Jeremiah 22:17

17 "But there is nothing [in] your eyes and your heart {except} your unlawful gain, and on shedding the blood of the innocent, and on committing oppression and extortion."

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 Do you reign as king because you [are] competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, and he did justice and righteousness, then it was well with him?

16 He judged [the] legal cause of [the] needy and [the] poor, [and] then it was well. {Is that not what it means to know me}?" {declares} Yahweh.

17 "But there is nothing [in] your eyes and your heart {except} your unlawful gain, and on shedding the blood of the innocent, and on committing oppression and extortion."

18 {Therefore} thus says Yahweh concerning Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah: "They will not lament for him, 'Alas, my brother,' or 'Alas, sister.' They will not lament for him, 'Alas, lord,' or 'alas, his majesty.'

19 He will be buried [with] the burial of a donkey. [He will be] dragged away and thrown {outside} the gates of Jerusalem.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "but if"