Jeremiah 22 2

Jeremiah 22:2 kjv

And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:

Jeremiah 22:2 nkjv

and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates!

Jeremiah 22:2 niv

'Hear the word of the LORD to you, king of Judah, you who sit on David's throne?you, your officials and your people who come through these gates.

Jeremiah 22:2 esv

and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates.

Jeremiah 22:2 nlt

'Listen to this message from the LORD, you king of Judah, sitting on David's throne. Let your attendants and your people listen, too.

Jeremiah 22 verses

Jeremiah 22 2 meaning

Jeremiah 22:2 presents a direct and authoritative divine command from the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah. It calls upon the current king of Judah, along with his royal court and all the people, to attentively listen to and obey the word of the Lord. This summons is urgent and carries immense significance given the king's position as the descendant of David, implicitly highlighting his accountability to God's covenant promises and the need for righteous rule within the heart of the kingdom.

Jeremiah 22 2 Context

Jeremiah chapter 22 falls within a section of the book (chapters 21-23) known as the "Oracles against the Kings." This particular oracle is a stern message delivered by Jeremiah directly to the royal house of Judah. The historical backdrop is the twilight of the Judean monarchy, likely during the reign of King Jehoiakim (609-598 BC) or potentially his father Jehoiakim or successor Zedekiah. Judah is caught between the looming empires of Egypt and Babylon, with Babylon asserting its dominance. The nation has largely strayed from the Mosaic covenant, engaging in idolatry, social injustice, and false security based on the Temple's presence rather than genuine repentance. This specific verse (Jeremiah 22:2) acts as an introduction to a series of prophetic warnings and calls for righteous leadership, laying out the foundation for God's indictment against the king, his officials, and the entire populace. The prosperity and very existence of the Davidic dynasty and the city of Jerusalem depend entirely on their response to the Lord's word.

Jeremiah 22 2 Word analysis

• Hear (שְׁמַע - shᵉmaʻ): This Hebrew word implies far more than simply perceiving sound; it encompasses attentive listening that leads to understanding, taking to heart, and ultimately, obedience. It is a fundamental covenantal command, signifying the reception of divine instruction as binding law. Its significance points to active engagement and responsive action.
• the word of the LORD (דְבַר יְהוָה - dᵊbar Yahweh): "Word" (dᵊbar) here refers to a divine pronouncement, revelation, command, or message. "LORD" (Yahweh) is God's covenant name, emphasizing His unique relationship with Israel and His authority. This phrase highlights the message's divine origin and its absolute authority over all human words or wisdom.
• O king of Judah (מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה - meleḵ Yəhūḏāh): A direct, personal address to the reigning monarch, signaling the immense weight of the message and placing direct accountability on him. Kings held supreme temporal power but were expected to govern under Yahweh's supreme authority.
• who sits on the throne of David (כִּסֵּא דָוִד - kisseʾ Dāwiḏ): This phrase explicitly references the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7), which promised an eternal dynasty. While assuring the continuation of David's line, it also imposed significant moral and covenantal obligations on each succeeding king. The king's authority was rooted in this divine promise, but his present rule was conditional upon righteousness. It implies a reminder of both privilege and immense responsibility.
• you and your servants and your people: This extends the responsibility from the king personally to his entire administration and subsequently to all citizens. "Servants" (ʿăḇāḏāyik) refers to the royal officials, counselors, and those in leadership positions. "People" (ʿammḵā) encompasses the entire populace. It signifies a societal-wide call to obedience, indicating that national righteousness begins with the leadership and permeates downwards.
• who enter these gates (בַּשְּׁעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה - baššaʿārîm hāʾēlleh): "Gates" were crucial architectural features of ancient cities. They were not merely entry points but also places where justice was administered, legal decisions were made, business was transacted, and public announcements were proclaimed. This phrase specifies the location and implies that the command is for all who have public and civic life within Jerusalem, where the king ruled and justice was supposed to flow. It makes the message concrete and inescapable.

Jeremiah 22 2 Bonus section

Jeremiah often uses stark contrasts to highlight the failures of Judah's kings. Here, the ideal of a king ruling from David's throne according to God's word stands in direct opposition to the reality of the self-serving, idolatrous rulers of Jeremiah's day. The prophet's courage in directly confronting the powerful monarch (an act often punishable by death) underscores the imperative nature of the divine message. The specific mention of "these gates" also implies that the divine standard for justice, fairness, and obedience to the Torah was expected to be upheld prominently in the public square, at the very entry points of their capital city.

Jeremiah 22 2 Commentary

Jeremiah 22:2 serves as a pivotal address in the prophet's ministry, delivering God's ultimate expectation of the Davidic monarchy. The demand to "Hear" is more than passive reception; it's a covenantal summons to active, transformative obedience from the top leadership down. By invoking the "throne of David," God reminds the current king of his weighty heritage and the conditional nature of the kingdom's blessing despite the covenant's eternal promise. The king's failure to listen and rule justly would invalidate his claim to righteous leadership and bring divine judgment. This verse underlines the profound truth that earthly authority, particularly that entrusted within God's covenant, is always subordinate to divine will, and true stability rests on corporate submission to God's word rather than human strength or legacy.