Jeremiah 12:2

נְטַעְתָּם֙ גַּם־שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ יֵלְכ֖וּ גַּם־עָ֣שׂוּ פֶ֑רִי קָרֹ֤וב אַתָּה֙ בְּפִיהֶ֔ם וְרָחֹ֖וק מִכִּלְיֹותֵיהֶֽם׃

You planted them, also they took root, they go on, also they bear fruit; near are You in their mouth, but far from their kidneys.

Morphology

1. נְטַעְתָּם (netaʿtam) – Root: נטע; Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “You planted them”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s action of establishing them (likely the wicked or hypocrites).
2. גַּם־ (gam) – Root: גם; Form: Adverb; Translation: “also”; Notes: Adds emphasis to the progression of their success.
3. שֹׁרָשׁוּ (shorashu) – Root: שרש; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they took root”; Notes: Follows logically from being planted; describes establishment and growth.
4. יֵלְכוּ (yeleku) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they go on”; Notes: Implies ongoing progress or success.
5. גַּם־ (gam) – Root: גם; Form: Adverb; Translation: “also”; Notes: Connects with the next result in the sequence.
6. עָשׂוּ (ʿasu) – Root: עשה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they made” / “they produced”; Notes: Refers to bearing fruit.
7. פֶרִי (peri) – Root: פרי; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “fruit”; Notes: Often symbolic of results or outcomes of actions or character.
8. קָרֹוב (qarov) – Root: קרב; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “near”; Notes: Modifies YHWH’s proximity in their speech.
9. אַתָּה (attah) – Root: אתה; Form: Independent pronoun 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You”; Notes: Subject of the clause; contrasts outward piety with inward distance.
10. בְּפִיהֶם (be-fihem) – Root: פה; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “in their mouth”; Notes: Suggests mere verbal piety.
11. וְרָחֹוק (ve-raḥoq) – Root: רחק; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “but far”; Notes: Conjunction + adjective; contrasts nearness in words with inward distance.
12. מִכִּלְיֹותֵיהֶם (mi-kilyoteihem) – Root: כליה; Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine dual construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “from their kidneys”; Notes: In Hebrew thought, the “kidneys” aren’t just physical organs—they symbolically represent the innermost self. Ancient Hebrew anthropology often viewed the kidneys as the seat of emotion, conscience, and deep personal reflection. So while the phrase literally translates as “from their kidneys,” its deeper meaning points to something arising from the core of a person’s being—from their most intimate thoughts and feelings.