Ezekiel 14 22

Ezekiel 14:22 kjv

Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.

Ezekiel 14:22 nkjv

Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it.

Ezekiel 14:22 niv

Yet there will be some survivors?sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem?every disaster I have brought on it.

Ezekiel 14:22 esv

But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it.

Ezekiel 14:22 nlt

Yet there will be survivors, and they will come here to join you as exiles in Babylon. You will see with your own eyes how wicked they are, and then you will feel better about what I have done to Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 14 verses

Ezekiel 14 22 Meaning

Ezekiel 14:22 reveals that amidst the severe divine judgments prophesied for Jerusalem, a remnant will be preserved. These survivors, comprising both men and women, will be brought forth to the exiles already in Babylon. Upon seeing the continued corrupt lifestyle ("their way and their doings") of these survivors, the exiles will understand and accept the righteousness of God's severe judgment upon Jerusalem. Their comfort will not stem from a cessation of suffering, but from the intellectual and spiritual conviction that God's actions were perfectly just and merited by the city's pervasive wickedness.

Ezekiel 14 22 Context

Ezekiel 14 takes place during the Babylonian exile. The chapter opens with elders of Israel approaching Ezekiel, seeking a word from God, despite their hearts being filled with idols. God exposes their hypocrisy and declares that He will answer them according to their own idols (v. 1-5). The core of the chapter (v. 12-21) outlines God's absolute determination to bring four devastating judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence—upon a sin-laden land, with righteous individuals (Noah, Daniel, Job) unable to save anyone but themselves. This sets the stage for the specific application to Jerusalem. Verse 22 acts as the culmination of this discourse, explicitly applying the principle of unavoidable judgment to Jerusalem and revealing a specific reason why some would survive the devastation: not for their own righteousness, but to serve as living evidence of Jerusalem's profound corruption to the exiles. This explanation addresses the exiles' potential grief, confusion, or questioning of God's justice concerning Jerusalem's downfall.

Ezekiel 14 22 Word analysis

• Yet, behold (וְהִנֵּה - vəhinnēh): A strong conjunction and interjection combination. "Yet" indicates a surprising shift or contrast from the preceding verses detailing absolute destruction. "Behold" draws immediate attention to the important declaration that follows, serving as a divine emphatic marker.
• therein: Refers to Jerusalem, the city under intense divine judgment, specified in earlier verses for its wickedness.
• shall be left (נִשְׁאַר - nish’ar): Passive verb, meaning "to remain" or "to be left over." Emphasizes that this survival is not accidental but orchestrated by divine design. It highlights God's sovereignty even in preservation.
• a remnant (פְלֵיטָה - pəlēyṭah): Refers to a group of survivors or escapees. In this specific context, it does not imply a righteous or salvific remnant, but simply those who are preserved for a distinct, God-ordained purpose—to bear witness.
• that shall be brought forth (מֻצָאִים - mutzā’im): Passive participle, meaning "those caused to come out" or "those delivered." This explicitly indicates God's direct agency in their bringing out from Jerusalem, even in their survival from the destruction.
• both sons and daughters (בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת - bānim ūvānōt): Specifies that this remnant will include both male and female. This shows a representative cross-section of society, indicating that even the general populace, not just a few prominent individuals, remained deeply corrupted.
• behold, they shall come forth unto you: The second "behold" intensifies the significance of the event. "Unto you" clearly points to Ezekiel and the exiled community in Babylon, implying direct, visual verification of God's judgment.
• and ye shall see (וּרְאִיתֶם - ūre’ītem): Implies direct visual observation. The emphasis is on tangible evidence to resolve doubts. Seeing is believing.
• their way (דַּרְכָּם - darkām): Refers to their lifestyle, conduct, and moral choices. In scripture, "way" often denotes moral or spiritual direction. Here, it refers to their corrupted paths.
• and their doings (וַעֲלִילֹתָם - va’alîlôtām): Their actions, practices, and deeds. This term often carries a negative connotation, indicating rebellious or evil acts, such as in Ezekiel 7:3 and Hosea 9:15.
• and ye shall be comforted (וְנִחַמְתֶּם - vənīḥamtem): From nācham, meaning "to comfort," "to console," or "to have pity." Here, it signifies being consoled, appeased, or finding resolution regarding the severe judgment. It is not comfort from grief, but comfort from doubt about God's justice.
• concerning the evil (עַל הָרָעָה - ‘al hārā‘āh): Refers to the calamity, disaster, or punishment God brought upon Jerusalem, not moral evil (which God forbids). It explicitly links the comfort to understanding the judgment itself.
• that I have brought upon Jerusalem: Explicitly declares God's authorship of the "evil" (calamity). This reinforces His sovereignty and direct involvement in the judgment.
• even concerning all that I have brought upon it: A strong emphasis through repetition. It underscores the totality and comprehensiveness of God's judgment, validating every aspect of the devastation as fully deserved and just.

Ezekiel 14 22 Bonus section

• Polemics against Complacency: This verse acts as a direct challenge to any idea among the exiles that God's judgment on Jerusalem was arbitrary, excessive, or unmerited. It confronts potential despair or accusation against God by offering undeniable, visual proof of guilt.
• A Unique Remnant: The remnant described here is distinctive. It’s not presented primarily as a salvific group, though God always works providentially. Instead, their immediate role is forensic: to confirm the justice of divine wrath by demonstrating the pervasive nature of the sin. This underscores the depths of Jerusalem’s apostasy that even survivors still manifest corruption.
• God's Justification of Himself: The passage portrays God not merely as executing judgment, but as justifying His judgment to His people. He does not ask for blind faith in His justice but provides tangible evidence, showing that His actions are always rooted in perfect righteousness.
• Impact on Exiles: For the exiles questioning why their beloved city suffered such a fate, seeing the preserved depravity of these survivors would provide a bitter, yet clear, validation of divine justice, helping them reconcile their understanding of a good God with the reality of immense suffering.

Ezekiel 14 22 Commentary

Ezekiel 14:22 serves as a critical theological hinge in a chapter otherwise dominated by pronouncements of uncompromising judgment. While divine judgment on Jerusalem is certain and severe, God mercifully provides a unique explanation for the future exiles. Unlike many other prophetic texts where a remnant is preserved for their holiness or as seeds for future restoration, the remnant here is preserved for an altogether different, more sobering, purpose: to be living proof of Jerusalem's wickedness.

When these survivors ("sons and daughters") are brought to the exiled community, their continued unrighteous "way and doings" will be a visible testimony. This firsthand observation will silence any doubts the exiles may harbor about the justice or fairness of God's actions. Their "comfort" (נִחַם - niḥam) is therefore not emotional consolation from their losses, but intellectual and spiritual satisfaction in understanding God's righteous character amidst such devastation. It’s an affirmation that the "evil" (calamity) brought upon Jerusalem was precisely commensurate with the city's deeply rooted depravity. This passage powerfully reinforces God's justice, sovereignty, and the clear cause-and-effect relationship between persistent sin and inevitable divine judgment, thereby providing peace to those wrestling with the difficult truth of His holy wrath.