Jer 5:28 | NETfull | STEP | That is how they have grown fat and sleek. There is no limit to the evil things they do. They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it. They do not defend the rights of the poor.

Jeremiah 5:28

28 That is how ^{▼▼ These words are not in the text but are supplied in the translation to show that this line is parallel with the preceding.} they have grown fat and sleek. ^{▼▼ The meaning of this word is uncertain. This verb occurs only here. The lexicons generally relate it to the word translated “plate” in Song 5:14 and understand it to mean “smooth, shiny” (so BDB 799 s.v. I עֶשֶׁת) or “fat” (so HALOT 850 s.v. II עֶשֶׁת). The word in Song 5:14 more likely means “smooth” than “plate” (so TEV). So “sleek” is most likely here.}
There is no limit to the evil things they do. ^{▼▼ Heb “they cross over/transgress with respect to matters of evil.”} ^{▼▼ There is a wordplay in the use of this word which has twice been applied in v. 22 to the sea not crossing the boundary set for it by God.}
They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it.
They do not defend the rights of the poor.