Ezekiel 22:2 kjv
Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
Ezekiel 22:2 nkjv
"Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations!
Ezekiel 22:2 niv
"Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her detestable practices
Ezekiel 22:2 esv
"And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then declare to her all her abominations.
Ezekiel 22:2 nlt
"Son of man, are you ready to judge Jerusalem? Are you ready to judge this city of murderers? Publicly denounce her detestable sins,
Ezekiel 22 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 22:1 | "The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, pronounce judgment..." | Ezekiel 22:1 |
| Ezek 22:2 | "Now, son of man, pronounce judgment on the city of bloodshed and declare..." | Ezekiel 22:2 |
| Isa 1:21 | "How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice..." | Isaiah 1:21 (Disobedience) |
| Jer 5:7-8 | "Why should I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods..." | Jeremiah 5:7-8 (Wickedness) |
| Jer 7:3-7 | "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways..." | Jeremiah 7:3-7 (Repentance) |
| Jer 22:3 | "This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand..." | Jeremiah 22:3 (Justice) |
| Mic 3:9-10 | "Hear this, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise what is right..." | Micah 3:9-10 (Oppression) |
| Ps 5:6 | "You will destroy those who speak lies; the LORD detests bloodthirsty and deceitful men." | Psalm 5:6 (Deceit) |
| Prov 6:16-19 | "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood..." | Proverbs 6:16-19 (Sins) |
| Jer 26:15 | "But know this: If you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves..." | Jeremiah 26:15 (Innocent blood) |
| Ezek 3:17-19 | "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel..." | Ezekiel 3:17-19 (Watchman) |
| Ezek 18:30 | "Therefore, Israel, I will judge each of you according to your ways, declares the Sovereign LORD." | Ezekiel 18:30 (Judgment) |
| Ezek 23:1-4 | "The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, there were two women..." | Ezekiel 23:1-4 (Adultery) |
| Deut 30:19 | "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life..." | Deuteronomy 30:19 (Choice) |
| Heb 12:4 | "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." | Hebrews 12:4 (Sin's cost) |
| Rev 17:6 | "I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus." | Revelation 17:6 (Blood) |
| Zech 1:4 | "Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Return to me,” declares the LORD Almighty, “and I will return to you.”'" | Zechariah 1:4 (Return) |
| Acts 2:23 | "He was delivered up according to God’s sovereign purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross." | Acts 2:23 (Betrayal/Death) |
| Matt 23:35 | "And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar." | Matthew 23:35 (Blood Guilt) |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | "But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy..." | 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (Sinful Nature) |
Ezekiel 22 verses
Ezekiel 22 2 Meaning
The verse pronounces judgment upon the city of Jerusalem. It declares that the city is indeed a "city of bloodshed" and proclaims its impending doom. This designation highlights the pervasive sinfulness and violence that has taken root within its walls, leading to divine wrath and destruction.
Ezekiel 22 2 Context
Ezekiel chapter 22 details the extreme depravity and sins of Jerusalem, listing numerous transgressions that have made it worthy of divine judgment. This particular verse serves as a powerful accusation, identifying the city's fundamental character as one stained with bloodshed. It's spoken in a time when Jerusalem was on the brink of destruction, a consequence of its prolonged disobedience and corruption, acting as a watchman to pronounce God's imminent justice.
Ezekiel 22 2 Word Analysis
- "Now" (Hebrew: וְעַתָּה, və‘attâ) - This conjunction signifies a transition, moving from a general denunciation to a specific pronouncement of judgment against Jerusalem. It emphasizes the immediacy and directness of the accusation.
- "son of man" (Hebrew: בֶּן־אָדָם, ben-’āḏām) - A recurring prophetic title given to Ezekiel by God, highlighting his humanity in contrast to God’s divinity and emphasizing his role as a messenger.
- "pronounce judgment" (Hebrew: שָׁפֹט תִּשְׁפֹּט, šāp̄ōṭ tišp̄ōṭ) - The repetition of the verb "to judge" (šāp̄aṭ) in the perfect and imperfect forms intensifies the command. It signifies not just an utterance but a definitive, inevitable judicial sentence. It suggests a thorough examination and declaration of guilt.
- "the city of bloodshed" (Hebrew: עִיר־דָּמִים, ‘îr-dāmîm) - This is a significant designation. The plural form "dāmîm" (bloodsheds) suggests not isolated incidents but a pervasive, habitual, and widespread practice of shedding innocent blood. This refers to murder, injustice leading to death, and perhaps even the shedding of innocent blood through apostasy and rebellion against God. It embodies the collective guilt of the city.
- "and declare" (Hebrew: וְהִגַּדְתָּ, wəhiɡɡaḏtā) - To make known, to tell, to proclaim. Ezekiel is commanded to loudly and clearly announce the city's guilt and the reasons for its condemnation. This highlights the public nature of the judgment.
- "all its abominations" (Hebrew: אֶת־כָּל־תּוֹעֲבֹתֶיהָ, ’eṯ-kōl-tō‘ăḇōṯêhā) - "Abominations" (tô‘ăḇōṯ) refers to things detestable to God, encompassing idolatry, wickedness, and every kind of defiled practice that violated the Mosaic Law and the covenant. This phrase points to the systemic nature of the city's sinfulness, beyond just bloodshed.
Ezekiel 22 2 Bonus Section
The designation "city of bloodshed" resonates throughout the Old Testament prophetic literature, often used as a powerful symbol of deep societal sin and impending judgment. The plural form "bloodsheds" strongly implies that the violence and injustice were not sporadic but a constant feature of life in Jerusalem, indicative of a corrupt ruling class and a morally decayed populace. This also connects to the blood that would eventually be shed in Jesus' crucifixion, which Jerusalem’s leaders ultimately condemned upon themselves and their city, as foretold by Jesus himself (Matt 23:35). The "abominations" encompass both outward acts and internal spiritual corruption, revealing a city estranged from its covenant Lord.
Ezekiel 22 2 Commentary
This verse is a direct and forceful indictment of Jerusalem. The prophet is instructed to explicitly name the city’s character—a "city of bloodshed." This appellation isn't merely descriptive but accusatory, underscoring the city’s deep-seated corruption that extends to violence and the taking of innocent life. The repetition of "judge" emphasizes the finality and certainty of God’s verdict. Ezekiel’s task is to unveil the magnitude of Jerusalem’s sins, particularly its many "abominations," which include idolatry, injustice, and systemic disregard for divine law. This pronouncement prepares the way for the detailed listing of these sins that follows in the chapter, demonstrating God’s active and retributive justice against persistent unrighteousness.