Jeremiah 5:28They have grown fat. They shine; yes, they excell in deeds of wickedness. They don't plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and they don't judge the right of the needy.
The setting
Jerusalem's courts, ~600 BC. Wealthy landowners bribe judges while orphans and widows wait for justice that never comes. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: furious at watching the powerful crush the powerless while God's people look away
The original word
shāman (שָׁמַן) — to grow fat, literally dripping with excess while others starve
Why it matters
In ancient Israel, the 'gate' was where legal cases were heard, and the rich could buy favorable verdicts
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 5:28
The word 'shine' suggests they're so well-fed their skin literally glistens with oil and fat
Common misconceptionThis isn't about being wealthy - it's about being wealthy while actively ignoring or exploiting those who have nothing.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 5:28
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 5:28 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 5:28 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Jeremiah. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is prophetic. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include social injustice, oppression of poor, judicial corruption. Notable phrases: grown fat; excel in deeds of wickedness; cause of the fatherless. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 5:28 mean to you, today?
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