Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?

JEREMIAH 22:28KJV
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Jeremiah 22:28 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 22:28 mean?

Jeremiah 22:28 asks if Coniah (another name for King Jehoiachin) is like a worthless, broken idol or a vessel that no one wants, explaining why he and his descendants are rejected and sent away to a foreign land. The verse uses strong images to show that Coniah and his family have lost their value and are cast out from their homeland.

The prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, specifically about their king, Coniah. The situation is that Coniah and his family are being exiled to Babylon, which was a shocking and humiliating event for the nation. The verse uses the language of rejection and worthlessness to explain why this exile is happening, showing the seriousness of God’s judgment on the royal family.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 22:28

  • "Coniah" (כָּנְיָהוּ, konyahu) is another name for Jehoiachin, the king of Judah, highlighting that this is a personal and direct message about a specific individual, not just a general warning.
  • "Despised" (נָבָה, nivzeh) means to be regarded with contempt or scorn, emphasizing how low Coniah’s reputation has fallen in the eyes of God and the people.
  • "Broken" (פָּצוּץ, patzutz) describes something shattered or destroyed, reinforcing the image of Coniah as completely ruined and no longer useful.
  • "Vessel" (כְּלִי, keli) refers to a container or object used for a purpose; calling Coniah a vessel "wherein is no pleasure" (חֵפֶץ, chefetz) means he no longer serves any good purpose or brings delight, underlining the total rejection.

Why Jeremiah 22:28 matters

  • Jeremiah 22:28 clears up that the exile of Coniah and his family was not just a political accident but seen as a result of their rejection by God, using vivid images to make the point.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of losing God’s favor, especially for a king, by comparing Coniah to a broken idol and a useless vessel—objects that are thrown away when they no longer serve their purpose.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by showing the consequences of unfaithfulness among Judah’s leaders and sets the stage for understanding why the royal line was interrupted and the people sent into exile.

Where else these words appear

“Coniah” Hebrew H3659 · used in 3 verses

  • Jeremiah 22:24 As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;
  • Jeremiah 37:1 And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.

“idol” Hebrew H6089 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
  • Proverbs 5:10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
  • Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

“cast” Hebrew H2904 · used in 14 verses

  • 1 Samuel 18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
  • Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
  • Ezekiel 32:4 Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.

“broken” Hebrew H5310 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 9:19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
  • Psalms 137:9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
  • Jeremiah 48:12 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.