Jeremiah 5:28
they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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These leaders have become so fat and satisfied in their corruption that they've surpassed even the wickedness of typical sinners. What's truly shocking isn't just their evil, but that their prosperity is dependent on their refusal to defend the fatherless and the needy.
Jeremiah is denouncing the wealthy and powerful leaders of Judah, who, despite their outward prosperity and sophistication, have become callously indifferent to justice. They've grown comfortable in their sin, exceeding even the wickedness of common criminals, and deliberately ignore the plight of the most vulnerable – the fatherless and the needy. This verse highlights their deep corruption, showing how their pursuit of personal gain leads them to neglect their fundamental duties to uphold justice.
Understand the original words
din · Hebrew Noun/Verb
Biblical justice refers to the administration of fairness and righteousness, particularly upholding the cause of the vulnerable, as commanded by God. Injustice involves perverting this standard for self-interest.
yathom · Hebrew Noun
A specific category of the vulnerable mentioned frequently in Scripture; God mandates the protection and care of children who have lost their fathers, reflecting His own role as Father to the fatherless.
ebyon · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those lacking physical, economic, or social power; God commands His people to advocate for the poor and oppressed, declaring that injustice against them is a direct offense against Him.
Like Jeremiah, Amos condemns those in power who 'hate the one who reproves in the gate' and 'detest the one who tells the truth.' They oppress the righteous and take bribes, showing a similar disregard for justice for the vulnerable, even while God observes their actions.
Proverbs 28:5This proverb directly contrasts with the corrupt officials in Jeremiah 5:28, stating that 'Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things.' It highlights the spiritual blindness that accompanies the deliberate neglect of justice.
Isaiah 3:14-15Isaiah also pronounces judgment on the elders and princes of Judah for devouring the vineyard and crushing the poor. This passage echoes Jeremiah's lament by pointing to the leaders' responsibility to protect the vulnerable, which they have failed to do.
Luke 18:1-8Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, whose oppressor is a judge who neither fears God nor respects man. This story, though about a different context, vividly illustrates the kind of unjust, self-serving behavior described in Jeremiah 5:28, emphasizing the ultimate judgment that awaits such figures.
calvinJeremiah 5:28: "They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge."
- Impinguati sunt (nam smnvdeducitur ab oleo, perfusi sunt pinguedine, si Latine et proprie reddere velimus,) postea nitent (vel, sunt candidi, alludit ad pingues et bene saginatos, quorum cutis est nitida;) etiam excedunt (vel, quamvis excesserint) verba impii (hoc est, scelera impio…
pulpitJeremiah 5:28: "They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge."
Verse 28. - They overpass the deeds of the wicked; rather, they overpass the common measure of wickedness (literally, the cases of wickedness); or, as others, they exceed in deeds of wickedness. Yet they prosper; rather, so that they (the fatherless) might prosper; or, that they (the ri…
These leaders have become so fat and satisfied in their corruption that they've surpassed even the wickedness of typical sinners. What's truly shocking isn't just their evil, but that their prosperity is dependent on their refusal to defend the fatherless and the needy.
Jeremiah is denouncing the wealthy and powerful leaders of Judah, who, despite their outward prosperity and sophistication, have become callously indifferent to justice. They've grown comfortable in their sin, exceeding even the wickedness of common criminals, and deliberately ignore the plight of the most vulnerable – the fatherless and the needy. This verse highlights their deep corruption, showing how their pursuit of personal gain leads them to neglect their fundamental duties to uphold justice.
Jeremiah is denouncing the wealthy and powerful leaders of Judah, who, despite their outward prosperity and sophistication, have become callously indifferent to justice. They've grown comfortable in their sin, exceeding even the wickedness of common criminals, and deliberately ignore the plight of the most vulnerable – the fatherless and the needy. This verse highlights their deep corruption, showing how their pursuit of personal gain leads them to neglect their fundamental duties to uphold justice.
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"they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy." — These leaders have become so fat and satisfied in their corruption that they've surpassed even the wickedness of typical sinners. What's truly shocking isn't just their evil, but that their prosperit…
