The Meaning of Jeremiah 22:13 Explained

Jeremiah 22:13

KJV: 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;

YLT: Woe to him who is building his house by unrighteousness, And his upper chambers by injustice, On his neighbour he layeth service for nought, And his wage he doth not give to him.

Darby: Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his upper chambers by injustice; that taketh his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not his earning;

ASV: Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not his hire;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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; 

What does Jeremiah 22:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Jeremiah 22:1-30 - The Folly Of Idolatry
Jeremiah 10:1-10
We are here introduced into an idol-factory. Contrasted with the manufactured idols is the majesty of our God. There is none like Him. His name is great in might; He is the King of the nations, the true and living God, and the everlasting King! Christian, fear not or be dismayed when enemies plot against you. It is a vain device that they frame. To hide in God is a sure defence from all that man can do for our hurt. O thou true and living Savior, in thy wounds harried and faithful souls become strong and brave again.
Jeremiah 10:19-25
The prophet now bids the people prepare for their captivity. Their city would be as when a shepherd removed his slight and insubstantial tent, leaving no trace. But Jeremiah's soul is lacerated and torn with the message he must needs announce. Are we called to be shepherds? Let us see to it that we seek the Lord; so only shall our flocks not be scattered, Jeremiah 10:21. Are we in perplexity as to our path in life? It is not for us to direct ourselves, but to look up for God's sure guidance, which will be given to the soul that waits for it, Jeremiah 10:23. Are we being corrected? Let us be patient; it is only when we endure without complaining that our trial works out the highest good, and God will not give us more than we can bear, Jeremiah 10:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 22

1  He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats
10  The judgment of Shallum;
13  of Jehoiakim;
20  and of Coniah

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 22:13 mean?

Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by injustice of his neighbor [Who] uses service without wages and for his work nothing gives him
ה֣וֹי בֹּנֶ֤ה בֵיתוֹ֙ בְּֽלֹא־ צֶ֔דֶק וַעֲלִיּוֹתָ֖יו בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּ֑ט בְּרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ יַעֲבֹ֣ד חִנָּ֔ם וּפֹעֲל֖וֹ לֹ֥א יִתֶּן־ לֽוֹ

ה֣וֹי  Woe 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֹוי  
Sense: ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!.
בֹּנֶ֤ה  to  him  who  builds 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
בֵיתוֹ֙  his  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
צֶ֔דֶק  unrighteousness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.
וַעֲלִיּוֹתָ֖יו  and  his  chambers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֲלִיָּה  
Sense: roof-room, roof chamber.
מִשְׁפָּ֑ט  injustice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
בְּרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙  of  his  neighbor 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
יַעֲבֹ֣ד  [Who]  uses  service 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
חִנָּ֔ם  without  wages 
Parse: Adverb
Root: חִנָּם  
Sense: freely, for nothing, without cause.
וּפֹעֲל֖וֹ  and  for  his  work 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פֹּעַל  
Sense: work, deed, doing.
לֹ֥א  nothing 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִתֶּן־  gives 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.