17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the Lord.
17 But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the Lord.
17 But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the Lord."
17 But if they won't listen, then I'll pull them out of their land by the roots and cart them off to the dump. Total destruction!" God's Decree.
17 But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation," says the Lord.
17 But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the Lord, have spoken!"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:17
Commentary on Jeremiah 12:14-17
(Read Jeremiah 12:14-17)
The Lord would plead the cause of his people against their evil neighbours. Yet he would afterwards show mercy to those nations, when they should learn true religion. This seems to look forward to the times when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in. Those who would have their lot with God's people, and a last end like theirs, must learn their ways, and walk in them.