Jeremiah 6:13 - Exposition

Given to covetousness ; literally, gaineth gain ; but the word here rendered "gain" implies that it is unrighteous gain (the root means "to tear"), Unjust gain and murder are repeatedly singled out in the Old Testament as representative sins (comp. Ezekiel 33:31 ; Psalms 119:36 ; Isaiah 1:15 ; Jeremiah 2:34 ; and see my note on Isaiah 57:17 ). There is a special reason for the selection of "covetousness" here. Land was the object of a high-born Jew's ambition, and expulsion from his land was his appropriate punishment (comp. Isaiah 5:8 , Isaiah 5:9 ).