Jeremiah 12:16
New International Version
And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people.

New Living Translation
And if these nations truly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’ (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people.

English Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people.

Berean Standard Bible
And if they will diligently learn the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among My people.

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

New King James Version
And it shall be, if they will learn carefully the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be established in the midst of My people.

New American Standard Bible
Then, if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ just as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people.

NASB 1995
“Then if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people.

NASB 1977
“Then it will come about that if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the midst of My people.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people.

Amplified Bible
And if these [neighboring nations] will diligently learn the ways of My people, to swear by My Name, saying, ‘As the LORD lives’—even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up among My people.

Christian Standard Bible
If they will diligently learn the ways of my people —to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ just as they taught my people to swear by Baal—they will be built up among my people.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If they will diligently learn the ways of My people—to swear by My name, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ just as they taught My people to swear by Baal—they will be built up among My people.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Jehovah liveth; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if they shall teach my ways to my people, that they will swear in my name: “Living is LORD JEHOVAH!”, as they had instructed my people to swear by Baal, they shall be situated among my people

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall be, if they will indeed learn the way of my people, to swear by my name, saying, The Lord lives; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall that nation be built in the midst of my people.

Contemporary English Version
They once taught my people to worship Baal. But if they admit I am the only true God, and if they let my people teach them how to worship me, these nations will also become my people.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it shall come to pass, if they will be taught, and will learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name: The Lord liveth, as they have taught my people to swear by baal: that they shall be built up in the midst of my people.

English Revised Version
and it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As the LORD liveth; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Suppose they learn carefully the ways of my people. Suppose they take an oath in my name, 'As the LORD lives...' as they taught my people to take an oath in [the name of] Baal. Then they will build homes among my people.

Good News Translation
If with all their hearts they will accept the religion of my people and will swear, 'As the LORD lives'--as they once taught my people to swear by Baal--then they will also be a part of my people and will prosper.

International Standard Version
If they have learned the ways of my people well, to swear by my name: 'As surely as the LORD lives,' just as they once taught my people to swear by Baal, then they'll be built up among my people.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of My people to swear by My name: 'As the LORD liveth,' even as they taught My people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of My people.

Literal Standard Version
And it has come to pass, | If they learn the ways of My people well, | To swear by My Name, YHWH lives, | As they taught My people to swear by Ba‘al, | Then they have been built up in the midst of My people.

Majority Standard Bible
And if they will diligently learn the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among My people.

New American Bible
And if they truly learn my people’s custom of swearing by my name, “As the LORD lives,” just as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people.

NET Bible
But they must make sure you learn to follow the religious practices of my people. Once they taught my people to swear their oaths using the name of the god Baal. But then, they must swear oaths using my name, saying, "As surely as the LORD lives, I swear." If they do these things, then they will be included among the people I call my own.

New Revised Standard Version
And then, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, “As the LORD lives,” as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people.

New Heart English Bible
It shall happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, "As the LORD lives;" even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

World English Bible
It will happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As Yahweh lives;’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the middle of my people.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, If they learn well the ways of My people, To swear by My name, 'Jehovah liveth,' As they taught My people to swear by Baal, Then they have been built up in the midst of My people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Message for Israel's Neighbors
15But after I have uprooted them, I will once again have compassion on them and return each one to his inheritance and to his land. 16And if they will diligently learn the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’— just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal— then they will be established among My people. 17But if they will not obey, then I will uproot that nation; I will uproot it and destroy it, declares the LORD.”…

Cross References
Joshua 23:7
So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.

Ruth 3:13
Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning."

Isaiah 42:6
"I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,

Isaiah 49:6
He says: "It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth."

Jeremiah 3:17
At that time Jerusalem will be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

Jeremiah 4:2
and if you can swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory."

Jeremiah 5:7
"Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.


Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD lives; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the middle of my people.

my name.

Jeremiah 4:2
And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

Jeremiah 5:2
And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.

Deuteronomy 10:20,21
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name…

as they.

Joshua 23:7
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

Psalm 106:35,36
But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works…

Zephaniah 1:5
And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

built.

Isaiah 19:23-25
In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians…

Isaiah 56:5,6
Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off…

Zechariah 2:11
And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

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As Baal Ba'al Built Diligently Established Learn Midst Minds Oaths Once Really Surely Swear Taught Teaching Using Ways
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As Baal Ba'al Built Diligently Established Learn Midst Minds Oaths Once Really Surely Swear Taught Teaching Using Ways
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.














(16) To swear by my name.--There is an obvious reference to the hopes expressed in Jeremiah 4:2. To acknowledge Jehovah in all the most solemn forms of adjuration (comp. Jeremiah 5:2; Psalm 63:11), and to do this, not hypocritically, but in the spirit of reverence and righteousness, was the ideal state of the restored Judah. To be led by her example of faith and holiness, instead of leading her to acknowledge Baal by like forms of speech as they had done, was the ideal state of the nations round about her. In this hope the prophet was echoing that of Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2.

Verse 16. - Israel has been converted and restored, and if the other nations follow his example and swear by my name, i.e. adopt the religion of Jehovah (comp. Isaiah 19:18), they shall be rewarded by being suffered to dwell safely in Israel's midst. Observe the contrast with Ver. 14. Before, Israel had dwelt amidst them to his own detriment; now they shall dwell amidst Israel to their profit.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And
וְהָיָ֡ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

they will diligently learn
לָמֹ֣ד (lā·mōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 3925: To exercise in, learn

the ways
דַּֽרְכֵ֨י (dar·ḵê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of My people—
עַמִּ֜י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

to swear
לְהִשָּׁבֵ֤עַ (lə·hiš·šā·ḇê·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

by My name,
בִּשְׁמִי֙ (biš·mî)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8034: A name

‘As surely as the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

lives,’
חַי־ (ḥay-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

just as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

they taught
לִמְּדוּ֙ (lim·mə·ḏū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3925: To exercise in, learn

My people
עַמִּ֔י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

to swear
לְהִשָּׁבֵ֖עַ (lə·hiš·šā·ḇê·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

by Baal—
בַּבָּ֑עַל (bab·bā·‘al)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1168: Baal -- a heathen god

then they will be established
וְנִבְנ֖וּ (wə·niḇ·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1129: To build

among
בְּת֥וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

My people.
עַמִּֽי׃ (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 12:16 It shall happen if they will diligently (Jer.)
Jeremiah 12:15
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