Ezekiel 22:16 kjv
And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 22:16 nkjv
You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the LORD." ' "
Ezekiel 22:16 niv
When you have been defiled in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the LORD.'?"
Ezekiel 22:16 esv
And you shall be profaned by your own doing in the sight of the nations, and you shall know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 22:16 nlt
And when I have been dishonored among the nations because of you, you will know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 22 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 22:18 | Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all those of them are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are the dross of the silver. | Directly connected judgment |
| Malachi 3:2-3 | But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer in righteousness the offerings of the LORD. | Refiner imagery and purpose |
| Zechariah 13:9 | And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. | Purification of a remnant |
| Romans 12:1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. | Offering refined lives |
| 1 Peter 1:6-7 | Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. | Trial of faith through fire |
| Jeremiah 6:29 | The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain, for the refiner hath not seared them. | Failed refinement process |
| Isaiah 1:25 | And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: | God's refining action |
| Hebrews 12:10 | For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. | Purpose of chastening |
| Psalm 66:10 | For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us as silver is tried. | Experiencing God's testing |
| Proverbs 17:3 | The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth hearts. | God testing intentions |
| Revelation 3:18 | I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that theunut of thy shame may not be discovered; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. | Value of fire-tested faith |
| 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 | Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. | Judgment refining works |
| Daniel 3:25 | Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. | Protection in the fire |
| 1 Peter 4:12 | Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. | Fiery trials are expected |
| Romans 5:3-5 | And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: | Tribulation producing faith |
| Amos 3:11 | Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down from thee thy strength, and thy palaces shall be spoiled, and thy walls shall be overthrown. | Consequence of disobedience |
| Psalm 119:67 | Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. | Affliction leads to obedience |
| Psalm 119:71 | It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. | Learning through affliction |
| Isaiah 43:2 | When thou passest through the fire, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: thy shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. | God's presence in trials |
| Philippians 1:29 | For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; | Suffering for Christ |
| Revelation 14:4 | These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. | Purity and dedication |
Ezekiel 22 verses
Ezekiel 22 16 Meaning
The verse speaks of Israel being put into a crucible or furnace to be refined by God's fiery judgment, with the intention that only the dross be consumed and the pure metal, representing the righteous remnant, be preserved.
Ezekiel 22 16 Context
Ezekiel 22 depicts a severe indictment against Jerusalem and its inhabitants. The chapter details a litany of sins, including idolatry, murder, corruption, oppression, and disregard for God's law and His prophets. God declares His intention to pour out His fury upon the city, consuming them as if in a furnace. Verse 16 explains the ultimate purpose of this judgment: not complete annihilation, but refinement, where the dross (the wicked elements) is consumed, and the precious metal (the righteous remnant) is purified and preserved. This is part of God's comprehensive judgment upon a thoroughly corrupt nation, highlighting that even in destruction, there is a divine purpose of purification.
Ezekiel 22 16 Word Analysis
and he hath cast
- The verb "hath cast" (Hebrew: shalak - שָׁלַךְ) signifies a forceful or deliberate casting or throwing. It conveys the idea of something being thrown into something else with intent.
them into the midst of it
- "Into the midst of it" (Hebrew: toḵ hasarafa - תּוֹךְ הַשָּׂרָפָה) refers to the center of the burning. It emphasizes their immersion in the fiery trial, not merely on the periphery.
to consume
- "To consume" (Hebrew: liḵloh - לִכְלוֹת) means to finish, to end, to waste away, or to be utterly destroyed. In this context, it denotes the destruction of the impure elements.
and it is burned:
- "It is burned" (Hebrew: naʕar hafeḵra - נַעֲר הַפֶּכְרָה - note: Hebrew in Ezekiel 22:16 is usually naʕara נַעֲרָה) implies something is completely scorched or reduced to ashes. The context suggests the burning of the dross or impurities.
it is burned, so that the melting is wrought
- This phrase is tricky and depends on translation nuances. The Masoretic Text reads similarly to other verses describing refinement. The intent is that the intense heat of the furnace (representing judgment) works to separate and destroy the dross.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Hath cast them into the midst of it, to consume" - This highlights God's active and intentional placing of His people within the intense crucible of judgment. It's not accidental but a purposeful act of purification.
- "and it is burned, so that the melting is wrought" - This reinforces the purpose of the fiery trial. The burning isn't for absolute destruction but for a transformative process—the melting or refining—which achieves the desired outcome of separating the impurities.
Ezekiel 22 16 Bonus Section
The imagery of metals being refined in a furnace is a recurring theme in Scripture. It speaks to God's sovereign control over His people's lives, even through the darkest trials. The Hebrew word sarafa (שָׂרָפָה) meaning "burning" or "burning up," when applied to refining, implies a process that intensely tests the material to separate impurities. This verse contrasts with the previous depiction of Israel as being completely corrupted (Ezekiel 22:18-19 where they are likened to dross itself: brass, tin, iron, and lead in the midst of the furnace), indicating a total systemic impurity requiring a purging fire. The ultimate hope lies in God’s unfailing purpose to preserve a pure remnant who will trust in Him.
Ezekiel 22 16 Commentary
God’s judgment on apostate Israel is likened to a refining process in a furnace. He deliberately casts them into the intense heat of His fury. However, this judgment is not simply annihilation; it is a purification intended to separate the wicked (dross) from the righteous (precious metal). The dross will be consumed, leaving behind a purified remnant. This illustrates that even in judgment, God has a redemptive purpose, seeking to purify His people for Himself, reflecting His holiness and preparing them for future fellowship. This aligns with the New Testament teaching that trials purify faith, making believers more like Christ.