Jeremiah 22:14 kjv
That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.
Jeremiah 22:14 nkjv
Who says, 'I will build myself a wide house with spacious chambers, And cut out windows for it, Paneling it with cedar And painting it with vermilion.'
Jeremiah 22:14 niv
He says, 'I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.' So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in red.
Jeremiah 22:14 esv
who says, 'I will build myself a great house with spacious upper rooms,' who cuts out windows for it, paneling it with cedar and painting it with vermilion.
Jeremiah 22:14 nlt
He says, 'I will build a magnificent palace
with huge rooms and many windows.
I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar
and paint it a lovely red.'
Jeremiah 22 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 22:14 | "You say, ‘I will build myself a palace with spacious rooms and large windows, paneled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.’" | Full verse provides context. |
| Psalm 39:6 | "Surely man walks about as a shadow; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches, but does not know who will gather them." | Vanity of material possessions. |
| Ecclesiastes 5:10 | "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless." | Futility of seeking riches. |
| Matthew 6:19-20 | "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." | True treasure in heaven. |
| Luke 12:16-21 | Parable of the Rich Fool – building bigger barns for excess stores, but dies that night. | False security in material wealth. |
| 1 Corinthians 3:11 | "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." | Jesus as the true foundation. |
| Ephesians 2:20 | "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." | Christ as cornerstone of faith. |
| Hebrews 3:6 | "...but Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope." | Believers as God's house. |
| 1 Peter 4:17 | "For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel?" | Judgment begins with God's people. |
| Isaiah 5:8-11 | Denunciation of greed and land acquisition, leading to desolation. | Woes for greed. |
| Amos 3:15 | "I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed, and the luxurious homes will be demolished." | Judgment on luxurious dwellings. |
| Micah 2:2 | "They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance." | Oppression and covetousness. |
| Haggai 1:4 | "“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”" | Contrast with neglecting God's house. |
| John 14:2 | "My Father’s house has many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" | Christ prepares mansions in heaven. |
| Jeremiah 17:23 | "they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction." | Rejection of God's word. |
| Jeremiah 22:23 | "“And you, Lebanon, set yourself on cedars, ‘How you are regarded like a palace!’" | Contrast with Lebanon's pride. |
| Isaiah 10:13-14 | "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am discerning; I have removed the boundaries of peoples and have plundered their treasures." | Arrogance and self-reliance. |
| Proverbs 10:2 | "Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death." | Wickedness and profit. |
| 1 Samuel 15:22 | "Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..." | Obedience over outward acts. |
| Jeremiah 7:23 | "But this command I gave them, ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’" | Obedience brings blessings. |
Jeremiah 22 verses
Jeremiah 22 14 Meaning
This verse describes a house built with wide rooms, its windows framed with crossbeams, and its walls paneled with cedar, all without foundations, stability, or means of escape from trouble. It's a metaphor for a nation or individual relying on outward appearance and luxury rather than true spiritual foundation and righteousness.
Jeremiah 22 14 Context
This verse is part of God's judgment pronounced through Jeremiah against Jehoiakim, king of Judah. Jehoiakim had come to the throne after his brother Jehoahaz was deposed by Pharaoh Necho. Jeremiah 22 focuses on the corruption and injustice prevalent during his reign, contrasting it with righteous leadership. The specific condemnation here relates to Jehoiakim's extravagant building projects while the nation faced dire consequences and spiritual neglect. This verse immediately follows a rebuke of Jehoiakim for his oppressive practices and bloodthirsty actions. The prophecy in this chapter culminates in a broader denunciation of Judah's impending exile, emphasizing that their downfall is a direct result of their sin and their rejection of God's word.
Jeremiah 22 14 Word Analysis
- “You say”: Demonstrates Jehoiakim's declaration, his boasting and intent.
- “I will build”: Expresses human ambition and self-sufficiency, a common theme of sin.
- “myself”: Emphasizes self-centeredness and lack of regard for God or the people's needs.
- “a palace”: A grand residence, symbolizing luxury, power, and earthly status.
