Ezekiel 22:29

29 Extortion is rife, robbery is epidemic, the poor and needy are abused, outsiders are kicked around at will, with no access to justice.'

Ezekiel 22:29 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 22:29

The people of the land have used oppression
The common people, the more powerful among them, such as were in greatest authority in cities and towns, in neighbourhoods and families, the richest among them; these oppressed the poor, and those that were under them, the servants of them, and tenants to them, and who were not able to defend themselves against them: the Septuagint and Syriac versions understand this of the prophets using the people of the land ill: and exercised robbery;
such who had not the power as others had, became thieves and robbers, went on the highway, and took men's money from them; broke up houses, and plundered them, and stole away their goods: and have vexed the poor and needy;
by their oppressions, rapines, and robberies, when they should rather have relieved them: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully;
or, "without right or judgment" ^F11; in a very unjust manner, contrary to the due course of law, against all equity and justice; which the Israelites were warned and ordered not to do, in many passages of Scripture; and for this reason, because they had been strangers in Egypt.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F11 (jpvm alb) "absque judicio", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, "non in judicio", Cocceius.

Ezekiel 22:29 In-Context

27 Your politicians are like wolves prowling and killing and rapaciously taking whatever they want.

28 Your preachers cover up for the politicians by pretending to have received visions and special revelations. They say, "This is what God, the Master, says . . ." when God hasn't said so much as one word.

29 Extortion is rife, robbery is epidemic, the poor and needy are abused, outsiders are kicked around at will, with no access to justice.'

30 "I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so I wouldn't have to destroy it. I couldn't find anyone. Not one.

31 So I'll empty out my wrath on them, burn them to a crisp with my hot anger, serve them with the consequences of all they've done. Decree of God, the Master."