Ezekiel 22 15

Ezekiel 22:15 kjv

And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.

Ezekiel 22:15 nkjv

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

Ezekiel 22:15 niv

I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you through the countries; and I will put an end to your uncleanness.

Ezekiel 22:15 esv

I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the countries, and I will consume your uncleanness out of you.

Ezekiel 22:15 nlt

I will scatter you among the nations and purge you of your wickedness.

Ezekiel 22 verses

Ezekiel 22 15 Meaning

Ezekiel 22:15 declares God's solemn decree against Jerusalem, revealing that He will actively scatter the inhabitants of Judah across various nations and lands. The purpose of this widespread dispersion is not merely punitive, but also redemptive: to eradicate and purify them of their accumulated defilement and moral uncleanness that has permeated their society. It is a divine judgment designed to bring about an internal spiritual cleansing.

Ezekiel 22 15 Context

Ezekiel chapter 22 delivers a stark divine indictment against Jerusalem, graphically depicted as a "bloody city" saturated with grievous sins. The preceding verses (Ezek 22:1-12) detail a litany of transgressions including idolatry, bloodshed, oppression of the vulnerable (fatherless, widow, sojourner), perversion of justice, sexual immorality (incest, adultery, prostitution), bribery, and covetousness. Verses 13-14 pronounce God's indignant reaction and a rhetorical question regarding who could possibly endure His impending judgment. Ezekiel 22:15 thus functions as a specific declaration of God's determined judgment, specifically focusing on the mode (scattering) and the profound redemptive purpose (cleansing) following the identification of widespread corruption. Historically, this prophecy takes place in the period leading up to or during the Babylonian exile (around 593-571 BC), when the people of Judah faced the consequences of their prolonged unfaithfulness to God's covenant. They had continually rejected divine instruction and indulged in practices common among the surrounding pagan nations, thus defiling their sacred land and covenant relationship.

Word Analysis

• And I will scatter thee: Hebrew: 'Apīṣēm (אפיצם), from the root pûts (פוץ), meaning to break apart, disperse, scatter, or spread abroad. This verb denotes God's active and intentional agency in bringing about this dispersion. It is not a random occurrence but a precise, divine judgment. The direct statement of God's will emphasizes His sovereignty over the destiny of His people.
• among the nations: Hebrew: Baggôyim (בגויים), referring to the Gentiles or the various non-Israelite peoples. This signifies the loss of their privileged status in their own land and a humiliating exile among those who do not worship the true God. It strips away their distinct covenant identity within the promised land.
• and disperse thee: Hebrew: Wəzārîteyḵā (וזריתיך), from the root zārâ (זרע), meaning to sow, scatter, fan, or winnow. This verb reinforces the idea of wide and complete distribution. While "scatter" (pûts) often implies breaking up, "disperse" (zārâ) carries connotations of extensive distribution, like seed cast across a field or chaff being winnowed. In context, it points to a thorough and far-reaching expatriation.
• in the countries: Hebrew: Bāʾărāṣôṯ (בארצות), meaning "in the lands" or "in the various territories/regions." This complements "among the nations," further specifying the broad geographical reach of the exile. It indicates that their scattering would be across multiple regions, not confined to one place or nation.
• and will consume: Hebrew: Wəkillêṯî (וכליתי), from the root kālâ (כלה), which means to bring to an end, complete, finish, consume, or bring to utter destruction. In this context, it speaks of God bringing their filthiness to an end, eliminating it entirely rather than preserving it. It implies a thorough process of removal or termination of the offensive element.
• thy filthiness: Hebrew: Ṭumʾāṯēk (טומאתך), meaning "your uncleanness," "impurity," or "defilement." This is a crucial term referring to their spiritual, moral, and ritual pollution. It encompasses the idolatry, bloodshed, immorality, and systemic injustice detailed throughout Ezekiel 22 and earlier chapters. It represents the accumulated sin that defiled them and their land.
• out of thee: Hebrew: Mimmēk (ממך), meaning "from within you" or "from you." This preposition highlights that the cleansing is internal and inherent to their very being. The goal of the scattering and consumption is not just a change of location or external punishment, but the eradication of the internal moral corruption that resides within the people themselves.

Words-group analysis:

• "And I will scatter thee among the nations, and disperse thee in the countries": This parallel structure emphasizes the completeness and certainty of the exile. It highlights God's active role as the agent of judgment, scattering them far and wide. This fulfillment of covenant curses (Deut 28) shows God’s faithfulness to His warnings, not just His promises.
• "and will consume thy filthiness out of thee": This second part of the verse reveals the divine purpose behind the harsh judgment. The scattering is not arbitrary but serves a profound redemptive intent. The "consuming" or bringing to an end of their "filthiness" points to a spiritual purification that God deems necessary for their future. This is a severe but ultimately hopeful promise of cleansing from the very essence of their rebellion.

Ezekiel 22 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 22:15 portrays God's decisive intervention to address the pervasive wickedness of Judah. The twin declarations of scattering and dispersion are direct divine judgments, not mere consequences of external forces. This widespread exile among foreign peoples served to break their reliance on their geographical location and the temple, which they mistakenly believed guaranteed their safety regardless of their conduct. Crucially, the ultimate aim of this severe dispersion was spiritual purification. Their "filthiness" – encompassing their deep-seated idolatry, social injustice, and moral decay – was an abomination to a holy God. The judgment, therefore, acted as a refining fire, consuming their defilement "out of them." This signifies that God's intention was to cleanse them internally, transforming their hearts and characters through the humbling experience of exile. This process of judgment leading to cleansing is a consistent biblical theme, often culminating in promises of restoration for a purified remnant, as seen later in Ezekiel (e.g., Ezekiel 36). The painful discipline was a necessary prelude to future spiritual renewal and covenant fidelity.

Bonus Section

The imagery in Ezekiel 22 is a progression. Earlier, Jerusalem is likened to dross (worthless impurities) being gathered into a furnace to be melted (Ezek 22:18-22). Verse 15 fits into this metaphor, where the intense heat of divine judgment (scattering) is the means by which the "filthiness" (dross) is "consumed" or separated out from the precious metal. This highlights that while the immediate experience of scattering would be punitive and painful, it served a profound surgical purpose in God's plan for His people. It fulfilled the long-standing covenant curses (e.g., Deut 28) and laid the groundwork for the promise of a "new heart" and "new spirit" found in later prophecies of Ezekiel.