) 1a3) to bring up the rear 1a4) to gather and take away, remove, withdraw 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to assemble, be gathered 1b2) (pass of Qal 1a2) 1b2a) to be gathered to one's fathers 1b2b) to be brought in or into (association with others) 1b3) (pass of Qal 1a4) 1b3a) to be taken away, removed, perish 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to gather (harvest) 1c2) to take in, receive into 1c3) rearguard, rearward (subst) 1d) (Pual) to be gathered 1e) (Hithpael) to gather oneself or themselves
Usage: Occurs in 188 OT verses. KJV: assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw. See also: Genesis 6:21; 1 Chronicles 11:13; Psalms 26:9.
כָּל kôl H3605 "all" N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
חַיַּ֥ת chay H2416 "alive" N-fs
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
הַ/שָּׂדֶ֖ה sâdeh H7704 "field" Art | N-ms
A field or land is what this word represents, often referring to a flat area of land used for cultivation or as a habitat for wild animals, as described in the book of Genesis. It can also mean a plain or a country, as opposed to a mountain or sea. This term is used in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Definition: 1) field, land 1a) cultivated field 1b) of home of wild beasts 1c) plain (opposed to mountain) 1d) land (opposed to sea)
Usage: Occurs in 309 OT verses. KJV: country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild. See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 28:38; Nehemiah 12:29.
הֵתָ֥יוּ ʼâthâh H857 "to come" V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp
To arrive or come to a place, it can also mean to bring something. It is used in the Bible to describe the coming of people, events, or things.
Definition: 1) to come, arrive 1a) (Qal) to come (of men, time, beasts, calamity) 1b) (Hiphil) to bring Aramaic equivalent: a.tah (אֲתָה "to come" H0858)
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: (be-, things to) come (upon), bring. See also: Deuteronomy 33:2; Isaiah 41:5; Psalms 68:32.
לְ/אָכְלָֽה ʼoklâh H402 "food" Prep | N-fs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means food or something to eat, like in Psalm 78:25 where it describes manna from heaven. It can also mean being consumed by something, like fire or wild beasts. This word is used in many Old Testament stories.
Definition: 1) food 1a) food, eating 1b) object of devouring, consuming 1b1) by wild beasts (figurative) 1b2) in fire 1b3) of judgment (figurative)
Usage: Occurs in 18 OT verses. KJV: consume, devour, eat, food, meat. See also: Genesis 1:29; Ezekiel 15:6; Jeremiah 12:9.

Study Notes — Jeremiah 12:9

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Isaiah 56:9 Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.
2 Jeremiah 7:33 The corpses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to scare them away.
3 2 Kings 24:2 And the LORD sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets.
4 Revelation 19:17–18 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”
5 Ezekiel 23:22–25 Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will incite your lovers against you, those from whom you turned away in disgust. And I will bring them against you from every side— the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—all desirable young men, governors and commanders, officers and men of renown, mounted on horses. They will come against you with a host of peoples, with weapons, chariots, and wagons. They will array themselves against you on every side with buckler and shield and helmet. I will delegate judgment to them, and they will punish you according to their own standards. And I will set My jealous rage against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will seize your sons and daughters, and your remnant will be consumed by fire.
6 Jeremiah 15:3 I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.
7 Ezekiel 39:17–20 And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Call out to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all the fattened animals of Bashan. At the sacrifice I am preparing, you will eat fat until you are gorged and drink blood until you are drunk. And at My table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, of mighty men and warriors of every kind,’ declares the Lord GOD.
8 Revelation 17:16 And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
9 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.
10 Ezekiel 16:36–37 This is what the Lord GOD says: Because you poured out your wealth and exposed your nakedness in your promiscuity with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them, therefore I will surely gather all the lovers with whom you found pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose you before them, and they will see you completely naked.

Jeremiah 12:9 Summary

In Jeremiah 12:9, God is saying that His people, Israel, have become like a bird being attacked by other birds, and He is calling for other nations to come and judge them because of their rebellion against Him. This is a difficult concept to understand, but it shows that God is a God of justice and will not tolerate sin (as seen in Romans 6:23), and that He uses various means to correct and restore His people, as seen in Hebrews 12:5-11. God's judgment is not a sign of His lack of love, but rather a sign of His great love for His people, as seen in Jeremiah 31:3, and He desires to restore them to Himself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 'speckled bird of prey' represent in Jeremiah 12:9?

The 'speckled bird of prey' likely represents God's inheritance, Israel, which is being attacked by other birds of prey, symbolizing the surrounding nations that are against her, as seen in Jeremiah 12:9, similar to how God's people are often depicted as sheep among wolves in Matthew 10:16.

Why is God calling for the beasts of the field to devour His inheritance?

God is calling for the beasts of the field to devour His inheritance because of her rebellion against Him, as stated in Jeremiah 12:7-8, where God forsakes His house and hates His inheritance due to her actions, similar to the consequences faced by Israel in Deuteronomy 28:49-50 for disobedience.

Is God abandoning His people forever in Jeremiah 12:9?

