The Meaning of Jeremiah 12:1 Explained

Jeremiah 12:1

KJV: Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

YLT: Righteous art Thou, O Jehovah, When I plead towards thee, Only, judgments do I speak with Thee, Wherefore did the way of the wicked prosper? At rest have been all treacherous dealers.

Darby: Righteous art thou, Jehovah, when I plead with thee; yet will I speak with thee of thy judgments. Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?

ASV: Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee; yet would I reason the cause with thee: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Righteous  [art] thou, O LORD,  when I plead  with thee: yet let me talk  with thee of [thy] judgments:  Wherefore doth the way  of the wicked  prosper?  [wherefore] are all they happy  that deal very  treacherously? 

What does Jeremiah 12:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jeremiah wanted some answers from righteous Yahweh, and he approached the Lord in prayer as though he were in court. He wanted to know why God allowed the wicked to prosper and the treacherous to live in ease (cf. Job 21:7; Psalm 37; Psalm 73:3-5; Psalm 73:12; Psalm 94:3; Habakkuk 1:12-17). It appeared to the prophet that the Lord, as well as Israel, had broken covenant (cf. Psalm 1:3-4).
"The problem of the prosperity of the wicked in the light of God"s righteousness is not directly solved here or elsewhere in Scripture. The only final answer is faith in the sovereign wisdom and righteousness of God." [1]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 12:1 mean?

Righteous [are] You Yahweh when I plead with You yet about [Your] judgments let me talk with You why the way of the wicked does prosper [Why] are those happy all who deal so treacherously
צַדִּ֤יק אַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָרִ֖יב אֵלֶ֑יךָ אַ֤ךְ מִשְׁפָּטִים֙ אֲדַבֵּ֣ר אוֹתָ֔ךְ מַדּ֗וּעַ דֶּ֤רֶךְ רְשָׁעִים֙ ؟ צָלֵ֔חָה שָׁל֖וּ כָּל־ בֹּ֥גְדֵי ؟ בָֽגֶד

צַדִּ֤יק  Righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
אַתָּה֙  [are]  You 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אָרִ֖יב  I  plead 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רִיב  
Sense: to strive, contend.
אֵלֶ֑יךָ  with  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אַ֤ךְ  yet 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
מִשְׁפָּטִים֙  about  [Your]  judgments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
אֲדַבֵּ֣ר  let  me  talk 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אוֹתָ֔ךְ  with  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
מַדּ֗וּעַ  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מַדּוּעַ  
Sense: why?, on what account?, wherefore?.
דֶּ֤רֶךְ  the  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
רְשָׁעִים֙  of  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
؟ צָלֵ֔חָה  does  prosper 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: צָלַח 
Sense: (Qal) to rush.
שָׁל֖וּ  [Why]  are  those  happy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁלָה  
Sense: to be at rest, prosper, be quiet, be at ease.
בֹּ֥גְדֵי  who  deal  so 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
؟ בָֽגֶד  treacherously 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּגַד  
Sense: to act treacherously, deceitfully, deal treacherously.