Jeremiah 22:16

16 He deemed the cause of a poor man, and needy, into his good; whether not therefore for he knew me? saith the Lord. (He judged the cases of the poor and the needy, for their good; did this not show that he knew me? saith the Lord.)

Jeremiah 22:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 22:16

He judged the cause of the poor and needy
Who could not defend themselves against the rich and the mighty; he took their cause in hand, and, having heard it, determined it in their favour, and did them justice, as princes and civil magistrates ought to do: then [it was] well [with him];
this is repeated, not only to show the certainty of it, but that it might be observed, and his example followed: [was] not this to know me? saith the Lord;
it is not by words only, but by deeds, that men show that they know the Lord; for some in words profess to know him, who in works deny him; when princes do the duty of their office, they thereby declare that they know and own the Lord, by, and under whom, they reign; that they have the fear of him before their eyes; this is a practical knowledge of him, and is well pleasing to him. The Targum is,

``is not this the knowledge with which I am well pleased? saith the Lord.''

Jeremiah 22:16 In-Context

14 Which saith, I shall build to me a large house, and wide solars; which openeth windows to himself, and maketh couples of cedar, and painteth with red colour. (Who saith, I shall build for myself a large house with wide rooms; and I shall cut out windows for it, and make couplings out of cedar, and paint it with red colour.)

15 Whether thou shalt reign, for thou comparisonest thee to a cedar? whether thy father ate not, and drank, and did doom and rightfulness then, when it was well to him? (Shalt thou reign, because thy cedar is finer in comparison to others? did not thy father eat, and drink, and did justly and with righteousness, and was it not well with him?)

16 He deemed the cause of a poor man, and needy, into his good; whether not therefore for he knew me? saith the Lord. (He judged the cases of the poor and the needy, for their good; did this not show that he knew me? saith the Lord.)

17 Forsooth thine eyes and heart be to avarice, and to shed innocent blood, and to false challenge, and to the performing of evil work. (But thine eyes and thy heart be turned to greed, and to pour out innocent blood, and to oppression, and to the performing of evil work.)

18 Therefore the Lord saith these things to Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, They shall not bewail him, (and say,) Woe brother! and woe sister! they shall not sound together to him (and say,) Woe lord! and woe noble man! (And so the Lord saith these things about Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, They shall not bewail him, and say, Woe brother! and woe sister! they shall not sound together for him, and say, Woe lord! and woe noble man!)