Jeremiah 22:3

3 Thus says the LORD: 1Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And 2do no wrong or violence 3to the resident alien, 4the fatherless, and the widow, nor 5shed 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 Thus says the LORD: "Go down to the house of the king of Judah and speak there this word,
2 and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates.
3 Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
4 For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people.
5 But if you will not obey these words, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Jeremiah 7:5, 6; Jeremiah 21:12
  • 2. Leviticus 19:33
  • 3. [Psalms 82:3; Isaiah 1:17]
  • 4. Jeremiah 7:5, 6; Jeremiah 21:12
  • 5. ver. 17; [Jeremiah 26:15]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.