New English Translation
Jeremiah 22:16
16He upheld the cause of the poor and needy. So things went well for Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’
Jeremiah 22:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the Lord.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord.
Context of Jeremiah 22:16
14He says, “I will build myself a large palace with spacious upper rooms.” He cuts windows in its walls, panels it with cedar, and paints its rooms red. 15Does it make you any more of a king that you outstrip everyone else in building with cedar? Just think about your father. He was content that he had food and drink. He did what was just and right. So things went well with him. He upheld the cause of the poor and needy. So things went well for Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’ 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. 18So the Lord has this to say about Josiah’s son, King Jehoiakim of Judah: People will not mourn for him, saying, “This makes me sad, my brother! This makes me sad, my sister!” They will not mourn for him, saying, “Poor, poor lord! Poor, poor majesty!”
Read all of Jeremiah 22Jeremiah 22:16 word by word
דָּ֛ן דִּין־עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְי֖וֹן אָ֣ז ט֑וֹב הֲלוֹא־הִ֛יא הַדַּ֥עַת אֹתִ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Jeremiah 22:16
- Jeremiah 5:28That is how they have grown fat and sleek. There is no limit to the evil things they do. They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it. They do not defend the rights of the poor.
- Job 29:12for I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the orphan who had no one to assist him;
- Psalms 72:1O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions! Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions!
- Psalms 82:3Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!
- Psalms 109:31because he stands at the right hand of the needy, to deliver him from those who threaten his life.
- Proverbs 24:11Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the slaughter.
- Isaiah 1:17Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!
- Jeremiah 9:3The Lord says, “These people are like soldiers who have readied their bows. Their tongues are always ready to shoot out lies. They have become powerful in the land, but they have not done so by honest means. Indeed, they do one evil thing after another and do not pay attention to me.
- Jeremiah 31:33“But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people.
- 1 Samuel 2:2No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one other than you! There is no rock like our God!
- 1 Chronicles 28:9“And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.
- Psalms 9:10Your loyal followers trust in you, for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help.
- John 8:19Then they began asking him, “Who is your father?” Jesus answered, “You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father too.”
- John 16:3They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me.
- John 17:3Now this is eternal life – that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
- 1 John 2:3Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 22:16
- 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. 1616. was not this to know me--namely, to show by deeds that one knows God's will, as was the case with Josiah (compare Joh 13:17; contrast Tit 1:16).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 22:16
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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