Jeremiah 22:15

New American Standard Bible

"Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar? Did your father not eat and drink And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well for him.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Are you a king because you excel in cedar?Didn’t your father eat and drinkand administer justice and righteousness?Then it went well with him.

Hebrew Names Version
Shall you reign, because you strive to excel in cedar? Didn't your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him.

King James Version
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?

English Standard Version
Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.

New Century Version
"Does having a lot of cedar in your house make you a great king? Your father was satisfied to have food and drink. He did what was right and fair, so everything went well for him.

Amplified Bible
"Do you think that you become a king because you have much more cedar [in your palace than Solomon]? Did not your father [Josiah], as he ate and drank, Do just and righteous acts [being upright and in right standing with God]? Then all was well with him.

World English Bible
Shall you reign, because you strive to excel in cedar? Didn't your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Shalt thou reigne, because thou closest thy selfe in cedar? did not thy father eate and drinke and prosper, when he executed iudgement and iustice?

Legacy Standard Bible
Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar?Did not your father eat and drinkAnd do justice and righteousness?Then it was well with him.

Berean Standard Bible
Are you a king because you excel in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and administer justice and righteousness? Then it went well with him.

Contemporary English Version
More cedar in your palace doesn't make you a better king than your father Josiah. He always did right— he gave justice to the poor and was honest.

Complete Jewish Bible
Your cedar may be excellent, but that doesn't make you a better king. True, your father ate and drank, but he also did what was right and just, so things went well with him.

Darby Translation
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.

Easy-to-Read Version
"Jehoiakim, having a lot of cedar in your house does not make you a great king. Your father Josiah was satisfied to have food and drink. He did what was right and fair, so everything went well for him.

George Lamsa Translation
Shall you reign and rejoice by living in palaces built with cedar? Indeed, your father did eat and drink, but he also did justice and righteousness, therefore I did good to him.

Good News Translation
Does it make you a better king if you build houses of cedar, finer than those of others? Your father enjoyed a full life. He was always just and fair, and he prospered in everything he did.

Lexham English Bible
Do you reign as king because you are competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, and he did justice and righteousness, then it was well with him?

Literal Translation
Do you reign because you lust to excel in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well for him.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thinkest thou to reigne, now that thou prouokest me to wrath with yi Cedre trees? Dyd not thy father eate and drynke, and prospere well, as loge as he dealt with equite ad rightuousnesse?

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
Are you to be a king because you make more use of cedar than your father? did not your father take food and drink and do right, judging in righteousness, and then it was well for him?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.

King James Version (1611)
Shalt thou reigne because thou closest thy selfe in cedar? did not thy father eate and drinke, and doe iudgment and iustice, and then it was wel with him?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thinkest thou to raigne nowe that thou hast inclosed thy selfe with Cedar? Did not thy father eate and drinke and prosper well, as long as he dealt with equitie and righteousnesse?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Shalt thou reign, because thou art provoked with thy father Achaz? they shall not eat, and they shall not drink: it is better for thee to execute judgment and justice.

English Revised Version
Shalt thou reign, because thou strivest to excel in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice? then it was well with him.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whether thou schalt regne, for thou comparisonest thee to a cedre? whether thi fadir eet not, and drank, and dide doom and riytfulnesse thanne, whanne it was wel to hym?

Update Bible Version
Shall you reign, because you strive to excel in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him.

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

New English Translation
Does it make you any more of a king that you outstrip everyone else in building with cedar? Just think about your father. He was content that he had food and drink. He did what was just and right. So things went well with him.

New King James Version
"Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.

New Living Translation
But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king! Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him.

New Life Bible
Do you become a king by trying to build better houses of cedar? Did not your father eat and drink? He did what was right and fair and good, so all went well with him.

New Revised Standard
Are you a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Shalt thou reign, because, thou, art eager to excel in cedar? Thy father, did lie not eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness, And, then, it was well with him?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Shalt thou reign, because thou comparest thyself to the cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and it was then well with him?

Revised Standard Version
Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ Do not weep for the dead or mourn for him, But weep deeply for the one who goes away; For he will never return Or see his native land. ¹¹ For this is what the LORD says regarding Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who became king in the place of his father Josiah, who went out from this place: "He will never return there; ¹² but in the place where they took him into exile, there he will die and he will not see this land again. ¹³ "Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness, And his upstairs rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor's services without pay And does not give him his wages, ¹⁴ Who says, 'I will build myself a large house With spacious upstairs rooms, And cut out its windows, Paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.' ¹⁵ "Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar? Did your father not eat and drink And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well for him.¹⁶ "He pled the cause of the afflicted and the poor, Then it was well. Is that not what it means to know Me?" Declares the LORD. ¹⁷ "But your eyes and your heart Are intent only upon your own dishonest gain, And on shedding innocent blood, And on practicing oppression and extortion." ¹⁸ Therefore this is what the LORD says regarding Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They will not mourn for him: 'Oh, my brother!' or, 'Oh, sister!' They will not mourn for him: 'Oh, for the master!' or, 'Oh, for his splendor!' ¹⁹ "He will be buried with a donkey's burial, Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thy: Jeremiah 22:18, 2 Kings 23:25, 1 Chronicles 3:15

