Jeremiah 12:13
They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
זָרְע֤וּ
They have sown
H2232
זָרְע֤וּ
They have sown
Strong's:
H2232
Word #:
1 of 12
to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify
קָצָ֔רוּ
but shall reap
H7114
קָצָ֔רוּ
but shall reap
Strong's:
H7114
Word #:
4 of 12
to dock off, i.e., curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain)
נֶחְל֖וּ
they have put themselves to pain
H2470
נֶחְל֖וּ
they have put themselves to pain
Strong's:
H2470
Word #:
5 of 12
properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to stroke (in flattering), entreat
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יוֹעִ֑לוּ
but shall not profit
H3276
יוֹעִ֑לוּ
but shall not profit
Strong's:
H3276
Word #:
7 of 12
properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively; benefited)
וּבֹ֙שׁוּ֙
and they shall be ashamed
H954
וּבֹ֙שׁוּ֙
and they shall be ashamed
Strong's:
H954
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
מִתְּבוּאֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם
of your revenues
H8393
מִתְּבוּאֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם
of your revenues
Strong's:
H8393
Word #:
9 of 12
income, i.e., produce (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:38Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.Micah 6:15Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.Haggai 1:6Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.Isaiah 55:2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.Leviticus 26:16I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.Jeremiah 4:26I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.Habakkuk 2:13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
Historical Context
Covenant curses promised that disobedience would result in planting but not harvesting, laboring but not benefiting (Leviticus 26:16, 20; Deuteronomy 28:38-40). During Babylon's invasions, agricultural cycles were disrupted—fields planted could not be harvested due to warfare. The frustration of fruitless labor was both physical (actual crop failure) and theological (covenant curse activation).
Questions for Reflection
- How does 'sowing wheat but reaping thorns' express the futility of effort under divine judgment?
- What contemporary applications exist for laboring in ways that cannot profit because they contradict God's purposes?
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse announces futile labor: 'They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns.' The Hebrew chitta (חִטָּה, wheat) versus qotsim (קֹצִים, thorns) reverses expected harvest. 'They have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit.' The Hebrew nichlah (נֶחֱלוּ, be sick, pain oneself) indicates exhausting effort without benefit (ya'il, profit). 'And they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.' 'Revenues' (tevu'oth, produce, income) bring shame (bush) rather than pride. The 'fierce anger of the LORD' (charon aph YHWH) explains the reversal—divine wrath nullifies human labor. The verse echoes covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:38-40) promising futile agricultural labor.