Jeremiah 22:17

17 “But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.”

Jeremiah 22:17 in Other Translations

17 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.

17 But you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence."

17 “But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty! You murder the innocent, oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”

17 "But you're blind and brainless. All you think about is yourself, Taking advantage of the weak, bulldozing your way, bullying victims."

17 But you have eyes and heart for nothing except your own unjust gain, shedding innocent blood and committing extortion and oppression.

Jeremiah 22:17 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 22:17

But thine eyes and thine heart [are] not but for thy
covetousness
He was wholly intent upon gratifying that lust; his heart was meditating, contriving, and forming schemes for that purpose; and his eyes were looking out here and there for proper objects and opportunities to exercise it: and for to shed innocent blood;
in order to get their money, goods, and possessions into his hands; avarice often leads to murder: and for oppression, and for violence, to do [it];
by making incursions, and seizing upon the properties of men, and converting them to his own use; so true it is, that covetousness, or the love of money, is the root of all evil, ( 1 Timothy 6:10 ) .

Jeremiah 22:17 In-Context

15 “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.

16 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.

17 “But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.”

18 Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’

19 He will have the burial of a donkey— dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

Cross References

• 1. S Isaiah 56:11
• 2. S 2 Kings 24:4
• 3. S Deuteronomy 28:33; Ezekiel 18:12; Micah 2:2