Jeremiah 22:13
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Jeremiah 22:13
13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
Chapter Context
Jeremiah 22 is a prophetic oracle chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of prayer, hope, mercy. Written during the final years of Judah and early exile (c. 627-580 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Prophesied during Judah's final years as Babylon became the dominant power.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-30: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it contributes to the biblical metanarrative of redemption. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Jeremiah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Jeremiah 22:13
13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
Analysis
Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness—the Hebrew hoy boneh beito belo-tsedeq (הוֹי בֹּנֶה בֵיתוֹ בְּלֹא־צֶדֶק) begins with the prophetic hoy (הוֹי, 'woe'), a funeral lament pronouncing doom. This targets King Jehoiakim specifically (vv. 18-19 name him). Unrighteousness (belo-tsedeq, בְּלֹא־צֶדֶק) means 'without righteousness/justice'—his palace was built through injustice. And his chambers by wrong (va'aliyotav belo mishpat, וַעֲלִיּוֹתָיו בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט)—aliyot (עֲלִיּוֹת) are upper rooms or chambers, and mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) is justice/judgment. The parallelism intensifies: no justice, no righteousness.
That useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work—bere'ehu ya'avod chinam ufo'alo lo yitten-lo (בְּרֵעֵהוּ יַעֲבֹד חִנָּם וּפֹעֲלוֹ לֹא יִתֶּן־לוֹ). Chinam (חִנָּם, 'without wages/for nothing') indicates forced labor without pay—exploitation condemned throughout Torah (Leviticus 19:13, Deuteronomy 24:14-15). Po'alo (פֹּעֲלוֹ, 'his work') is the laborer's wages justly owed. Jehoiakim conscripted workers to build his palace but refused payment—exactly what Pharaoh did to Israel in Egypt (Exodus 5:6-19). The irony: Judah's king imitates Israel's former oppressor. This violates covenant law requiring prompt payment to hired workers (Deuteronomy 24:15). James 5:4 echoes this: 'Behold, the hire of the labourers...which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth.'
Historical Context
This prophecy targets Jehoiakim (609-598 BC), installed as puppet king by Pharaoh Neco after deposing Jehoahaz. Jehoiakim was a brutal tyrant who 'did evil in the sight of the LORD' (2 Kings 23:37). Historical records indicate he built an elaborate palace during his reign, likely using forced labor to avoid paying the massive Egyptian tribute (2 Kings 23:35). His exploitation was particularly egregious given the nation's economic distress from Egyptian taxation. The woe oracle recalls similar denunciations: Habakkuk 2:9-12 condemns building with violence, Micah 3:10 denounces building Zion with blood. Jehoiakim also murdered prophets (Jeremiah 26:20-23) and burned Jeremiah's scroll (Jeremiah 36:23). His death was ignominious: verse 19 prophesies burial 'with the burial of an ass,' likely meaning he was left unburied. The contrast with Josiah (v. 15-16) is stark: Josiah 'judged the cause of the poor and needy,' while Jehoiakim exploited them. Proverbs 14:31 warns: 'He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker.'
Reflection
- What does building 'by unrighteousness' reveal about how the means of acquiring wealth and power matter as much to God as the ends?
- How does Jehoiakim's exploitation of laborers violate the Torah's protections for workers and replicate the Egyptian oppression God had delivered Israel from?
- What does this woe oracle teach about social justice as integral to covenant faithfulness, not peripheral to spiritual matters?
Word Studies
- Righteous: צַדִּיק (Tzaddik) H6664 - Righteous one
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Leviticus 19:13, Micah 3:10, Malachi 3:5, James 5:4