You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a jarring disconnect: outward religious activity and prosperity ("near in their mouth") contrasted with a hidden, inward emptiness ("far from their heart"). It's not just about hypocrisy, but about how actions and words can give a false impression of connection to God when the deepest affections and loyalties are elsewhere.
You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is grappling with why the wicked seem to prosper so greatly, questioning God's justice. He observes that these people, whom God has seemingly established and blessed with prosperity and fruitfulness, outwardly profess faith and speak of God with their lips. However, their hearts are far from Him, indicating a deep hypocrisy where their actions and inner affections don't align with their religious claims.
It's easy to look at the world and wonder if God is really in control. Jeremiah grapples with this very question here, pointing to the prosperity of those who seem to actively oppose Him.
Jeremiah's complaint in this verse isn't that God isn't sovereign. He acknowledges that God is the source of all blessing, even for the wicked.
What does it mean to have God 'near in your mouth' but 'far from your heart'? Jeremiah's words cut to the core of religious pretense.
This verse highlights a critical distinction between outward religious expression and inward devotion.
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Jeremiah's lament in this verse arises from the apparent flourishing of wicked people even as Jerusalem faces destruction. The historical context of the Babylonian exile, with its successive waves of judgment and the ultimate devastation of the city and Temple, highlights the prophet's struggle to reconcile God's justice with the prosperity of those who outwardly profess faith but inwardly reject Him.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its citizens. This event serves as a stark warning to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
c. 626 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophetic Ministry
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy during a time of spiritual and political turmoil in Judah, facing the rising power of Babylon.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and deports a group of Judeans, including members of the royal family and educated elite, like Daniel. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin. This further weakens the Southern Kingdom.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces completely destroy Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This is the devastating climax of God's judgment on Judah's unfaithfulness.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus Cylinder Issued
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon. His decree, recorded on the Cyrus Cylinder, allows exiled peoples to return to their homelands and rebuild their sanctuaries.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, the Jewish exiles return to Jerusalem and complete the rebuilding of the Temple. This signifies a new era of worship and national identity.
This passage directly echoes Jeremiah's sentiment, highlighting the disconnect between outward religious observance ('honor me with their lips') and inward devotion ('their heart is far from me'). It shows this was a recurring problem throughout Israel's history.
Matthew 23:25-28Jesus confronts the religious leaders with a similar accusation: they meticulously clean the outside of cups and bowls but are inwardly full of greed and self-control. This illustrates the 'near in their mouth, far from their heart' concept in a New Testament context.
Psalm 73:3-12This psalm grapples with the prosperity of the wicked, much like Jeremiah does. The Psalmist confesses his initial bewilderment and near-stumbling as he observed their flourishing, yet ultimately finds resolution in God's sanctuary, confirming that outward success doesn't equate to inward righteousness.
Luke 6:46Jesus asks a pointed question: 'Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?' This directly addresses the hypocrisy of professing allegiance with words while failing to demonstrate it through obedience, a core theme in Jeremiah's lament.
barnesJeremiah 12:2: "Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins."
Their veins - i. e., their heart. The reins were regarded by the Jews as the seat of the affections.
clarkeJeremiah 12:2: "Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins."
Thou art near in their mouth - They have no sincerity: they have something of the form of religion, but nothing of its power.
The verse highlights a jarring disconnect: outward religious activity and prosperity ("near in their mouth") contrasted with a hidden, inward emptiness ("far from their heart"). It's not just about hypocrisy, but about how actions and words can give a false impression of connection to God when the deepest affections and loyalties are elsewhere.
Jeremiah is grappling with why the wicked seem to prosper so greatly, questioning God's justice. He observes that these people, whom God has seemingly established and blessed with prosperity and fruitfulness, outwardly profess faith and speak of God with their lips. However, their hearts are far from Him, indicating a deep hypocrisy where their actions and inner affections don't align with their religious claims.
Jeremiah is grappling with why the wicked seem to prosper so greatly, questioning God's justice. He observes that these people, whom God has seemingly established and blessed with prosperity and fruitfulness, outwardly profess faith and speak of God with their lips. However, their hearts are far from Him, indicating a deep hypocrisy where their actions and inner affections don't align with their religious claims.
"You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart." — The verse highlights a jarring disconnect: outward religious activity and prosperity ("near in their mouth") contrasted with a hidden, inward emptiness ("far from their heart"). It's not just about h…
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Last reviewed October 2026