Ezekiel 22 25

Ezekiel 22:25 kjv

There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.

Ezekiel 22:25 nkjv

The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.

Ezekiel 22:25 niv

There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her.

Ezekiel 22:25 esv

The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.

Ezekiel 22:25 nlt

Your princes plot conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey. They devour innocent people, seizing treasures and extorting wealth. They make many widows in the land.

Ezekiel 22 verses

Ezekiel 22 25 Meaning

Ezekiel 22:25 powerfully condemns the false prophets in Jerusalem who, like ravenous lions, brutally oppress and exploit the people. They use their spiritual influence for material gain, plundering wealth and destroying lives, resulting in widespread suffering, exemplified by the proliferation of widows within the city. This verse exposes their hypocrisy, greed, and the devastating societal consequences of their ungodly leadership, showing how they contribute to the nation's spiritual and moral decay.

Ezekiel 22 25 Context

Ezekiel chapter 22 serves as a scathing divine indictment against the city of Jerusalem, cataloging the widespread moral and spiritual corruption that has led to its impending judgment and destruction by Babylon. This chapter meticulously exposes the sins of every segment of society: the idolatry and bloodshed pervasive among its people, the abuse of power by its princes (verses 6-12), the profanation of sacred things by its priests (verse 26), and here, the exploitation and deception perpetuated by its prophets (verse 25). The historical context is the period leading up to Jerusalem's final fall in 586 BCE. Despite repeated warnings through faithful prophets, the nation remained unrepentant. Ezekiel 22:25 specifically condemns the false prophets who, instead of guiding the people toward repentance and righteousness, participated in and even facilitated the city's decay, driven by greed and a desire for self-enrichment, thus contributing to the widespread social injustices that devastated the vulnerable within society.

Ezekiel 22 25 Word analysis

• Her prophets: (נְבִיאֶיהָ, nĕviʼeha) This refers to the false prophets operating within Jerusalem and Judah. These individuals falsely claimed divine inspiration, speaking "visions of peace" when judgment was certain (Jer 23:16-17) and comforting people in their sins instead of calling for true repentance. They were instruments of deceit, directly misleading the nation and eroding spiritual discernment, contrasting sharply with the true prophetic ministry that challenged wickedness.
• are like a roaring lion: (כְּאַרְיֵה שׁוֹאֵג, k'aryeh shō'eg) This vivid simile paints the false prophets as vicious and aggressive predators. A "roaring lion" signifies power, terror, and an imminent, merciless attack, contrasting with any protective or shepherding role expected of spiritual leaders. This imagery portrays their active, rapacious, and unyielding pursuit of their destructive objectives, resembling oppressive rulers in other texts (Prov 28:15; Zeph 3:3).
• tearing its prey; (טוֹרֵף טֶרֶף, ṭoreph ṭereph) This phrase intensifies the predatory image, denoting violent and destructive action. "Tearing" indicates the complete breaking apart and destruction of their victims, illustrating the ruthless, unmerciful, and consuming nature of the false prophets' actions, where the people are treated as mere spoils.
• they devour people, (נֶפֶשׁ אָכְלוּ, nephesh akh'lu) The Hebrew nephesh encompasses "life," "soul," or "person." Thus, they not only exploit materially but also spiritually and physically consume the very lifeblood of the populace. This points to a destructive influence that goes beyond mere financial exploitation, leading to spiritual demise, loss of hope, and profound societal suffering under their leadership.
• seize treasure and precious things, (חַיִל וִיקָר יִקָּחוּ, chayil viqar yiqaḥu) This reveals the primary motivation behind their actions: covetousness and greed. "Chayil" can mean wealth, power, or military strength, while "yeqar" means precious or valuable. The prophets exploited their position and the people's trust to unjustly enrich themselves, using their spiritual office as a means for illicit financial gain, indicating profound corruption within religious circles.
• and make many widows within her. (וְאַלְמְנוֹתֶיהָ הִרְבּוּ בְתוֹכָהּ, v'almanoteha hirbu v'tôkhāh) This devastating consequence highlights the extreme societal breakdown resulting from the false prophets' actions. Widows were among the most vulnerable and defenseless in ancient Israelite society (Ex 22:22-24). An increase in their numbers signifies widespread male deaths (due to violence, famine, injustice, or the judgments brought by God that these prophets failed to avert), profound social decay, and the loss of protection and support for many households, indicating gross systemic injustice fostered by the leadership.
• "Her prophets are like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people": This group of words graphically portrays the false prophets not as shepherds protecting the flock, but as ferocious predators. Their purported spiritual guidance masks a brutal, consuming nature, demonstrating that they are actively engaged in the destruction of the very lives they claim to minister to.
• "devour people, seize treasure and precious things, and make many widows": This progression details the spectrum of the false prophets' depravity. It moves from general devastation of lives to specific financial exploitation, and culminates in the societal impact of increased vulnerability and suffering among the populace, linking their avarice directly to tragic human consequences.

Ezekiel 22 25 Bonus section

This verse forms a crucial part of God's holistic condemnation of Judah's leadership in Ezekiel 22. It mirrors the indictments against the princes (verse 6-12, compared to "ravaging wolves") and priests (verse 26, for profaning holy things), emphasizing that all sectors of authority were corrupted. The imagery of the "lion" used to describe these prophets is ironic, as God Himself is sometimes depicted as a lion coming to judge or reclaim (Hos 11:10; Amos 3:8). Here, it is human corruption subverting this symbol of strength into a metaphor for destructive, self-serving power. The increase of widows directly signifies the moral failure of a society that, under the false prophets' influence, had forgotten its covenant obligations to care for the vulnerable and uphold justice (Deut 10:18; Jas 1:27). The message implicitly highlights the critical role of true prophets like Ezekiel, who courageously delivered difficult truths even when they threatened powerful, corrupt establishments.

Ezekiel 22 25 Commentary

Ezekiel 22:25 stands as a profound indictment of the false prophets in Jerusalem, portraying them not as divine messengers but as ravenous, predatory lions. They wielded their perceived spiritual authority not to guide, but to exploit and destroy the very people they claimed to serve. Their insatiable greed led them to "devour" people, consuming both their material wealth and their very lives through spiritual deceit and the validation of wickedness. The dire outcome of their actions—the proliferation of widows—symbolizes a society fractured by profound injustice, widespread death, and neglected vulnerability. This verse highlights how corrupt spiritual leadership directly leads to severe societal suffering and systemic injustice, inviting God's inescapable judgment upon a nation that tolerated and even thrived on such pervasive wickedness. It underscores the divine wrath against those who use religion for selfish gain, abandoning their sacred trust and ultimately contributing to the demise of their community.