Ezekiel 22:4

4 "You have become 1guilty by the blood which you have shed, and defiled by your idols which you have made. Thus you have brought your day near and have come to your years; therefore * I have made you a 2reproach to the nations and a mocking to all the lands.

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 cause her to know all her abominations.
3 "You shall say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "A city shedding blood in her midst, so that her time will come, and that makes idols, contrary to her interest, for defilement!
4 "You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and defiled by your idols which you have made. Thus you have brought your day near and have come to your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations and a mocking to all the lands.
5 "Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you of ill repute, full of turmoil.
6 "Behold, the rulers of Israel, each according to his power, have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 2 Kings 21:16; Ezekiel 24:7, 8
  • 2. Psalms 44:13, 14; Ezekiel 5:14, 15; Ezekiel 16:57

Footnotes 2

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