Ezekiel 22:4

4 You have become guilty 1by the blood that you have shed, and defiled by the idols that you have made, and you have brought 2your days near, the appointed time of[a] your years has come. 3Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all the countries.

Ezekiel 22:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 22:4

Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed
Not only she contracted guilt by the innocent blood she shed, but she was tried and found guilty; her guilt was notorious, plain, and evident, as well as exceeding great, and much aggravated: and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made:
she not only made them, in doing which she sinned; but polluted herself with them, by worshipping them; her mind and conscience were defiled with them; and which brought such a stain and pollution, as could not be removed by anything that she could do: there are both pollution and guilt in sin, and neither can be removed but by the blood of Christ; and, unless removed that way, punishment must follow: and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy
years;
to full age, to ripeness for judgment; she had hastened by her sins her days of affliction and distress appointed for her, and was come to years of maturity to suffer for her sins; the years of her captivity, which would soon take place; years in which she would have no pleasure: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the Heathen, and a mocking
to all countries;
who, instead of praising them for their idolatry, would deride them for leaving the God of their fathers, which they did not; and insult over them in their affliction and distress, though they joined with them in idolatrous practices.

Ezekiel 22:4 In-Context

2 "And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then declare to her all her abominations.
3 You shall say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A city that sheds blood in her midst, so that her time may come, and that makes idols to defile herself!
4 You have become guilty by the blood that you have shed, and defiled by the idols that you have made, and you have brought your days near, the appointed time of your years has come. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all the countries.
5 Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you; your name is defiled; you are full of tumult.
6 "Behold, the princes of Israel in you, every one according to his power, have been bent on shedding blood.

Cross References 3

  • 1. [See ver. 2 above]
  • 2. [See ver. 3 above]
  • 3. See Ezekiel 5:14

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; most Hebrew manuscripts until
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.