ירמיהו, פרק י״ב, פסוק ב׳

The prosperity of corrupt individuals often presents a painful reality, especially when their outward success is paired with religious hypocrisy. This contradiction is captured through the vivid agricultural metaphor of a thriving tree. The growth of these individuals is steady, and their rise to greatness is sudden. Their good fortune is not a random occurrence; rather, it is granted directly by God [רד״ק]. Once planted, they become firmly established in their environment. Their influence continues to spread as they grow and produce fruit. This fruit represents a lasting legacy of abundant offspring, with children and grandchildren who inherit their power and social standing [מצודת דוד].

Despite this outward display of success, their inner lives remain completely disconnected from God. They project a false sense of devotion, freely speaking about God, praying, and swearing by His name. This outward show of piety can even be found among those who hold esteemed religious positions, such as priests [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, this behavior is entirely superficial and amounts to nothing more than lip service [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. In truth, God is far from their deepest thoughts, an inner realm traditionally associated with the kidneys [מצודת ציון]. Deep down, these individuals lack true faith. They do not genuinely believe that God is the One who directs their lives or controls their good and bad fortune [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].