A common misinterpretation views this verse as a blanket condemnation of all wealth or ambition, ignoring its specific context as a prophetic oracle against King Shallum's exploitative rule; others might limit it to ancient monarchs, missing its timeless application to any leader or person whose priorities distort into injustice, or twist it to excuse personal gain by claiming 'eyes and heart' refer only to overt crimes while overlooking subtle forms of covetousness and oppression in modern economic or social systems.
Jeremiah 22:17
King James Version (1769)
17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
This passage delivers a divine rebuke to a corrupt king, exposing how his gaze and intentions are consumed by greed, the shedding of innocent blood, oppression, and violence rather than justice and compassion, underscoring the core truth that true leadership and righteous living demand hearts aligned with God's standards of equity and mercy, warning that self-serving pursuits lead to judgment while faithfulness brings blessing.