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Joshua 7:21
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, theyare hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Job 31:7
If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

Psalm 119:36,37
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness…

covetousness.

Exodus 18:21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and placesuch over them,to be rulers of thousands,and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Psalm 10:3
For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous,whom the LORD abhorreth.

Luke 12:15-21
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth…

to shed.

Jeremiah 22:3
Thus 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.

Jeremiah 26:22-24
And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt,namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, andcertain men with him into Egypt…

1 Kings 21:19
And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

violence.

on shedding innocent blood
This part of the verse addresses the violence and injustice prevalent in the society of Jeremiah's time. "Shedding innocent blood" refers to the murder and unjust treatment of those who are blameless, a sin that cries out for divine justice. This theme is consistent with the biblical principle that God values life and demands justice, as seen inGenesis 4:10 with Abel's blood crying out from the ground. The historical context includes the reigns of kings like Manasseh, who filled Jerusalem with innocent blood (2 Kings 21:16). This phrase underscores the moral decay and the need for repentance and reform.

on practicing extortion and oppression
The focus here is on the social injustices that were rampant in Judah. "Extortion and oppression" involve exploiting the vulnerable, such as the poor, widows, and orphans, which is condemned throughout the Bible. InExodus 22:21-24, God commands His people not to mistreat or oppress foreigners, widows, or orphans, promising severe consequences for such actions. The cultural context of ancient Near Eastern societies often involved hierarchical structures where the powerful could easily exploit the weak. This phrase calls for a return to covenantal faithfulness, where justice and mercy are central, reflecting the character of God as seen inMicah 6:8.

• The verse begins with the inner life—“eyes” and “heart”—revealing that outward sin always starts in the unseen places.Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life”. Jesus echoes this inMatthew 6:22-23, teaching that a healthy eye fills the person with light, but a bad eye fills with darkness. Jeremiah is exposing rulers whose moral compass is darkened; their spiritual vision is clouded because their hearts are corrupted.

• “Dishonest gain” points to covetousness elevated to a lifestyle. In1 Timothy 6:10 we read, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”. These leaders are so fixated on wealth that they have no room left for justice, mercy, or fear of God.Ezekiel 22:27 indicts similar officials: “Her officials are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood and destroying lives for dishonest gain”. The phrase “nothing except” shows total devotion; greed is their functional god.

• Violence becomes the next logical step when greed rules. Instead of protecting life, they destroy it for profit or convenience.Genesis 4:10 records God confronting Cain: “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground”. Likewise,Proverbs 6:17 lists “hands that shed innocent blood” among the seven things the Lord hates. These leaders have aligned themselves with what God detests, inviting judgment.

• “Extortion” pictures forceful seizure of resources; “oppression” describes the sustained crushing of the weak.Micah 2:2 says, “They covet fields and seize them; they also steal houses”.James 5:4 adds that withheld wages cry out to the Lord of Hosts.Jeremiah 22 earlier warned, “Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery…” (v. 3). By ignoring that charge, the rulers replace God-assigned shepherding with predatory dominance.

Jeremiah 22:17 exposes leaders whose inner desires (eyes and heart) are locked onto greed, leading them to violence and systemic exploitation. Scripture consistently links unchecked covetousness to the destruction of others and eventual divine judgment. God calls His people to the opposite path—guarding the heart, loving justice, defending the innocent, and refusing to profit through oppression.