Jeremiah 22:17
But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עֵינֶ֙יךָ֙
But thine eyes
H5869
עֵינֶ֙יךָ֙
But thine eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
3 of 17
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
וְלִבְּךָ֔
and thine heart
H3820
וְלִבְּךָ֔
and thine heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
4 of 17
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
כִּ֖י
H3588
כִּ֖י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
5 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
6 of 17
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בִּצְעֶ֑ךָ
are not but for thy covetousness
H1215
בִּצְעֶ֑ךָ
are not but for thy covetousness
Strong's:
H1215
Word #:
8 of 17
plunder; by extension, gain (usually unjust)
וְעַ֤ל
H5921
וְעַ֤ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
דַּֽם
blood
H1818
דַּֽם
blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
10 of 17
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
לִשְׁפּ֔וֹךְ
and for to shed
H8210
לִשְׁפּ֔וֹךְ
and for to shed
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
12 of 17
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
13 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָעֹ֥שֶׁק
and for oppression
H6233
הָעֹ֥שֶׁק
and for oppression
Strong's:
H6233
Word #:
14 of 17
injury, fraud, (subjectively) distress, (concretely) unjust gain
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
15 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
2 Peter 2:14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:Jeremiah 22:3Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.Ezekiel 19:6And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.2 Kings 24:4And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.Psalms 10:3For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.Ezekiel 33:31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Historical Context
Jehoiakim ruled as an Egyptian vassal initially, paying heavy tribute by taxing his people mercilessly (2 Kings 23:35). He built a luxurious palace using forced labor (Jeremiah 22:13-14), ignoring his father Josiah's reforms. Historical records suggest he murdered prophets who opposed him, including possibly Urijah (Jeremiah 26:20-23).
Questions for Reflection
- How does covetousness function as the root from which other sins grow in your life?
- What 'innocent blood' might be on the hands of economic systems you participate in?
- Where do you see the progression from greed to violence in contemporary society?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness—the Hebrew בֶּצַע (betsa, 'unjust gain') describes violent greed that tears apart social fabric. Jehoiakim's entire orientation (eyes = perception, heart = will) fixated on accumulation through oppression. The fourfold indictment follows: covetousness, shedding innocent blood (דָּם נָקִי, dam naqi—judicial murder of the righteous), oppression (עֹשֶׁק, osheq—exploitation of the powerless), and violence (מְרוּצָה, merutsah—literally 'running' toward brutality).
This catalogue of crimes exposes the king's heart as a factory of injustice. Paul later warned that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10)—Jehoiakim embodied this principle. His reign illustrated how covetousness metastasizes into bloodshed, oppression, and violence when unchecked by fear of God.