And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.

JEREMIAH 42:12KJV
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Jeremiah 42:12 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 42:12 mean?

Jeremiah 42:12 promises that God will show kindness and compassion to the people, moving others to treat them mercifully and allowing them to return to their homeland. The verse reassures the listeners that God’s favor will open the way for their restoration after hardship.

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to a group of Judeans who are afraid of what might happen to them after the Babylonian conquest. The people have asked Jeremiah to seek God’s guidance about whether they should stay in the land or flee to Egypt. Here, God assures them that if they remain, He will cause even their enemies to show them mercy and will bring them back to their own land.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 42:12

  • "mercies" (רַחֲמִים, rachamim) refers to deep compassion or tender love, often used to describe the heartfelt mercy God shows. This word emphasizes that God’s kindness is not just a formal pardon but a deeply felt care.
  • "mercy" (רָחַם, racham) is the verb form, meaning to show compassion or to have pity. In this context, it highlights that God will move others to actively show kindness to the people.
  • "return" (שׁוּב, shuv) means to turn back or restore. Here, it points to God’s promise to bring the people back to their own land, not just physically but also in terms of restoring their place and status.
  • "land" (אֲדָמָה, adamah) means the ground or territory, specifically referring to their homeland. This word grounds the promise in something very concrete: their actual return to the land of Judah.

Why Jeremiah 42:12 matters

  • Jeremiah 42:12 clarifies that God’s mercy is not only spiritual but can also shape real-world events, even influencing the attitudes of foreign rulers or enemies.
  • The verse connects to the larger story where the people are uncertain and fearful, showing that God’s guidance is both compassionate and practical.
  • It helps correct the misunderstanding that God’s favor is only for the distant future; here, God promises immediate and tangible help if the people trust Him.

Where else these words appear

“mercy” Hebrew H7355 · used in 43 verses

  • Exodus 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
  • Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
  • Jeremiah 33:26 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

“mercies” Hebrew H7356 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 43:14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
  • Nehemiah 9:31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
  • Isaiah 46:3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: