Jeremiah 6:13
“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that "gain" itself wasn't the problem, but the ceaseless, all-consuming pursuit of it—"gaining gain"—which drove both the common people and the spiritual leaders to dishonesty. Even those meant to guide people toward truth, the prophets and priests, actively "worked falsehood," showing that corruption had deeply infected the entire community, from the lowest to the highest ranks.
Jeremiah has just been describing the terrifying approach of the Babylonian army, emphasizing their swiftness and brutality. In this verse, he explains why God has unleashed such judgment: the entire nation, from the lowest to the highest ranks, is consumed by greed and dishonesty. Even the religious leaders, the prophets and priests who should have guided the people, are actively involved in deceit and corruption.
How can an entire nation be so deeply flawed? Jeremiah spells it out: no one is exempt from this pervasive sin.
Jeremiah declares that corruption has infected every level of Judah's society. The phrase "from the least to the greatest" isn't just about age, but encompasses everyone from the lowest social strata to the highest and wealthiest. The repeated phrase "everyone is greedy for unjust gain" points to a systemic issue. This wasn't an occasional failing, but a defining characteristic of the people.
A Society Driven by Gain
This "greed for unjust gain" meant that people were relentlessly pursuing profit, often through dishonest means. It wasn't just about wanting wealth, but about acquiring it wrongly, whether through oppression, fraud, or exploitation. This drove their actions and defined their priorities above all else, including justice and righteousness.
When those entrusted with spiritual guidance fall prey to sin, the entire community suffers. Jeremiah calls out the religious leaders directly.
The verse doesn't just condemn the common people; it specifically indicts the religious establishment. "From prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely." These were the individuals God had appointed to lead His people, to teach them His ways, and to call them to repentance. Instead, they were actively participating in the deception and corruption.
The Corrupting Influence of Falsehood
'Dealing falsely' suggests not just speaking lies, but acting dishonestly and hypocritically. These spiritual leaders were supposed to be beacons of truth and integrity, but they had become agents of falsehood. They likely offered comforting but untrue messages of peace and security, while inwardly, they were driven by the same greed and deceit as everyone else. This betrayal from within was particularly devastating for the nation's spiritual health.
Understand the original words
nabiy' · Hebrew Noun
A covenant representative of God, chosen to receive and communicate His divine revelation. Prophets served as the spiritual conscience of Israel, calling the people to repentance and warning of coming judgment.
kohen · Hebrew Noun
One appointed to perform ritual sacrifices, offer prayers, and interpret the law for the people. Priests had a specific responsibility to maintain the holiness of the sanctuary and lead the people in proper worship.
Jeremiah's prophecy highlights a pervasive corruption that permeated all levels of Judahite society, from the common people to the religious leaders. This widespread unfaithfulness and greed set the stage for the ultimate judgment: the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling a significant portion of its population. This event serves as a stark warning to the Southern Kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms Reversed
King Josiah, who had led a religious revival, is killed in battle. His reforms are subsequently undone by his successors, leading to a resurgence of idolatry and corruption in Judah.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire conquers Judah and begins deporting its elite, including young nobles like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's population and leadership, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, to Babylon.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's accusation that leaders, including prophets and priests, are driven by greed and injustice, indicating a pervasive corruption from the top down in Israel.
Ezekiel 22:26-28Ezekiel describes a similar societal breakdown where prophets and priests handle the law falsely, and the people practice oppression and deceit, mirroring the pervasive sin Jeremiah highlights.
Matthew 23:25-28Jesus denounces the hypocrisy and outward show of righteousness among the religious leaders, likening them to whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled with corruption and greed within, paralleling Jeremiah's critique of false prophets and priests.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse identifies the 'love of money' as the root of all kinds of evil, providing a theological underpinning for Jeremiah's focus on covetousness as a primary driver of the widespread deceit and injustice he witnesses.
calvinJeremiah 6:13: "For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely."
- Quia a parvo eorum usque ad magnum eorum omnis (vel, quilibet) con cupiscit cupiditatem (hoc est, cupidus est lucri, vel, addictus avaritiae;) et a propheta usque ad sacerdotem quilibet operatur mendacium (hoc est, fraudulenter agit.)
The Prophet now again declares, that it was nothing strange that God resolved t…
pulpitJeremiah 6:13: "For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely."
Verse 13. - Given to covetousness; literally, gaineth gain; but the word here rendered "gain" implies that it is unrighteous gain (the root means "to tear"), Unjust gain and murder are repeatedly singled out in the Old Testament as representative sins (comp. Ezekiel 33:31; Psalm 119:36; Isaiah 1:15; Jeremiah 2:34; and…
The verse highlights that "gain" itself wasn't the problem, but the ceaseless, all-consuming pursuit of it—"gaining gain"—which drove both the common people and the spiritual leaders to dishonesty. Even those meant to guide people toward truth, the prophets and priests, actively "worked falsehood," showing that corruption had deeply infected the entire community, from the lowest to the highest ranks.
Jeremiah has just been describing the terrifying approach of the Babylonian army, emphasizing their swiftness and brutality. In this verse, he explains why God has unleashed such judgment: the entire nation, from the lowest to the highest ranks, is consumed by greed and dishonesty. Even the religious leaders, the prophets and priests who should have guided the people, are actively involved in deceit and corruption.
Jeremiah has just been describing the terrifying approach of the Babylonian army, emphasizing their swiftness and brutality. In this verse, he explains why God has unleashed such judgment: the entire nation, from the lowest to the highest ranks, is consumed by greed and dishonesty. Even the religious leaders, the prophets and priests who should have guided the people, are actively involved in deceit and corruption.
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586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
After a final rebellion, the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem, its magnificent Temple, and exile the remaining population. This is the catastrophic culmination of Judah's spiritual and political decline.
c. 550 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great of Persia begins his conquests, eventually leading to the fall of the Babylonian Empire. This shifts the geopolitical landscape for the exiled Jews.
"“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely." — The verse highlights that "gain" itself wasn't the problem, but the ceaseless, all-consuming pursuit of it—"gaining gain"—which drove both the common people and the spiritual leaders to dishonesty. E…
