Ezekiel 22:13 kjv
Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
Ezekiel 22:13 nkjv
"Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst.
Ezekiel 22:13 niv
"?'I will surely strike my hands together at the unjust gain you have made and at the blood you have shed in your midst.
Ezekiel 22:13 esv
"Behold, I strike my hand at the dishonest gain that you have made, and at the blood that has been in your midst.
Ezekiel 22:13 nlt
"But now I clap my hands in indignation over your dishonest gain and bloodshed.
Ezekiel 22 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 22:29 | The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery. They have wronged the poor and needy, and have oppressed the sojourner unjustly. | Echoes the themes of injustice. |
| Isaiah 1:23 | Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves. They all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the fatherless, and their cause does not come before them. | Similar condemnation of leadership. |
| Jeremiah 5:28 | They grow fat and sleek. They show no wrongdoing in most cases; They do not bring a lawsuit, the lawsuit of the fatherless, so they succeed; And they do not defend the rights of the needy. | Points to the wealthy disregarding the poor. |
| Amos 4:1 | Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their husbands, “Bring, that we may drink!” | Strong imagery of oppressing the vulnerable. |
| Micah 3:2-3 | You hate good and love evil; You tear off their skin from them and their flesh from their bones, You devour the flesh of my people; You flay their skin from them And break their bones... | Vivid depiction of exploitation. |
| Psalm 12:5 | “Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the groans of the needy, now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will put him in the safety for which he longs.” | God's response to the oppressed. |
| Exodus 22:22-24 | You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry out at all to Me, I will surely hear their outcry, and My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword... | Divine protection for the vulnerable. |
| Leviticus 25:35 | ‘If your brother becomes poor and his hand falters among you, you shall support him; You shall not fear him; you shall support him with loans without interest. | God’s command for supporting the poor. |
| Proverbs 14:31 | Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy shows favor to Him. | Connection between mistreating the poor and God. |
| Proverbs 17:5 | Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not be unpunished. | Another reference to the sin of mocking the poor. |
| Proverbs 21:13 | Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered. | Consequences of ignoring the needy. |
| Isaiah 10:1-2 | Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the right from the needy, and to rob the poor of my people of justice, that widows may be their spoil... | Woes for oppressive rulers. |
| Matthew 25:40-45 | Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. | Jesus connecting care for the needy with Himself. |
| Luke 1:52-53 | He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. | Mary's Magnificat and God's inversion of fortunes. |
| James 5:1-6 | Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and your moths have eaten your garments… You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. | Strong rebuke of the rich who exploit. |
| Zechariah 7:9-10 | Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and compassion to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart. | Commands for righteous judgment and compassion. |
| Nehemiah 5:1-13 | Describes social injustices and oppression of the poor in Jerusalem, leading Nehemiah to intercede. | Historical account of similar grievances. |
| 2 Kings 21:14 | And I will cast the rest of them to the sword before their enemies, and their wives shall be defiled and their sons and daughters shall be taken captive. | Consequences of severe sin and judgment. |
| Romans 1:29-31 | They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil... | List of sins characteristic of ungodliness. |
| 1 John 3:17 | But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? | Connecting possessions and love for neighbor. |
Ezekiel 22 verses
Ezekiel 22 13 Meaning
The verse speaks of God’s displeasure and the judgment He will bring upon Jerusalem due to its deep-rooted corruption and sinfulness. It specifically highlights the exploitation of the poor and the oppression of those who are vulnerable by its rulers and the people.
Ezekiel 22 13 Context
Ezekiel 22 describes a scathing indictment of Jerusalem. The prophet details a comprehensive list of the city's sins, ranging from idolatry and bloodshed to deceit and exploitation. This specific verse focuses on the rampant injustice within the society, where rulers and common people alike preyed upon the vulnerable, particularly the poor, the fatherless, widows, and sojourners. This exploitation was a direct violation of God's covenant and law, which mandated care and protection for these groups. The dire situation in Jerusalem led God to declare that He would execute judgment by pouring out His indignation upon them, consuming them with the fire of His wrath, and holding them accountable for their deeds. The historical context is the period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile, where Jerusalem's continued sinfulness ultimately sealed its fate.
Ezekiel 22 13 Word analysis
- "So": This indicates a result or consequence. It links the preceding list of accusations in the chapter to God's ensuing judgment.
- "surely" (Hebrew: "ki," often translated as "surely," "indeed," or "for"): This adverb amplifies the certainty of God's action, emphasizing that His judgment is not a possibility but a certainty.
- "I": Refers to God Himself, highlighting His personal involvement and righteous indignation.
- "have" (Hebrew: "amaltí," from "āmal," to toil, labor, incur guilt): This past tense verb signifies that the sin is not a momentary lapse but a sustained pattern of actions and behavior by the people. It points to a history of accumulated wrongdoing.
- "layed" (Hebrew: "netati," from "nātan," to give, put, place): This verb, in this context, means to inflict, cause, or bring upon. It signifies the direct impact of their actions.
- "Mine hand" (Hebrew: "yad," hand): The "hand of God" is a common biblical idiom representing His power, authority, action, and judgment.
- "upon thee" (Hebrew: "ʾalēykha," unto you, against you): This pronoun refers directly to Jerusalem or the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- "in the fire" (Hebrew: "beʾēš," in fire, with fire): This metaphor signifies divine judgment, wrath, purification, and destruction.
- "of Mine indignation" (Hebrew: "ḥamātī," My heat, My wrath): This noun signifies intense anger and fury, often associated with God's holy response to sin. The possessive "Mine" indicates it is God's personal and righteous anger.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So surely I have layed Mine hand upon thee": This phrase emphasizes God's active and personal decision to judge Jerusalem. The "laying on of the hand" is a gesture of authority and intention to act decisively against sin. It conveys the seriousness with which God views their actions and His unwavering commitment to justice.
- "in the fire of Mine indignation": This part highlights the nature of the judgment. It is not merely punishment, but a consuming, purifying, and wrathful response to the deep-seated sinfulness of Jerusalem. The "fire" represents the intensity and completeness of God's judgment, consistent with His character.
Ezekiel 22 13 Bonus Section
This verse fits into a broader prophetic pattern where God pronounces judgment on nations and cities for their unfaithfulness and social sins. The detailed list of Jerusalem's transgressions in Ezekiel 22 illustrates the depth and pervasiveness of its moral decay, making the pronouncement of judgment in verse 13 a logical and powerful conclusion to the accusations. The language of "fire" as a judgment metaphor is also found elsewhere, such as in the cleansing fire God uses, but here it predominantly speaks of His wrathful judgment being poured out upon the sinful nation. The accumulation of guilt, expressed by "have layed mine hand," signifies that this judgment is not arbitrary but is a direct response to a pattern of deliberate and ongoing sin.
Ezekiel 22 13 Commentary
Ezekiel 22:13 is a stern declaration of divine retribution for persistent sin. It underscores that God’s justice is certain and actively administered against societies that practice deep-seated corruption and exploitation, especially of the vulnerable. The "hand of God" being laid upon them signifies His direct intervention and judgment. The "fire of His indignation" conveys the intensity and destructive nature of this judgment, akin to a consuming blaze, a metaphor for God's holy wrath against entrenched sin. This verse serves as a critical reminder that societal injustice, particularly the oppression of the poor and weak, is a grievous offense to God and incurs His severe displeasure, leading to inevitable consequences. It reflects a core theological principle: God is a God of justice who will not overlook or excuse wickedness.