Ezekiel 24:12

12 In vain I have wearied myself; its thick rust does not depart. To the fire with its rust!

Ezekiel 24:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 24:12

She hath wearied herself with lies
With serving idols, which were lying vanities; by trusting to the alliances of neighbouring nations, which deceived her; or by committing sin, in which there was no satisfaction; or it may be understood of wearying of God with their sins, and particularly with her lying promises of repentance and reformation: and her great scum went not forth out of her;
notwithstanding her promises; or notwithstanding the admonitions given, and the chastisements inflicted on her, yet she continued hardened in her sins, impenitent and unreformed: her scum shall be in the fire;
like a pot that boils over, its scum falls into the fire, and is consumed there; and in no other way, but by the fire of divine judgments, or the burning of the city, could the wickedness thereof be consumed. The Targum is,

``and they shall not go out of her that work iniquity; in the fire shall she be burnt, because of the multitude of her sins.''

Ezekiel 24:12 In-Context

10 Heap up the logs, kindle the fire; boil the meat well, mix in the spices, let the bones be burned.

11 Stand it empty upon the coals, so that it may become hot, its copper glow, its filth melt in it, its rust be consumed.

12 In vain I have wearied myself; its thick rust does not depart. To the fire with its rust!

13 Yet, when I cleansed you in your filthy lewdness, you did not become clean from your filth; you shall not again be cleansed until I have satisfied my fury upon you.

14 I the Lord have spoken; the time is coming, I will act. I will not refrain, I will not spare, I will not relent. According to your ways and your doings I will judge you, says the Lord God.

Footnotes

• [a]. Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain
• [b]. Meaning of Heb uncertain