Ezekiel 7:23

23 Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and 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.

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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 hand these things over as plunder to foreigners and loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile them.

22 I will turn My face away from them, and they will defile My treasured place. Violent men will enter it, and they will defile it.

23 Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence.

24 So I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will end the pride of the mighty, and their holy places will be profaned.

25 Anguish is coming! They will seek peace, but find none.