Gentile Nations
Jeremiah 12:14-17
Jeremiah · ~605 BC · Status: Fulfilled · Confidence: 65%
“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.”
King James Version · the opening — all 4 verses are below
God restoring the neighboring nations after judgment if they learn from Israel's example and embrace his ways.
Read the whole passage — all 4 verses (KJV)
12:14Thus 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.
12:15And 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.
12:16And 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.
12:17But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
Fulfillment References
Ephesians 2:13-16 Romans 11:17
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalAfter plucking up the evil neighbor-nations, God promises to have compassion and bring them back — and 'if they will diligently learn the ways of my people... then shall they be built in the midst of my people.' Even the nations may be grafted in if they turn to the LORD. This foreshadows the gospel age, when Gentiles are built into God's people through faith in the Lord Jesus (Eph. 2; Rom. 11).
JewishA surprising promise that even Israel's hostile neighbors, if they learn to swear by the LORD's name, may be established among His people — judgment with a door of mercy.
CatholicThe ingathering of the nations into God's people, fulfilled as the Gentiles are built into the Church.
ProtestantThe conditional inclusion of the nations among God's people, realized in the gospel's gathering of believing Gentiles.
AcademicAn oracle against Judah's neighbors with an unusual offer of integration ('built in the midst of my people') upon adopting the LORD's worship.
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