Lexical Summary
merutsah: Race, course, running
Original Word:מְרֻצָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:mrutsah
Pronunciation:meh-roo-tsah'
Phonetic Spelling:(mer-oo-tsaw')
KJV: violence See also H4794
NASB:extortion
Word Origin:[fromH7533 (רָצַץ - crushed)]
1. oppression
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
violence
Fromratsats; oppression -- violence. See alsomruwtsah.
see HEBREWratsats
see HEBREWmruwtsah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
ratsatsDefinitiona crushing, an oppression
NASB Translationextortion (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. ; —
Jeremiah 22:17 (+ ).
see I. ; see ; see II. .
Topical Lexicon
Context and Literary SettingJeremiah 22 records the prophet’s courtroom-style accusation against the royal house of Judah during the reign of Jehoiakim. In verse 17 the Spirit indicts the king for four interwoven sins: covetous gain, bloodshed, extortion, and oppression. The term under study appears in this climactic position, underscoring the culmination of greed that victimizes the vulnerable.
Semantic Nuance withinJeremiah 22:17
The word portrays profit wrung out by force, intimidation, or legal manipulation—gain that violates covenantal ethics. It is more aggressive than simple theft and more systemic than a single violent act. By coupling it with “oppression,” the verse exposes both the act (extortion) and the ongoing condition it creates (oppression).
Historical Background
Jehoiakim financed lavish building projects (Jeremiah 22:13-14) by withholding wages and exacting levies. Archaeological finds from late seventh-century Judah show increased taxation and corvée labor, corroborating Jeremiah’s charge. The prophetic rebuke therefore targets real economic policies, not merely private misconduct.
Theological Significance
1. Violation of the Davidic ethic.2 Samuel 8:15 summarizes ideal kingship as “doing justice and righteousness.” Extortion inJeremiah 22:17 proves the current king unfaithful to that standard, justifying impending exile (Jeremiah 22:28-30).
2. Assault on the image of God. By monetizing persons, extortion denies the dignity bestowed inGenesis 1:27 and invites divine judgment (Proverbs 14:31).
3. Echo of Torah warnings.Leviticus 25:17 commands, “You shall not take advantage of each other,” showing that Jeremiah’s word is consistent with earlier revelation.
Canonical Connections
• Prophetic parallels:Ezekiel 22:12;Micah 2:1-2.
• Wisdom literature:Proverbs 28:16 links oppressive gain with national instability.
• New Testament resonance: John the Baptist tells soldiers, “Do not extort money” (Luke 3:14), and Paul names extortioners among those needing gospel transformation (1 Corinthians 6:10). These passages show continuity in God’s moral expectations.
Christological Implications
Messiah fulfills the inverse of extortion: He “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6) but emptied Himself, providing redemptive contrast. His cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13) confronts commercial exploitation in sacred space, embodying Jeremiah’s prophetic zeal.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Preaching:Jeremiah 22:17 warns congregations against profit gained at the expense of others, whether through predatory lending, exploitative labor, or manipulative fundraising.
• Social ethics: Churches advocating for fair wages, transparent governance, and relief for the oppressed echo the prophetic concern.
• Personal discipleship: Believers examine financial practices, remembering that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).
Summary
The solitary appearance of this term inJeremiah 22:17 carries disproportionate weight, crystallizing a pattern of royal injustice that hastened Judah’s downfall. Its message transcends its rarity: any community tolerating wealth acquired by coercion stands under the same verdict. The gospel answers the sin of extortion with a Savior who gives rather than grasps, establishing a kingdom marked by righteousness, justice, and generous grace.
Forms and Transliterations
הַמְּרוּצָ֖ה המרוצה ham·mə·rū·ṣāh hammərūṣāh hammeruTzah
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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