Ezekiel 22:23-31

23 And the word of the LORD came to me:
24 "Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is 1not cleansed 2or rained upon in the day of indignation.
25 3The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is 4like a roaring lion 5tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.
26 6Her priests 7have done violence to my law and 8have profaned my holy things. 9They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and 10they have disregarded my Sabbaths, 11so that I am profaned among them.
27 12Her princes in her midst are like wolves 13tearing the prey, 14shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.
28 And 15her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, 16seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken.
29 The people of the land 17have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and 18have extorted from the sojourner without justice.
30 19And I sought for a man among them 20who should build up the wall 21and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
31 Therefore 22I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned 23their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD."

Ezekiel 22:23-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 22

In this chapter a catalogue or list of the sins of the Jews is given; a comparison of them to dross is made, and they are dealt with accordingly; and a complaint is lodged against all ranks and orders of men for their sins; on account of which, there being no intercessor for them, they are threatened with captivity and destruction. The prophet is ordered to judge them, and lay before them their abominable sins, Eze 22:1,2, of which a long list is given, as murder, idolatry; contempt of parents; oppression of the stranger, fatherless, and widow; negligence of holy things; profanation of the sabbath; tale bearing, lewdness and uncleanness of various sorts; bribery, usury, extortion, and dishonest gain, Eze 22:3-13 for which the Lord threatens to deal with them in a manner that would be intolerable to them; that he would carry them captive, and scatter them among the Heathen, Eze 22:14-16, they are compared to dross, and as such should be gathered into a furnace, and melted down, Eze 22:17-21, all ranks and orders of men are complained of, because of their sins, and threatened, Eze 22:23,24, the prophets for their voraciousness, rapine, murder, and lies, Eze 22:25,28, the priests, for their violation of the law, neglect of holy things, and profanation of the sabbath, Eze 22:26, the princes, for their cruelty, murder, and dishonest gain, Eze 22:27, the people of the land, for their oppression and robbery, Eze 22:29, and there being none to stand in the gap for them, the Lord threatens to pour out his wrath upon them, and consume them, Eze 22:30,31.

Cross References 23

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.