No, God is not abandoning His people forever, as seen in Jeremiah 31:3, where He says 'I have loved you with an everlasting love', and in Jeremiah 33:11, where He promises restoration, indicating that His judgment is temporary and corrective, as also seen in Lamentations 3:22-23.

What is the significance of the beasts of the field in this verse?

The beasts of the field represent the nations that God will use to judge His inheritance, as seen in Jeremiah 12:9, similar to how God used Babylon to judge Judah in Jeremiah 25:9, and how He used Assyria to judge Israel in Isaiah 10:5-6, demonstrating His sovereignty over all nations.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are the consequences of rebelling against God, and how can we learn from Israel's example in Jeremiah 12:9?
  2. How does God's judgment on His people relate to His love for them, and what does this say about His character?
  3. In what ways can we, like the beasts of the field, be used by God to accomplish His purposes, whether in judgment or in restoration?
  4. What does this verse reveal about God's heart towards His people, and how can we respond to His love and discipline?

Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 12:9

Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird,.... Or, "is not mine heritage unto me as a speckled bird?" (b) as a bird of various colours, delightful to look at, as the peacock, so Jerom interprets it

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 12:9

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.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:9

Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird: the word in the Hebrew signifies to dye, or colour, and interpreters are here divided, whether to interpret it of a bird coloured by nature (so our translators understood it, and therefore have translated it speckled) or by accident, as ravenous birds are coloured by the blood of other birds killed by them. Hence some interpret the text as a reflection upon the Jews for their cruelty, coloured by their oppression and innocent bloodshed. Others, of their tincture by a variety of superstition and idolatry. The latter seemeth to me most probable, because of what follows, it being what is usual and natural for other birds to flock about a strange-coloured bird, such as they have not been used to see, but rather to fly from, than to come at a bird of prey, that hath already stained her feathers with the blood of other birds. But it may be understood of either, for the Jews were notoriously guilty of both, and it is God that causeth the birds to come against her, and the beasts of the field to devour.

Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:9

Jeremiah 12:9 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.Ver. 9. Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird.] As an owl, say some, that loveth not the light; as a peacock, say others, proud and inconstant, all in changeable colours, as oft changed as moved. God, that could not endure miscellany seed, nor linsey woolsey, in Israel, can less endure that his people should be as a "speckled bird," here of one colour, and there of another; or as a cake not turned.

Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:9

(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 hyænas, 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. Cæs. c. 81).

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:9

Verse 9. Is unto me as a speckled bird] A bird of divers colours. This is a people who have corrupted the worship of the true God with heathenish rites and ceremonies; therefore, the different nations, (see Jeremiah 12:10,) whose gods and forms of worship they have adopted, shall come and spoil them. As far as you have followed the surrounding nations in their worship, so far shall they prevail over your state. Every one shall take that which is his own; and wherever he finds his own gods, he will consider the land consecrated to them, and take it as his property, because those very gods are the objects of his worship. The fable of the daw and borrowed plumes is no mean illustration of this passage. Dahler translates the whole verse thus: - Birds of prey! inundate with blood my heritage. Birds of prey! come against her from all sides. Run together in crowds, ye savage beasts! Come to the carnage!

Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 12:9

9. bird of prey? are the birds of prey, etc.] The change of one consonant (reading ki for li) would enable us to unite the two questions into one, and read (without “unto me”) bird of prey, that the birds of prey are, etc. For the figure see introd. note, and for the method of expressing mingled amazement and pain cp. Jeremiah 2:14.

Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:9

9. A speckled bird, etc. — The first two clauses in this verse are in the original questions, but they involve real affirmations.

Sermons on Jeremiah 12:9

SermonDescription
Art Katz Anti Semitism: A Little Considered Root by Art Katz Art Katz discusses the roots of anti-Semitism, suggesting that it stems from a failure of the Jewish people to fulfill their divine calling to be a blessing to the nations. He emph
Chuck Smith (Through the Bible) Isaiah 56-60 by Chuck Smith In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that God wants us to live a life of fairness and honesty. He urges us to do justice and keep judgment, and to refrain from cheating or taking
Chuck Smith The End of Time by Chuck Smith This sermon delves into the prophecies of the end times as outlined in the book of Daniel and other biblical passages. It discusses the events leading up to the establishment of Go
Aeron Morgan (Second Coming of Christ) 10 the Supper of the Great God by Aeron Morgan In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of heeding the warnings of the Word of God. He warns that a fearful day is coming, known as the Armageddon, where there will
Robert Murray M'Cheyne The Mighty Conqueror by Robert Murray M'Cheyne Robert Murray M'Cheyne emphasizes the ultimate authority of Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords, highlighting the final conflict between Christ and the world regarding Hi
Arno Clemens Gaebelein The Nations the Enemies of Israel-Their Final Opposition to Jerusalem Followed by Judgment Upon Them by Arno Clemens Gaebelein Arno Clemens Gaebelein preaches about the distinction between the nation of Israel and the nations, highlighting God's chosen people and the disobedience of Israel leading to the d
Carter Conlon The Incredible Signs That Follow Those Who Believe by Carter Conlon In this sermon, the preacher discusses the four judgments that God will bring upon his people. These judgments include the sword to slay, the dogs to tear, the fowls of the heaven,

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