Jeremiah 22

“Thus saith the LORD ; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,” Naming Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And say, Hear the word of the LORD , O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants…” Naming David and Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the LORD ; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor…” Naming Execute keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD , that this house shall become a desolation.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“For thus saith the LORD unto the king’s house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service…” Naming Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar…” The line’s distinctive content terms include build, cedar, chambers. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD .” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression…” The line’s distinctive content terms include blood, covetousness, eyes. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are…” Naming Bashan and Lebanon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that…” The line’s distinctive content terms include hear, manner, obeyedst. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the…” Naming Lebanon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“As I live, saith the LORD , though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet…” Naming Coniah and Jehoiakim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even…” Naming Babylon and Chaldeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, hear, LORD. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thus saith the LORD , Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.