Jeremiah 22:13–17

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Judgment on Jehoiakim

^22:13“ ‘Sure to be judged¹⁸ is the king who builds his palace using injustice

and treats people unfairly while adding its upper rooms.¹⁹

He makes his countrymen work for him for nothing.

He does not pay them for their labor.

^22:14He says, “I will build myself a large palace

with spacious upper rooms.”

He cuts windows in its walls,

panels it²⁰ with cedar, and paints its rooms red.²¹

^22:15Does it make you any more of a king

that you outstrip everyone else in²² building with cedar?

Just think about your father.

He was content that he had food and drink.²³

He did what was just and right.²⁴

So things went well with him.

^22:16He upheld the cause of the poor and needy.

So things went well for Judah.’²⁵

The Lord says,

‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’²⁶

^22:17But you are always thinking and looking

for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means.

Your eyes and your heart are set

on killing some innocent person

and committing fraud and oppression.²⁷

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Footnotes

18 Heb “Woe.” This particle is used in laments for the dead (cf., e.g., 1 Kgs 13:30; Jer 34:5) and as an introductory particle in indictments against a person on whom judgment is pronounced (cf., e.g., Isa 5:8, 11; Jer 23:1). The indictment is found here in vv. 13–17 and the announcement of judgment in vv. 18–19.
19 Heb “Woe to the one who builds his house by unrighteousness and its upper rooms with injustice using his neighbor [= countryman] as a slave for nothing and not giving to him his wages.” This was a clear violation of covenant law (cf. Deut 24:14–15) and a violation of the requirements set forth in Jer 22:3. The allusion is to Jehoiakim who is not mentioned until v. 18. He was placed on the throne by Pharaoh Necho and ruled from 609–598 b.c. He became a vassal of Nebuchadnezzar but rebelled against him, bringing about the siege of 597 b.c. in which his son and many of the Judean leaders were carried off to Babylon (2 Kgs 23:34–24:16). He was a wicked king according to the author of the book of Kings (2 Kgs 23:37). He had Uriah the prophet killed (Jer 26:23) and showed no regard for Jeremiah’s prophecies, destroying the scroll containing them (Jer 36:23) and ordering Jeremiah’s arrest (Jer 36:23).
20 The should be emended to read חַלֹּנָיו וְסָפוֹן (khallonayv vésafon) instead of חַלֹּנָי וְסָפוּן (khallonay vésafon), i.e., the plural noun with third singular suffix rather than the first singular suffix and the infinitive absolute rather than the passive participle. The latter form then parallels the form for “paints” and functions in the same way (cf. §113.z for the infinitive with vav [ו] continuing a perfect). The errors in the involve reading the וְ once instead of twice (haplography) and reading the וּ (u) for the וֹ (o).
21 The word translated “red” only occurs here and in Ezek 23:14 where it refers to the pictures of the Babylonians on the wall of the temple. Evidently this was a favorite color for decoration. It is usually identified as vermilion, a mineral product from red ocher (cf. C. L. Wickwire, “Vermilion,” 4:748).
22 For the use of this verb see Jer 12:5 where it is used of Jeremiah “competing” with horses. The form is a rare Tiphel (see §55.h).
23 Heb “Your father, did he not eat and drink and do justice and right.” The copulative vav in front of the verbs here (all Hebrew perfects) shows that these actions are all coordinate not sequential. The contrast drawn here between the actions of Jehoiakim and Josiah show that the phrase eating and drinking should be read in the light of the same contrasts in Eccl 2 which ends with the note of contentment in Eccl 2:24 (see also Eccl 3:13; 5:18 [5:17 ]; 8:15). The question is, of course, rhetorical setting forth the positive role model against which Jehoiakim’s actions are to be condemned. The key terms here are “then things went well with him” which is repeated in the next verse after the reiteration of Josiah’s practice of justice.
24 The father referred to here is the godly king Josiah. He followed the requirements for kings set forth in 22:3 in contrast to his son who did not (22:13).
25 The words “for Judah” are not in the text, but the absence of the preposition plus object as in the preceding verse suggests that this is a more general statement, i.e., “things went well for everyone.”
26 Heb “Is that not what it means to know me.” The question is rhetorical and expects a positive answer. It is translated in the light of the context. Comparison of the usage of the words “know me” in their context in Jer 2:8; 9:3, 6, 24 and here will show that more than mere intellectual knowledge is involved. It involves also personal commitment to God and obedience to the demands of the agreements with him. The word “know” is used in ancient Near Eastern treaty contexts of submission to the will of the overlord. See further the notes on .
27 Heb “Your eyes and your heart do not exist except for dishonest gain and for innocent blood to shed [it] and for fraud and for oppression to do [them].” The sentence has been broken up to conform more to English style and the significance of “eyes” and “heart” explained before they are introduced into the translation.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness,

