Jeremiah 22:17

17 "Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence."

Jeremiah 22:17 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 22:17

But thine eyes and thine heart [are] not but for thy
covetousness
He was wholly intent upon gratifying that lust; his heart was meditating, contriving, and forming schemes for that purpose; and his eyes were looking out here and there for proper objects and opportunities to exercise it: and for to shed innocent blood;
in order to get their money, goods, and possessions into his hands; avarice often leads to murder: and for oppression, and for violence, to do [it];
by making incursions, and seizing upon the properties of men, and converting them to his own use; so true it is, that covetousness, or the love of money, is the root of all evil, ( 1 Timothy 6:10 ) .

Jeremiah 22:17 In-Context

15 "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.

16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?" says the Lord.

17 "Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence."

18 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They shall not lament for him, Saying, 'Alas, my brother!' or 'Alas, my sister!' They shall not lament for him, Saying, 'Alas, master!' or 'Alas, his glory!'

19 He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, Dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.