God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 22:15
15Do you think you’re a better king than others because you use more cedar? Your father ate and drank and did what is fair and right. Everything went well for him.
Jeremiah 22:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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?
- New International Version (NIV)“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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.
Context of Jeremiah 22:15
13“How horrible it will be for the person who builds his house dishonestly and his upper rooms through injustice. He makes his neighbors work for nothing and doesn’t pay them for their work. 14He says, ‘I will build a large house for myself with big upper rooms.’ He cuts out windows in it, panels the rooms with cedar, and paints them red. Do you think you’re a better king than others because you use more cedar? Your father ate and drank and did what is fair and right. Everything went well for him. 16He defended the cause of the poor and needy. Everything went well for him. Isn’t this what it means to know me?” asks the Lord. 17“But your eyes and your mind are set on nothing but dishonest profits. You kill innocent people and violently oppress your people.”
Read all of Jeremiah 22Jeremiah 22:15 word by word
הֲתִֽמְלֹ֔ךְ כִּ֥י אַתָּ֖ה מְתַחֲרֶ֣ה בָאָ֑רֶז אָבִ֜יךָ הֲל֧וֹא אָכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֗ה וְעָשָׂ֤ה מִשְׁפָּט֙ וּצְדָקָ֔ה אָ֖ז ט֥וֹב לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Shalt thou reignמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
- because thou closestתַּחָרָהtachârâh · to contendH8474
- in cedarאֶ֫רֶז'erez · cedarH730
- did not thy fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- and drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
- and doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
- and justiceצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
- wellטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
Cross-references for Jeremiah 22:15
- Jeremiah 22:18This is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim, son of Judah’s King Josiah: People won’t mourn for him and say, “How horrible it is for my brother and sister!” They won’t mourn for him and say, “How horrible it is for my master and his splendor!”
- 2 Kings 23:25No king before Josiah had turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul, and strength, as directed in Moses’ Teachings. No other ⌞king⌟ was like Josiah.
- 1 Chronicles 3:15Josiah’s firstborn son was Johanan, the second was Jehoiakim, the third was Zedekiah, and the fourth was Shallum.
- 1 Kings 4:20The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They ate and drank and lived happily.
- 2 Chronicles 35:7Josiah provided the people with 33,000 sheep and goats to be sacrificed as Passover offerings for all who were present. In addition, he provided 3,000 bulls. (These animals were the king’s property.)
- Ecclesiastes 2:24There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, enjoy eating your food, and drink your wine cheerfully, because God has already accepted what you’ve done.
- Ecclesiastes 10:17A country is blessed when the king is from a noble family and when the high officials eat at the right time in order to get strength and not to get drunk.
- Isaiah 33:16This person will live on high. His stronghold will be a fortress made of rock. He will have plenty of food and a dependable supply of water.
- Luke 11:41Give what is inside as a gift to the poor, and then everything will be clean for you.
- Acts 2:46The believers had a single purpose and went to the temple every day. They were joyful and humble as they ate at each other’s homes and shared their food.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God.
- Jeremiah 22:3“This is what the Lord says: Judge fairly, and do what is right. Rescue those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Don’t mistreat foreigners, orphans, or widows, and don’t oppress them. Don’t kill innocent people in this place.
- Jeremiah 21:12descendants of David. This is what the Lord says: Judge fairly every morning. Rescue those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Otherwise, my fury will break out and burn like fire. No one will be able to put it out because of the evil things you have done.
- Jeremiah 23:5“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will grow a righteous branch for David. He will be a king who will rule wisely. He will do what is fair and right in the land.
- 2 Samuel 8:15So David ruled all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 22:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Shalt thou reign, etc - Dost thou think thou art a great king, because thou dwellest in a splendid palace?Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15i. e., Will thy buildings make thy reign continue? These words imply that Jehoiakim was looking forward to, and taking measures to secure, a long continuance of power (compare Habakkuk 2:9-13. If so, Jeremiah probably wrote this prophecy before Jehoiakim revolted 2 Kings 24:1; and it, therefore, probably belongs to the same date as Jeremiah 36:30, written in the interval between Nebuchadnezzars first conquest of Jerusalem, and Jehoiakim‘s rebellion, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-19Verses 10-19 Here is a sentence of death upon two kings, the wicked sons of a very pious father. Josiah was prevented from seeing the evil to come in this world, and removed to see the good to come in the other world; therefore, weep not for him, but for his son Shallum, who is likely to live and die a wretched captive. Dying saints may be justly envied, while living sinners are justly pitied. Here also is the doom of Jehoiakim. No doubt it is lawful for…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16If Jehoiakim wanted plenty to eat and drink, he did not need to use corruption and oppression. Compared to his prosperous father, Josiah, Jehoiakim was not a great king. Josiah, on the other hand, was fair and honest in all his actions, serving both God and his people. Because he followed the ancient covenant's rules, God blessed him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. closest thyself--rather, "thou viest," that is, art emulous to surpass thy forefathers in the magnificence of thy palaces. eat and drink--Did not Josiah, thy father, enjoy all that man really needs for his bodily wants? Did he need to build costly palaces to secure his throne? Nay, he did secure it by "judgment and justice"; whereas thou, with all thy luxurious building, sittest on a tottering throne. then--on that account, therefore.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 22:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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