Jeremiah 22:15
in Jeremiah 22Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Shalt thou reign, because thou strivest to excel in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him.
KJV
Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?
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This verse in Jeremiah 22
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
i. e., Will thy buildings make thy reign continue? These words imply that Jehoiakim was looking forward to, and taking measures to secure, a long continuance of power (compare Hab 2:9-13. If so, Jeremiah probably wrote this prophecy before Jehoiakim revolted 2Ki 24:1; and it, therefore, probably belongs to the same date as Jer 36:30, written in the interval between Nebuchadnezzars first conquest of Jerusalem, and Jehoiakim’s rebellion, and when Jeremiah was out of the reach of the tyrant’s power. Closest thyself in cedar - Rather, viest “in cedar;” i. e., viest with Solomon.
This site's exposition
Woe to him who builds his
on Jeremiah 22:13-17
The woe falls on the one “who builds his palace by unrighteousness”. The LORD asks Jehoiakim, “Does it make you a king to excel in cedar?” and sets beside him his father, who “administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him.”
This site's exposition
Does it make you a king
The question mocks the idea that cedar makes a king. Barnes reads it as a king trying to match Solomon's building and hoping it would keep him on the throne. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that Josiah secured his throne by justice, while his son sat on a shaky one.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Thus when Christ spoke of the destruction of the temple his disciples came to him, to show him what a magnificent structure it was, Matt. xxiii. Note, Those wretchedly deceive themselves who think their present prosperity is a lasting security, and dream of reigning because they are enclosed in cedar.
Shalt thou reign because thou closest thyself in cedar?.... Dost thou think that thou shalt reign long, and thy throne be established firm and secure, because of thy cedar wainscot? as if that was a protection to thee, and were like the fortifications of a city or tower; when it may easily be broke to pieces, or burnt with fire; and must be a poor defence against a powerful enemy.
Another message sent them in the reign of Jehoiachin (alias, Jeconiah) the son of Jehoiakim. He is charged with an obstinate refusal to hear, and is threatened with destruction, and it is foretold that in him Solomon's house should fail,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Did he need to build costly palaces to secure his throne? Nay, he did secure it by "judgment and justice"; whereas thou, with all thy luxurious building, sittest on a tottering throne. then--on that account, therefore.
Shalt thou reign, etc - Dost thou think thou art a great king, because thou dwellest in a splendid palace?
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Shall you reign Will you live long that you contend to make your rule oppressive to let all know that you are a king?
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֲתִֽמְלֹ֔ךְ | hatimlokh | ¿ are you king | H4427 → | 348 times |
| כִּ֥י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אַתָּ֖ה | ʾatah | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| מְתַחֲרֶ֣ה | metachareh | [are] competing | H8474 → | |
| בָאָ֑רֶז | vaarez | in <the> cedar | H730 → | 73 times |
| אָבִ֜יךָ | ʾavikha | father your | H1 → | 1212 times |
| הֲל֧וֹא | halo' | ¿ not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| אָכַ֣ל | ʾakhal | did he eat | H398 → | 810 times |
| וְשָׁתָ֗ה | veshatah | and did he drink? | H8354 → | 217 times |
| וְעָשָׂ֤ה | veasah | and did he do? | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| מִשְׁפָּט֙ | mishpat | justice | H4941 → | 422 times |
| וּצְדָקָ֔ה | utzedakah | and righteousness | H6666 → | 157 times |
| אָ֖ז | ʾaz | then | H227 → | 141 times |
| ט֥וֹב | tov | it was well | H2895 → | 45 times |
| לֽוֹ׃ | lo | for <the> him |
הֲתִֽמְלֹ֔ךְ¿ are you king
hatimlokhH4427 →348 times
כִּ֥יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
אַתָּ֖הyou
ʾatahH859 →1094 times
מְתַחֲרֶ֣ה[are] competing
metacharehH8474 →
בָאָ֑רֶזin <the> cedar
vaarezH730 →73 times
אָבִ֜יךָfather your
ʾavikhaH1 →1212 times
הֲל֧וֹא¿ not
halo'H3808 →5168 times
אָכַ֣לdid he eat
ʾakhalH398 →810 times
וְשָׁתָ֗הand did he drink?
veshatahH8354 →217 times
וְעָשָׂ֤הand did he do?
veasahH6213 →2628 times
מִשְׁפָּט֙justice
mishpatH4941 →422 times
וּצְדָקָ֔הand righteousness
utzedakahH6666 →157 times
אָ֖זthen
ʾazH227 →141 times
ט֥וֹבit was well
tovH2895 →45 times
לֽוֹ׃for <the> him
lo
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 3:10Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
it leads to
- Psalms 128:1–2
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Galatians 6:7–8
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- Ezekiel 18:9–19
He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, declares the Lord GOD.
- Psalms 128:1–2
Through
Proverbs 25:5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:8
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 16:12
Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
- Psalms 101:7–8
No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence.
- Proverbs 20:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Jeremiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.