Ezekiel 22 16

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 verses

Ezekiel 22 16 Meaning

Ezekiel 22:16 pronounces a profound consequence for the sins of Jerusalem. It declares that the city, representative of the people of Judah, will itself become profaned or defiled. This internal degradation will not be hidden but will occur openly "in the sight of the nations," leading to public shame and humiliation. The ultimate, overarching purpose of this judgment is that Judah will come to experientially "know that I am the LORD"—a painful but necessary realization of God's unique identity, sovereignty, and justice, affirmed through the very actions of judgment and a demonstration of His faithfulness to His covenant word.

Ezekiel 22 16 Context

Ezekiel chapter 22 is a scathing prophetic indictment against Jerusalem, metaphorically depicted as a "bloody city" (v. 2). It meticulously lists a catalog of egregious sins pervading all levels of society, from corrupt leaders to the general populace. These transgressions include widespread bloodshed, idolatry, oppression of the vulnerable (foreigners, orphans, widows), disrespect for parents, profaning of holy things, Sabbath breaking, bribery, extortion, usury, and a general abandonment of God's law. This accumulation of wickedness had made the city "unclean" and utterly devoid of justice or righteousness. Verse 16 serves as a summary declaration of the consequence: Jerusalem's self-inflicted defilement, openly displayed to the nations, culminating in a necessary, though painful, realization of YHWH's sovereign power and identity. Historically, this prophecy was given during the Babylonian exile, looking toward the imminent destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Ezekiel's ministry often highlighted God's judgment as a divine purging to uphold His holiness, not merely an arbitrary punishment, and frequently ended with the declarative phrase "you/they will know that I am the LORD," emphasizing the revelatory purpose of God's actions. The verse stands as a severe warning, confirming the certainty of coming judgment.

Ezekiel 22 16 Word analysis

• You will be profaned/defiled (וְנִחַלְתְּ - v'nichalt):

  • This verb is in the Niphal stem (passive-reflexive) of the root חלל (ḥālal), which means "to profane," "to defile," or "to pollute."
  • Significance: It implies that the nation will become or allow itself to be profaned/defiled, reflecting a degradation originating from within its own conduct and character, rather than merely an external act of God profaning them. It signifies an intrinsic loss of sacredness or purity, the opposite of holiness, directly resulting from their numerous sins detailed in the chapter. This term stands in stark contrast to Israel's initial calling to be a holy nation set apart for YHWH (Exo 19:6; Lev 11:44).

• in yourself (בָּךְ - bāḵ):

  • The preposition בְּ (be-, "in" or "by") with the feminine singular suffix "you." Although Jerusalem is a city, the nation Israel is often personified as feminine.
  • Significance: This phrase intensely emphasizes the internal, self-inflicted nature of the profanation. It is a corruption deep within the very fabric of the community and its identity. It underscores that the defilement is not solely an external imposition, but a natural and inherent outcome of their moral decay and rebellion.

• in the sight of (לְעֵינֵי - l'einey):

  • Composed of the preposition לְ (le-, "to" or "for") and עֵינֵי (einey), the construct plural form of עַיִן (ayin, "eye").
  • Significance: Denotes public observation and visibility. The profanation is not a private matter but a publicly witnessed disgrace. This exposes Jerusalem's hypocrisy and spiritual bankruptcy to the very people it was supposed to illuminate about the one true God.

• the nations (גוֹיִם - goyim):

  • The plural form of גּוֹי (goy), meaning "nation" or "people," often used to refer to non-Israelite nations or Gentiles.
  • Significance: Israel was called to be a distinct and holy nation among the nations, bearing witness to YHWH's righteousness. Their moral defilement, now witnessed by these goyim, ironically turns their public witness into one of shame and scandal, further bringing reproach to God's name (Rom 2:24).

• and you will know (וְיָדַעְתְּ - v'yadatt):

  • From the verb ידע (yadaʿ), meaning "to know," "to understand," or "to perceive experientially."
  • Significance: This is a recurrent theological motif in Ezekiel (occurring over 70 times), often following God's acts of judgment or salvation. It signifies a profound, experiential recognition of God's true identity, power, and covenant faithfulness, not just an intellectual assent. It's knowledge gained through suffering the consequences of disobedience, or witnessing His overwhelming intervention, revealing who He truly is.

• that I am the LORD (כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה - ki ani YHWH):

  • כִּי (ki, "that" or "indeed"), אֲנִי (ani, "I"), and יְהוָה (YHWH), the sacred covenant name of God.
  • Significance: This phrase is a divine self-declaration of ultimate sovereignty, unique identity, and faithfulness to His word and character. It asserts that despite their profound apostasy, God remains the LORD, sovereign over history and all nations. Through their profanation and the subsequent judgment, Israel would be forced to acknowledge His uncontested authority, righteousness, and commitment to uphold His own holy name, even if it meant disciplining His own people.

Ezekiel 22 16 Bonus section

The phrase "know that I am the LORD" is one of the most distinctive and crucial theological refrains in the book of Ezekiel. Appearing over 70 times, it serves as a powerful framing device for God's actions, whether in judgment against Israel or against the nations, and later in promises of restoration. It emphasizes that every act of divine intervention, especially judgment, has a pedagogical purpose: to bring about a deep, undeniable, and often painful understanding of YHWH's identity, power, and faithfulness to His covenant promises and threats. In this verse, the profaning of Israel is linked directly to this profound knowledge, highlighting that the consequences of sin are not just punitive, but ultimately revelatory of God Himself. This also carries a polemic against the idolatry of Jerusalem. By being "profaned in yourself," they are becoming like the empty idols they worship, which have no power to save or to impart holiness, reinforcing the exclusive claim of YHWH.

Ezekiel 22 16 Commentary

Ezekiel 22:16 encapsulates the painful irony of Israel's spiritual decline. Intended to be a holy nation, distinct and set apart to bear YHWH's name, Jerusalem became internally defiled through its pervasive sin. This self-profanation was not a private shame but would be paraded openly before the surrounding pagan nations, diminishing the very witness God intended for them. The scandal would lead to public humiliation, a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness and desecration of divine standards. Yet, woven into this pronouncement of judgment is a crucial divine purpose: through this devastating experience, they would "know that I am the LORD." This knowing transcends mere intellectual understanding; it signifies a deep, experiential recognition of YHWH's uncompromising holiness, unyielding justice, and ultimate sovereignty. It is through God's consistent character in both judgment and eventual restoration that His people, and indeed the world, come to grasp the full meaning of His covenant name and unparalleled power. This verse speaks to the consequences of national apostasy while simultaneously pointing to God's unwavering intention for His identity to be definitively known by His people, however severe the lesson might be.