King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 9:12 Mean?

Jeremiah 9:12 in the King James Version says “Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may decl...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?”

Jeremiah 9:12 · KJV

Context

10

For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone. habitations: or, pastures burned up: or, desolate both: Heb. from the fowl even to, etc

11

And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. desolate: Heb. desolation

12

Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?

13

And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;

14

But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: imagination: or, stubbornness

Read Jeremiah 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse poses a wisdom question: 'Who is the wise man, that may understand this?' The Hebrew chakam (חָכָם, wise) and yavin (יָבִין, understand, discern) challenge those claiming wisdom to explain the situation. 'And who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it?' Questions both sages and prophets—who can explain why the land is ruined? 'For what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?' The question's urgency reflects the theological crisis: how could YHWH's land, YHWH's people, YHWH's city face such devastation? Only divine revelation can answer—human wisdom fails to comprehend God's ways in judgment.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This verse may address the exilic community's theological confusion. How could God allow His temple's destruction? Where was His promised protection? Ancient Near Eastern peoples expected their gods to defend their temples; YHWH's 'failure' required explanation. The answer comes in verses 13-14: covenant violation explains divine judgment. This theological processing during exile produced much of the Hebrew Bible's final form.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does understanding God's judgment require divine revelation rather than merely human wisdom?
  2. How does the question's form—searching for someone wise enough to understand—expose the limits of unaided human reasoning about God's ways?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
מִֽי1 of 20
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

הָאִ֤ישׁ2 of 20

“man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

הֶֽחָכָם֙3 of 20

“Who is the wise”

H2450

wise, (i.e., intelligent, skilful or artful)

וְיָבֵ֣ן4 of 20

“that may understand”

H995

to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e., (generally) understand

אֶת5 of 20
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

זֹ֔את6 of 20
H2063

this (often used adverb)

וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר7 of 20
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

דִּבֶּ֧ר8 of 20

“hath spoken”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

פִּֽי9 of 20

“this and who is he to whom the mouth”

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

יְהוָ֛ה10 of 20

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֵלָ֖יו11 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וְיַגִּדָ֑הּ12 of 20

“that he may declare”

H5046

properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to

עַל13 of 20
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מָה֙14 of 20
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

אָבְדָ֣ה15 of 20

“perisheth”

H6

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

הָאָ֔רֶץ16 of 20

“it for what the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

נִצְּתָ֥ה17 of 20

“and is burned up”

H3341

to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate

כַמִּדְבָּ֖ר18 of 20

“like a wilderness”

H4057

a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert

מִבְּלִ֖י19 of 20
H1097

properly, failure, i.e., nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc

עֹבֵֽר׃20 of 20

“that none passeth through”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 9:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 9:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hosea 14:9Psalms 107:43Deuteronomy 32:29Psalms 107:34Jeremiah 22:8-9Ezekiel 14:23

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