Jeremiah 12:16

¹⁴ Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

¹⁵ And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

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.

¹⁷ But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: It will 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 they will be built up in the middle of my people.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: 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 they shall be built up in the midst of my people.
BLB: And it will come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘YHWH lives,’ as—they taught My people to swear by Baal—that they will learn they will be built in the midst of My people.

ÅB: Og såfremt de lærer mitt folks veier, lærer å sverge ved mitt navn: Så sant Herren lever - slik som de har lært mitt folk å sverge ved Ba'al, da skal de bli oppbygd midt iblant mitt folk.
OTB: Og hvis de virkelig lærer mitt folks veier og sverger ved mitt navn, ‘Så sant som Herren lever’—slik de en gang lærte mitt folk å sverge ved Baal—da vil de bli etablert blant mitt folk.
B1930: Og såfremt de lærer mitt folks veier, lærer å sverge ved mitt navn: Så sant Herren lever - likesom de har lært mitt folk å sverge ved Ba'al, da skal de bli opbygget midt iblandt mitt folk.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

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.
Read in context
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:
Read in context
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;
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:17
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
Read in context
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.
Read in context
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.
Read in context
Isaiah 9:18–21
For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
Read in context
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.
Read in context