Ezekiel 7:23

23 1"Forge a chain![a]2For the land is full of bloody crimes 3and the city is 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 And I will give it into the hands of foreigners for prey, and to the wicked of the earth for spoil, and they shall profane it.
22 I will turn my face from them, and they shall profane my treasured place. Robbers shall enter and profane it.
23 "Forge a chain!For the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence.
24 I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy places shall be profaned.
25 When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there shall be none.

Cross References 3

  • 1. [Jeremiah 27:2]
  • 2. Ezekiel 8:17; Ezekiel 9:9; Ezekiel 11:6; Ezekiel 22:3, 4; Jeremiah 6:7
  • 3. [ver. 11]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Probably refers to an instrument of captivity
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.