Ezekiel 7:23

23 "'Forge a chain, for the land is full of capital crimes and the city full of violence.

Ezekiel 7:23 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 7:23

Make a chain
To bind them; not the robbers, the Chaldeans, but the Jews; in order either to bring them to the bar to be tried for capital crimes hereafter mentioned, or to be led bound in chains into captivity; see ( Nehemiah 3:10 ) ; for the land is full of bloody crimes;
or, "judgment of bloods" ^F13; capital crimes, such as are deserving of death, particularly murder, or shedding of innocent blood; so the Targum interprets it of sins of murder: and the city is full of violence;
rapine, oppression, and injury done to the poor, the widow, and the fatherless; meaning the city of Jerusalem, where was the great court of judicature, and where justice ought to have been administered.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Mymd jpvm) "judicio sanguiuum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin, Polanus, Starckius; "criminibus capitalibus", Piscator; "sanguianariis judiciis", Castalio.

Ezekiel 7:23 In-Context

21 I will hand it over to foreigners as booty, to the wicked of the earth as spoil, and they will profane it.

22 I will turn my face away from them; then [Bavel] will profane my secret place, robbers will enter and profane it.

23 "'Forge a chain, for the land is full of capital crimes and the city full of violence.

24 Therefore I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their homes; I will end the arrogance of the strong; and their holy places will be profaned.

25 When horror comes, they will seek peace; but there will be none.