That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

JEREMIAH 22:14KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 22:14 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 22:14 mean?

Jeremiah 22:14 describes someone who boasts about building a grand, spacious house with large rooms, decorative windows, cedar paneling, and bright red paint. The verse highlights a focus on luxury and personal comfort, pointing out the pride and self-indulgence of the person being described.

In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s message to the king of Judah and his officials. The verse is part of a warning against rulers who use their power to enrich themselves and build extravagant homes, while ignoring justice and the needs of their people. The details about wide houses, cedar ceilings, and vermilion paint show the desire for status and display, which Jeremiah criticizes in the context of the king’s responsibilities.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 22:14

  • "wide" (מְרוּחָב, meruchav): This word means "spacious" or "broad," emphasizing the unusually large size of the house, not just ordinary comfort.
  • "cieled" (סָפוּן, safun): This refers to paneling or covering with cedar wood, which was a luxury material in ancient Israel, often imported and expensive.
  • "painted" (מָשַׁח, mashach): This word can mean "anointed" or "smeared," here used for painting the house with "vermilion" (שָׁשַׁר, shashar), a bright red pigment, highlighting the desire for showy decoration.

Why Jeremiah 22:14 matters

  • Jeremiah 22:14 helps clear up that the prophet is not just criticizing wealth, but the selfish pursuit of luxury by leaders who neglect justice and the well-being of others.
  • The verse connects to the larger warning in Jeremiah 22, where God calls out the kings of Judah for their failure to rule with righteousness and care for their people.
  • The specific details about cedar and vermilion show that the prophet is addressing real practices of the time, making the warning more concrete and relatable to his audience.

Where else these words appear

“vermilion” Hebrew H8350 · used in 2 verses

  • Ezekiel 23:14 And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,

“large” Hebrew H7304 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
  • Job 32:20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

“cieled” Hebrew H5603 · used in 6 verses

  • Deuteronomy 33:21 And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel.
  • 1 Kings 6:9 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.
  • 1 Kings 7:7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.

“chambers” Hebrew H5944 · used in 20 verses

  • Judges 3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
  • 1 Kings 17:23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
  • 2 Chronicles 3:9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.