Jeremiah 22:16
New International Version
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD.

New Living Translation
He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” says the LORD.

English Standard Version
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD.

King James Bible
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.

New King James Version
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?” says the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
“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.

NASB 1995
“He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?” Declares the LORD.

NASB 1977
“He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?” Declares the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?” Declares Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
“He defended the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then all was well. Is that not what it means to know Me?” Says the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
He took up the case of the poor and needy; then it went well. Is this not what it means to know me? This is the LORD’s declaration.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He took up the case of the poor and needy, then it went well. Is this not what it means to know Me? This is the LORD’s declaration.

American Standard Version
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know me? saith Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
That's what it means to truly know me. So he lived a comfortable life and always had enough to eat and drink.

English Revised Version
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know me? saith the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He defended the cause of the poor and needy. Everything went well for him. Isn't this what it means to know me?" asks the LORD.

Good News Translation
He gave the poor a fair trial, and all went well with him. That is what it means to know the LORD.

International Standard Version
He judged the case of the poor and needy. And then it went well for him. Isn't this what it means to know me?

Majority Standard Bible
He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?? declares the LORD.

NET Bible
He upheld the cause of the poor and needy. So things went well for Judah.' The LORD says, 'That is a good example of what it means to know me.'

New Heart English Bible
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Wasn't this to know me?' says the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.

World English Bible
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; so then it was well. Wasn’t this to know me?” says Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He decided the cause of the poor and needy, "" Then [it is] well—is it not to know Me?” A declaration of YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
He decided the cause of the poor and needy, Then it is well -- is it not to know Me? An affirmation of Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
He judged the judgment of the poor and the needy; then it was well: was this not knowing me? says Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He judged the cause of the poor and needy for his own good: was it not therefore because he knew me, saith the Lord?

Catholic Public Domain Version
He judged the case of the poor and the indigent for their good. Was this not because he knew me, says the Lord?

New American Bible
Because he dispensed justice to the weak and the poor, he prospered. Is this not to know me?— oracle of the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? says the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He did justice to the cause of the poor and needy; and he did well; he who does these things, knows me, says the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He judged the judgment of the poor and of the afflicted, and did what is beautiful; whoever does these things knows me, says LORD JEHOVAH
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Is not this to know Me? saith the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They understood not, they judged not the cause of the afflicted, nor the cause of the poor: is not this thy not knowing me? saith the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Warning about Jehoiakim
15Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. 16He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD. 17“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.”…

Cross References
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Proverbs 31:8-9
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. / Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

Isaiah 58:6-7
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

Amos 5:24
But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Zechariah 7:9-10
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. / Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...

Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Ezekiel 18:5-9
Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right: / He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period. / He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. ...

1 John 3:17-18
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Deuteronomy 10:18
He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.

Job 29:12-17
because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper. / The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. / I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban. ...


Treasury of Scripture

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? said the LORD.

judged.

Jeremiah 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.

Job 29:12-17
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him…

Psalm 72:1-4,12,13
A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son…

was not.

Jeremiah 9:3,16,24
And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD…

Jeremiah 31:33,34
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people…

1 Samuel 2:2
There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

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Jeremiah 22
1. He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats.
10. The judgment of Shallum;
13. of Jehoiakim;
20. and of Coniah.














He took up the cause
This phrase indicates an active engagement in justice and advocacy. In the Hebrew context, the word often translated as "took up" is "דָּן" (dan), which means to judge or to plead the cause of someone. This reflects a deep commitment to righteousness and justice, which are central themes in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. The historical context of Jeremiah involves a time when leaders were often corrupt, and the call to take up the cause of the oppressed was a radical return to the covenantal values of justice and mercy.

of the poor and needy
The focus on the "poor and needy" highlights God's concern for the marginalized and vulnerable in society. The Hebrew words "עָנִי" (ani) for poor and "אֶבְיוֹן" (evyon) for needy emphasize those who are economically disadvantaged and socially powerless. Throughout the Bible, God consistently calls His people to care for these groups, reflecting His character as a defender of the oppressed. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that God’s kingdom is one where the last are made first, and justice is a priority.

so it went well with him
This phrase suggests a direct correlation between righteous action and divine blessing. The Hebrew word "טוֹב" (tov), meaning good or well, is often used to describe the state of being in alignment with God's will. In the historical context of Jeremiah, this would have been a powerful reminder that true prosperity and success come from living according to God's standards of justice and mercy, rather than through exploitation or oppression.

Is this not what it means to know Me?
Here, the concept of "knowing" God is deeply relational and covenantal. The Hebrew word "יָדַע" (yada) implies an intimate, experiential knowledge rather than mere intellectual assent. In the biblical context, to know God is to reflect His character and values, particularly His justice and compassion. This challenges the audience to consider that true knowledge of God is demonstrated through actions that align with His heart for justice.

declares the LORD
The phrase "declares the LORD" underscores the authority and seriousness of the message. The Hebrew word "נְאֻם" (ne'um) is often used in prophetic literature to introduce a divine pronouncement. This serves as a reminder that the call to justice and righteousness is not merely a human ideal but a divine mandate. In the conservative Christian perspective, this affirms the belief that Scripture is God-breathed and authoritative, calling believers to live out their faith in tangible ways that reflect God's justice and mercy.

(16) Was not this to know me?--The prophet, as a true witness of the law of righteousness, proclaims that the religious fame of Josiah rested not on his restoration of the Temple worship, nor on his suppression of idolatry, but much more on his faithfulness in his kingly work to the cause of righteousness and mercy. They only could know Him who, in this respect, strove to be like Him (1John 3:2).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He took up
דָּ֛ן (dān)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1777: A straight course, sail direct

the cause
דִּין־ (dîn-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1779: Judgement, strife

of the poor
עָנִ֥י (‘ā·nî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble

and needy,
וְאֶבְי֖וֹן (wə·’eḇ·yō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

and so
אָ֣ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore

it went well.
ט֑וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

Is this
הִ֛יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

not
הֲלוֹא־ (hă·lō·w-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

what it means to know
הַדַּ֥עַת (had·da·‘aṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1847: Knowledge

Me?”
אֹתִ֖י (’ō·ṯî)
Direct object marker | first person common singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 22:16 He judged the cause of the poor (Jer.)
Jeremiah 22:15
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