Ezekiel 22:1-6

Judgment on Jerusalem’s Sins

1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 “Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her detestable practices
3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood in her midst and defiles herself by making idols,
4 you have become guilty because of the blood you have shed and have become defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries.
5 Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil.
6 “ ‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood.

Ezekiel 22:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 22

In this chapter a catalogue or list of the sins of the Jews is given; a comparison of them to dross is made, and they are dealt with accordingly; and a complaint is lodged against all ranks and orders of men for their sins; on account of which, there being no intercessor for them, they are threatened with captivity and destruction. The prophet is ordered to judge them, and lay before them their abominable sins, Eze 22:1,2, of which a long list is given, as murder, idolatry; contempt of parents; oppression of the stranger, fatherless, and widow; negligence of holy things; profanation of the sabbath; tale bearing, lewdness and uncleanness of various sorts; bribery, usury, extortion, and dishonest gain, Eze 22:3-13 for which the Lord threatens to deal with them in a manner that would be intolerable to them; that he would carry them captive, and scatter them among the Heathen, Eze 22:14-16, they are compared to dross, and as such should be gathered into a furnace, and melted down, Eze 22:17-21, all ranks and orders of men are complained of, because of their sins, and threatened, Eze 22:23,24, the prophets for their voraciousness, rapine, murder, and lies, Eze 22:25,28, the priests, for their violation of the law, neglect of holy things, and profanation of the sabbath, Eze 22:26, the princes, for their cruelty, murder, and dishonest gain, Eze 22:27, the people of the land, for their oppression and robbery, Eze 22:29, and there being none to stand in the gap for them, the Lord threatens to pour out his wrath upon them, and consume them, Eze 22:30,31.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Ezekiel 24:6,9; Hosea 4:2; Nahum 3:1; Habakkuk 2:12
  • 2. S Ezekiel 16:2; Ezekiel 23:36
  • 3. ver 6,13,27; Ezekiel 23:37,45; Ezekiel 24:6
  • 4. S 2 Kings 21:16
  • 5. Ezekiel 21:25
  • 6. S Psalms 137:3
  • 7. Psalms 44:13-14; S Ezekiel 5:14
  • 8. S Isaiah 22:2
  • 9. S Ezekiel 11:6; Ezekiel 18:10; Ezekiel 33:25; Isaiah 1:23
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