Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 12:16

"And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Jehovah liveth; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people." — Jeremiah 12:16 (ASV)

To swear by my name. —There is an obvious reference to the hopes expressed in Jeremiah 4:2. To acknowledge Jehovah in all the most solemn forms of taking oaths (Psalms 63:11), and to do this, not hypocritically, but in the spirit of reverence and righteousness, was the ideal state of the restored Judah. To be led by her example of faith and holiness, instead of leading her to acknowledge Baal by like forms of speech as they had done, was the ideal state of the nations around her. In this hope the prophet was echoing that of Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2.