Jeremiah 12:9 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

Speckled bird - х ha`ayiT (H5861) tsaabuwa` (H6641)] - many translate, 'a ravenous beast, the hyena;' the corresponding Arabic word means hyena; so the Septuagint. But the Hebrew always elsewhere means 'a bird of prey' [from `iyT (H5860), to pounce upon]. The Hebrew for "speckled" is from a root [tsaaba`] 'to colour,' answering to the Jewish blending together with paganism the altogether diverse Mosaic ritual. The neighbouring nations, birds of prey like herself (for she had sinfully assimilated herself to them), were ready to pounce upon her.

Come ye, assemble ye all the beasts of the field. The Chaldeans are told to gather the surrounding pagan peoples as allies against Judah (Isaiah 56:9; Ezekiel 34:5).

Jeremiah 12:9

9 Mine heritage is unto me as a speckledd bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.