Jeremiah 22:3

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 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 to the palace of the king of Judah, and speak this message there:
2 "Listen to the word of the LORD, you officials, you people who come into these gates, and you, king of Judah, the one sitting on David's throne.
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.
4 If you do what I say, then the kings who sit on David's throne will ride through the gates of this palace in chariots and on horses along with their officials and their people.
5 But if you don't do what I say, I will take an oath on myself," declares the LORD, "that this palace will become a pile of rubble.
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