- “with spacious rooms”: Literally, "a house of wide places" (בַּתֵּי רְוָחָה - bātēh rəwāḥāh). Signifies extravagance, comfort, and perhaps an excessive expansion not rooted in need.
- “large windows”: Windows for light and view, but here potentially symbolizing exposure, openness to external influences, or even a desire to be seen and admired. Hebrew: שְׁקֹפִים (šəqōpîm), meaning to look out or peer.
- “cut off”: In the sense of being separated or having a connection removed.
- “paneled with cedar”: Cedar was a prized, fragrant, and expensive wood, associated with luxury and the houses of the wealthy and kings (1 Kings 7:2, Song of Solomon 3:9-10). Hebrew: מְקֻרֶה – (məqu`ərēh) from קָרָה (qārah) meaning to cover or overlay, typically with beams or planks.
- “and painted with vermilion”: Hebrew: וּמְשֻׁוחָה בְּשֵׁנִי – (ūməšuḥāh bəšēnī). Vermilion, a bright red pigment, signified beauty, royalty, and luxury. The phrase can also mean "painted red" for decorative purposes or even to mask flaws, subtly hinting at superficiality.
- “without foundations”: Emphasizes a lack of true substance, stability, or proper construction, making it vulnerable.
- “without root”: Signifies an unstable existence, not anchored or deeply planted.
- “without rest”: Lacking any peaceful or stable dwelling; a place of unease.
- “and my resting place”: Personal comfort and peace.
Words/Groups of Words Analysis:
- "spacious rooms" and "large windows": Together represent grandeur, ostentation, and a focus on outward appearance and comfort for oneself.
- "paneled with cedar" and "painted with vermilion": These details highlight luxurious materials and fine artistry, showcasing worldly wealth and aesthetic refinement as the primary building blocks of his dwelling.
- "without foundations" and "without root": This pairing starkly contrasts the superficial magnificence with a complete absence of underlying stability and proper grounding. It suggests that despite the fine outward appearance, the structure is inherently flawed and unsustainable.
- "without rest" and "my resting place": These phrases convey a state of internal disorder or a lack of true peace, implying that such luxurious but unstable living conditions will ultimately provide no solace or security.
Jeremiah 22 14 Bonus Section
The contrast between Jehoiakim's house and the house of God mentioned in Haggai 1:4 is striking. While Jehoiakim built himself a lavish palace, the Temple, God's dwelling place among His people, was in ruin. This inversion of priorities – tending to one's own luxurious needs while neglecting God's house and worship – is a recurring theme of judgment in the Old Testament. Furthermore, the Hebrew word for "spacious rooms" (רְוָחָה - rəwāḥāh) can also imply ease or a broad space for dwelling, underscoring a lifestyle of ease and excess that stands in sharp contrast to the hard-won stability and secure dwelling that God desires for His people when they obey Him. The very materials, cedar and vermilion, were also indicative of significant financial exploitation and likely were acquired through oppression, further solidifying the spiritual bankruptcy of his reign.
Jeremiah 22 14 Commentary
The verse critiques Jehoiakim's obsession with opulent and showy building projects. His grand house, paneled with precious cedar and adorned with vermilion, represents a focus on worldly splendor and personal comfort above all else. This luxurious dwelling is critically undermined by its lack of any stable foundation or root, signifying a spiritual and societal instability. This is not merely about architecture; it is about a misplaced foundation of values. While King David, for example, lived in a cedar palace (2 Sam. 5:11), he had a heart for God and dealt justly. Jehoiakim, however, is depicted as building for pride and self-sufficiency, ignoring God’s law and the needs of his people, even his brother’s blood being on his hands (Jer. 22:17). The verse echoes warnings against prioritizing material wealth and earthly security over a righteous relationship with God. Just as a house without foundations will inevitably crumble, so too will the nation or individual whose priorities are earthly and self-centered, lacking spiritual substance and adherence to God's commands. The emptiness behind the façade is highlighted; it is a place ultimately without rest, foreshadowing the coming judgment and exile that will strip away all his ill-gotten gains and expose the ultimate futility of his worldly construction.