Jeremiah 22:3

3 This is what the Lord says: Administer justice and righteousness.[a] Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor.[b] Don't exploit or brutalize the alien, the fatherless, or the widow. Don't shed innocent blood in this place.

Jeremiah 22:3 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 22:3

Thus saith the Lord, execute ye judgment and righteousness,
&c.] Judge righteous Judgment; give the cause to whom it belongs, without respect of persons, and without a bribe or corruption; do no unrighteousness to any, by withholding from them what is due unto them, which was what this prince was chargeable with, ( Jeremiah 22:13 ) ; and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor;
that was robbed or wronged of his property by one superior to him in power or cunning; (See Gill on Jeremiah 21:12); and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor
the widow:
who are not in a situation, and in such a condition and circumstances, as to defend themselves; and whom God has a peculiar regard unto; and therefore they who are his deputies and vicegerents, as kings and civil magistrates are, ought to protect such persons, and neither grieve and injure them themselves, nor suffer others to do it: neither shed innocent blood in this place;
to grieve and wrong the above persons is a very great evil, but to shed the blood of innocent per tons is a greater still; and this is aggravated by being committed by such who are set over men to secure and preserve their properties and their lives; and such heinous sins as these the present reigning king of Judah was guilty of; which is the reason of their being mentioned; see ( Jeremiah 22:17 ) .

Jeremiah 22:3 In-Context

1 This is what the Lord says: "Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and announce this word there.
2 You are to say: Hear the word of the Lord, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David-you, your officers, and your people who enter these gates.
3 This is what the Lord says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Don't exploit or brutalize the alien, the fatherless, or the widow. Don't shed innocent blood in this place.
4 For if you conscientiously carry out this word, then kings sitting on David's throne will enter through the gates of this palace riding on chariots and horses-they, their officers, and their people.
5 But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"that this house will become a ruin."

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Jr 23:5; 2 Sm 8:15; 2 Ch 9:8
  • [b]. Jr 21:12; Dt 28:29; Ec 4:1
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