The Meaning of Jeremiah 22:15 Explained

Jeremiah 22:15

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?

YLT: Dost thou reign, because thou art fretting thyself in cedar? Thy father -- did he not eat and drink? Yea, he did judgment and righteousness, Then it is well with him.

Darby: Shalt thou reign, because thou viest with the cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice? Then it was well with him.

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 Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does Jeremiah 22:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The measure of a king"s greatness is not really the beauty and cost of his palace but his righteousness and justice. Jehoiakim"s father, Josiah, had been a great king, and God had blessed him because he practiced these virtues (cf. John 4:34).

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 22:15 mean?

Shall you reign because you enclose [yourself] in cedar your father did not eat and drink and do justice and righteousness then [it was] well with him
הֲתִֽמְלֹ֔ךְ כִּ֥י אַתָּ֖ה מְתַחֲרֶ֣ה ؟ בָאָ֑רֶז אָבִ֜יךָ הֲל֧וֹא אָכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֗ה וְעָשָׂ֤ה מִשְׁפָּט֙ וּצְדָקָ֔ה אָ֖ז ט֥וֹב לֽוֹ

הֲתִֽמְלֹ֔ךְ  Shall  you  reign 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָלַךְ 
Sense: to be or become king or queen, reign.
כִּ֥י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מְתַחֲרֶ֣ה  enclose  [yourself] 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָרָה  
Sense: to burn, be kindled (of anger).
؟ בָאָ֑רֶז  in  cedar 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶרֶז  
Sense: cedar.
אָבִ֜יךָ  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
הֲל֧וֹא  did  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אָכַ֣ל  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וְשָׁתָ֗ה  and  drink 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
וְעָשָׂ֤ה  and  do 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
מִשְׁפָּט֙  justice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
וּצְדָקָ֔ה  and  righteousness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
ט֥וֹב  [it  was]  well 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
לֽוֹ  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular