But if they will not obey, then I will uproot that nation; I will uproot it and destroy it, declares the LORD.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But if they will not hear, then I will pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it,” says Yahweh.
- KJV But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
- NKJV But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation,” says the Lord.
- NASB But if they do not listen, then I will drive out that nation, drive it out and destroy it,” declares the Lord.
- NLT But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
But any nation that refuses to listen will be uprooted and destroyed.
Overview
God's offer of mercy is genuine, but rejecting Him brings sure judgment. The same word that promises restoration to the obedient warns the rebellious of destruction. This echoes the gospel call: those who believe are saved, while those who reject the Son remain under judgment (John 3:36).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Isa 60:12For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed.
- Ps 2:8–12Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
- Jer 12:14–17This is what the LORD says: “As for all My evil neighbors who attack the inheritance that I bequeathed to My people Israel, I am about to uproot them from their land, and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them.
- 1 Pet 2:6–8For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
- Luke 19:27And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”
- Zech 14:16–19Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
- 2 Th 1:8in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
- Ezek 19:12But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them.
- Dan 11:4But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.
- Dan 7:4–8The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man.
- Jer 18:7At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.
- Jer 31:28Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, to demolish, destroy, and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 12:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.