eat: 1 Kings 4:20-23, 2 Chronicles 35:7, 2 Chronicles 35:8, 2 Chronicles 35:12-18, Ecclesiastes 2:24, Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, Ecclesiastes 10:17, Isaiah 33:16, Luke 11:41, Acts 2:46, 1 Corinthians 10:31

and do: Jeremiah 22:3, Jeremiah 21:12, Jeremiah 23:5, 2 Samuel 8:15, 1 Kings 10:9, 2 Kings 22:2, 2 Kings 23:25, 2 Chronicles 34:2, Proverbs 20:28, Proverbs 21:3, Proverbs 25:5, Proverbs 29:4, Proverbs 31:9, Isaiah 9:7

then: Jeremiah 42:6, Deuteronomy 4:40, Psalms 128:1, Psalms 128:2, Isaiah 3:10

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 5:29 - that it might Deuteronomy 8:12 - and hast built Ruth 3:1 - may be 1 Samuel 8:3 - his sons 2 Kings 22:20 - gathered 1 Chronicles 17:1 - I dwell 1 Chronicles 18:14 - executed Psalms 106:3 - keep Proverbs 28:16 - he that Proverbs 29:7 - but Ecclesiastes 2:21 - whose Isaiah 1:17 - seek Isaiah 33:6 - wisdom Jeremiah 5:28 - judge Jeremiah 7:6 - oppress Ezekiel 18:5 - that Ezekiel 18:8 - hath executed Hosea 5:4 - and Hosea 12:6 - keep Zephaniah 2:3 - all Zechariah 7:10 - oppress Matthew 23:23 - the weightier Acts 24:25 - righteousness Romans 13:3 - rulers

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Shalt thou reign because thou closest [thyself] in cedar?.... Dost thou think that thou shalt reign long, and thy throne be established firm and secure, because of thy cedar wainscot? as if that was a protection to thee, and were like the fortifications of a city or tower; when it may easily be broke to pieces, or burnt with fire; and must be a poor defence against a powerful enemy. The Targum is,

"dost thou think to be as the first king?''

as David; to be as great a prince, to keep as grand a court, and live in as splendid a manner, as he? The Septuagint version, instead of "ares", a cedar, reads "Ahaz", and takes it for the proper name of a king of Judah; and the Arabic version reads "Ahab"; and so the Alexandrian copy of the Septuagint; and both confound it with the next clause; the former rendering the words thus, "shalt thou reign, that thou provokest in", or "after the manner of Ahaz thy father?" and the latter thus,

"thou shalt not reign, because thou imitatest the original of Ahab thy father;''

but both wrong; though Grotius seems to approve of this reading:

did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice? that is, Josiah his father, who ate and drank in moderation, and lived cheerfully and comfortably; and kept a good table like a prince, without such a magnificent palace as he, his son, had built; and without oppressing his subjects, and detaining the hire of the labourer: living in a grand manner, becoming a king, may be done consistent with doing justice and judgment; let but that be done, and a prince will not be blamed for living like himself, and for supporting the dignity of his character and office, as Josiah did:

[and] then [it was] well with him; or, "therefore [it was] well with him" u he was blessed of God, and was prosperous and successful; he was happy himself as a prince, and his people under him, both enjoying peace and prosperity; there are never better times than when justice is done; by it the throne is established.

u אז טוב לו "ideo bene fuit ei"; so Noldius renders the particle, Concord. Par. Ebr. p. 7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

i. e., Will thy buildings make thy reign continue? These words imply that Jehoiakim was looking forward to, and taking measures to secure, a long continuance of power (compare Habakkuk 2:9-13. If so, Jeremiah probably wrote this prophecy before Jehoiakim revolted 2 Kings 24:1; and it, therefore, probably belongs to the same date as Jeremiah 36:30, written in the interval between Nebuchadnezzars first conquest of Jerusalem, and Jehoiakim’s rebellion, and when Jeremiah was out of the reach of the tyrant’s power.

Closest thyself in cedar - Rather, viest “in cedar;” i. e., viest with Solomon.

Did not thy father eat and drink ... - i. e., he was prosperous and enjoyed life. There is a contrast between the life of Josiah spent in the discharge of his kingly duties, and that of Jehoiakim, busy with ambitious plans of splendor and aggrandisement.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 22:15. Shalt thou reign, &c. — Dost thou think thou art a great king, because thou dwellest in a splendid palace?