Ezekiel 33:24-26

24 "Son of man, they who 1live in these waste places in the land of Israel are saying, '2Abraham was only one, yet he possessed the land; so to 3us who are many the land has been given as a possession.'
25 "Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "You eat meat with the 4blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols as you shed blood. 5Should you then possess the land?
26 "You 6rely on your sword, you commit abominations and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife. Should you then possess the land?"'

Ezekiel 33:24-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 33

This chapter treats of the prophet's duty, and the people's sins; contains a vindication of the justice of God; a threatening of destruction to those who remained in the land after the taking of the city; and a detection of the hypocrisy of the prophet's hearers. The duty of a watchman in general is declared, Eze 33:1-6, an application of this to the prophet, Eze 33:7: the sum of whose business is to warn the wicked man of his wickedness; and the consequence of doing, or not doing it, is expressed, Eze 33:8,9, an objection of the people, and the prophet's answer to it, Eze 33:10,11, who is bid to acquaint them, that a righteous man trusting to his righteousness, and sinning, should not live; and that a sinner repenting of his sins should not die, Eze 33:12-16, the people's charge of inequality in the ways of God is retorted upon them, and removed from the Lord, and proved against them, Eze 33:17-20, then follows a prophecy, delivered out after the news was brought of the taking of the city, threatening with ruin those that remained in the land, confident of safety, and that for their sins, which are particularly enumerated, Eze 33:21-29, and the chapter is closed with a discovery of the hypocrisy of those that attended the prophet's ministry, Eze 33:30-33.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Jeremiah 39:10; Jeremiah 40:7; Ezekiel 33:27
  • 2. Isaiah 51:2; Luke 3:8; Acts 7:5; Romans 4:12
  • 3. Ezekiel 11:15
  • 4. Lev 17:10, 12, 14; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23; Deuteronomy 15:23
  • 5. Jeremiah 7:9, 10
  • 6. Micah 2:1, 2; Zephaniah 3:3

Footnotes 1

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