Ezekiel 22:16

16 You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the Lord." ' "

Ezekiel 22:16 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 22:16

And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight
of the Heathen
No longer be the inheritance of God, but their own; and not have God to be their portion and inheritance, but themselves; and a poor portion and inheritance that must be, being in captivity, poverty, and distress; enjoying neither their civil nor religious liberties, as heretofore; it would be now manifest to the Heathens that they were forsaken of God, and left to themselves. Some render it, "and thou shalt be profaned, or polluted in thyself" ^F5; shalt be known to be so to thyself, as well as appear so to others. The Targum is,

``I will be sanctified in thee before the people:''

and thou shalt know that I am the Lord;
able to do what I say; faithful to my word; omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent; and this thou shalt not only know, but own and acknowledge, when these calamities take place, and have their effect.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (Kb tlxnw) "et prophana effecta in te", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus; "prophana efficeris", Piscator; "et polluta eris in te", Grotius; "et prophnata eris in te", Starckiss; "et prophanaberis in te", Cocceius.

Ezekiel 22:16 In-Context

14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it.

15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you.

16 You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the Lord." ' "

17 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

18 "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have become dross from silver.