Lexical Summary merutsah: Race, course, running Original Word: מְרֻצָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance violence From ratsats; oppression -- violence. See also mruwtsah. see HEBREW ratsats see HEBREW mruwtsah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ratsats Definition a crushing, an oppression NASB Translation extortion (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. מְרוּצָה noun feminine crushing, oppression; — Jeremiah 22:17 (+ הָעשֶׁק). רַק see I. רקק; רֵק see רֵיק; רֹק see II. רקק. Topical Lexicon Context and Literary Setting Jeremiah 22 records the prophet’s courtroom-style accusation against the royal house of Judah during the reign of Jehoiakim. In verse 17 the Spirit indicts the king for four interwoven sins: covetous gain, bloodshed, extortion, and oppression. The term under study appears in this climactic position, underscoring the culmination of greed that victimizes the vulnerable. Semantic Nuance within Jeremiah 22:17 The word portrays profit wrung out by force, intimidation, or legal manipulation—gain that violates covenantal ethics. It is more aggressive than simple theft and more systemic than a single violent act. By coupling it with “oppression,” the verse exposes both the act (extortion) and the ongoing condition it creates (oppression). Historical Background Jehoiakim financed lavish building projects (Jeremiah 22:13-14) by withholding wages and exacting levies. Archaeological finds from late seventh-century Judah show increased taxation and corvée labor, corroborating Jeremiah’s charge. The prophetic rebuke therefore targets real economic policies, not merely private misconduct. Theological Significance 1. Violation of the Davidic ethic. 2 Samuel 8:15 summarizes ideal kingship as “doing justice and righteousness.” Extortion in Jeremiah 22:17 proves the current king unfaithful to that standard, justifying impending exile (Jeremiah 22:28-30). Canonical Connections • Prophetic parallels: Ezekiel 22:12; Micah 2:1-2. Christological Implications Messiah fulfills the inverse of extortion: He “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6) but emptied Himself, providing redemptive contrast. His cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13) confronts commercial exploitation in sacred space, embodying Jeremiah’s prophetic zeal. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching: Jeremiah 22:17 warns congregations against profit gained at the expense of others, whether through predatory lending, exploitative labor, or manipulative fundraising. Summary The solitary appearance of this term in Jeremiah 22:17 carries disproportionate weight, crystallizing a pattern of royal injustice that hastened Judah’s downfall. Its message transcends its rarity: any community tolerating wealth acquired by coercion stands under the same verdict. The gospel answers the sin of extortion with a Savior who gives rather than grasps, establishing a kingdom marked by righteousness, justice, and generous grace. Forms and Transliterations הַמְּרוּצָ֖ה המרוצה ham·mə·rū·ṣāh hammərūṣāh hammeruTzahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 22:17 HEB: הָעֹ֥שֶׁק וְעַל־ הַמְּרוּצָ֖ה לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ ס NAS: oppression and extortion. KJV: and for oppression, and for violence, to do INT: oppression and and extortion practicing 1 Occurrence |
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