and his upper rooms by injustice,

who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing

and does not give him his wages,

who says, ‘I will build myself a great house

with spacious upper rooms,’

who cuts out windows for it,

paneling it with cedar

and painting it with vermilion.

Do you think you are a king

because you compete in cedar?

Did not your father eat and drink

and do justice and righteousness?

Then it was well with him.

He judged the cause of the poor and needy;

then it was well.

Is not this to know me?

declares the Lord.

But you have eyes and heart

only for your dishonest gain,

for shedding innocent blood,

and for practicing oppression and violence.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,

his upper rooms by injustice,

making his own people work for nothing,

not paying them for their labor.

He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace

with spacious upper rooms.’

So he makes large windows in it,

panels it with cedar

and decorates it in red.

“Does it make you a king

to have more and more cedar?

Did not your father have food and drink?

He did what was right and just,

so all went well with him.

He defended the cause of the poor and needy,

and so all went well.

Is that not what it means to know me?”

declares the Lord.

“But your eyes and your heart

are set only on dishonest gain,

on shedding innocent blood

and on oppression and extortion.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Woe for the one who builds his palace

through unrighteousness,

his upstairs rooms through injustice,

who makes his neighbor serve without pay

and will not give him his wages,

who says, “I will build myself a massive palace,

with spacious upstairs rooms.”

He will cut windows in it,

and it will be paneled with cedar

and painted bright red.

Are you a king because you excel in cedar?

Didn’t your father eat and drink

and administer justice and righteousness?

Then it went well with him.

He took up the case of the poor and needy;

then it went well.

Is this not what it means to know me?

This is the Lord’s declaration.

But you have eyes and a heart for nothing

except your own dishonest profit,

shedding innocent blood

and committing extortion and oppression.

NLTNew Living Translation

And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim,

who builds his palace with forced labor.

He builds injustice into its walls,

for he makes his neighbors work for nothing.

He does not pay them for their labor.

He says, ‘I will build a magnificent palace

with huge rooms and many windows.

I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar

and paint it a lovely red.’

But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!

Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink.

But he was just and right in all his dealings.

That is why God blessed him.

He gave justice and help to the poor and needy,

and everything went well for him.

Isn’t that what it means to know me?”

says the Lord.

“But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty!

You murder the innocent,

oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Woe to the one who builds his house without righteousness,

and his upper rooms without justice.

His fellow countryman, he works for nothing,

and he does not give to him his wages.

Who says ‘I will build for myself

a spacious house with large upper rooms,’

and he cuts windows for it,

and it is paneled with cedar,

and he paints it with vermilion.

Do you reign as king because you are competing in cedar?

Did not your father eat and drink,

and he did justice and righteousness,

then it was well with him?

He judged the legal cause of the needy and the poor,

and then it was well.

Is that not what it means to know me?” declares Yahweh.

“But there is nothing in your eyes and your heart

except your unlawful gain,

and on shedding the blood of the innocent,

and on committing oppression and extortion.”

KJV 1900King James Version

Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness,

And his chambers by wrong;

That useth his neighbour’s service without wages,

And giveth him not for his work;

That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers,

And cutteth him out windows;

And it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar?

Did not thy father eat and drink,

And do judgment and justice,

And then it was well with him?

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him:

Was not this to know me? saith the Lord.

But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness,

And for to shed innocent blood,

And for oppression, and for violence, to do it.

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