Ezekiel 22 3

Ezekiel 22:3 kjv

Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.

Ezekiel 22:3 nkjv

Then say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The city sheds blood in her own midst, that her time may come; and she makes idols within herself to defile herself.

Ezekiel 22:3 niv

and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood in her midst and defiles herself by making idols,

Ezekiel 22:3 esv

You shall say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A city that sheds blood in her midst, so that her time may come, and that makes idols to defile herself!

Ezekiel 22:3 nlt

and give her this message from the Sovereign LORD: O city of murderers, doomed and damned ? city of idols, filthy and foul ?

Ezekiel 22 verses

Ezekiel 22 3 Meaning

Ezekiel 22:3 declares the Lord GOD's pronouncement of judgment upon Jerusalem. It directly charges the city with two primary, egregious sins: the shedding of innocent blood within its borders, indicating widespread violence, injustice, and murder; and the deliberate making of idols for itself, signifying rampant idolatry and a profound rejection of the one true God. These actions are condemned as self-defilement, rendering the city ceremonially and spiritually unclean before its holy God and setting the stage for divine retribution.

Ezekiel 22 3 Context

Ezekiel chapter 22 initiates a powerful and scathing indictment against Jerusalem, depicted as a "bloody city" and likened to dross that is worthless. The prophet, speaking from exile, is conveying a message of imminent and deserved divine judgment for the city's manifold sins, a final warning before its complete destruction in 586 BC. Verse 3 serves as the direct accusation, pinpointing two principal transgressions that encapsulate the city's rebellion: the pervasive social injustice evidenced by innocent bloodshed, and the widespread spiritual apostasy manifested in idolatry. Historically, Jerusalem during the later monarchical period, especially under kings like Manasseh, was rife with both these evils. The worship of foreign gods alongside the true God had become entrenched, and social structures were corrupt, allowing the powerful to oppress and even kill the innocent. This verse sets the tone for the entire chapter, which meticulously catalogues Jerusalem's specific failures across all societal strata – from priests to princes to prophets – demonstrating why God's severe judgment is just and necessary.

Ezekiel 22 3 Word analysis

• Then say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:' (וְאָמַרְתָּ כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה – v'amarta koh amar Adonai YHWH)

  • Then say: Direct imperative to Ezekiel, indicating the divine origin of the message.
  • Thus says the Lord GOD: A standard prophetic formula (כֹּה אָמַר יהוה – koh amar YHWH) that emphatically asserts the message's direct authority from the sovereign God (Adonai, denoting mastership, combined with YHWH, the covenant name). This immediately establishes the gravity and unassailable truth of the coming declaration. It is not Ezekiel's opinion, but God's unmediated word.

• O city that sheds blood (הָעִיר שֹׁפֶכֶת דָּם – ha'ir shopheket dam)

  • O city: Refers to Jerusalem, directly personified. The intimate address highlights its status as the chosen city, now corrupted.
  • that sheds (שֹׁפֶכֶת – shopheket): Present participle, indicating an ongoing, continuous action. It implies not just an act, but a practice, a defining characteristic. The word can mean to pour out or shed, emphasizing the deliberate act of spilling life.
  • blood (דָּם – dam): Not just blood, but innocent human blood. In Hebrew thought, blood represents life itself, which belongs to God (Lev 17:11). Its unjust shedding is a profound violation of divine order and defiles the land (Num 35:33-34).

• in her midst (בְּתוֹכָהּ – b'tochah)

  • This phrase emphasizes that the sin is internal and pervasive. It's not external threats or a few isolated incidents, but deeply ingrained corruption within the very heart of the city, implicating its internal life, systems, and people. It speaks to systemic injustice.

• and makes idols (וְעֹשָׂה גִלּוּלִים – v'osah gillulim)

  • and makes (וְעֹשָׂה – v'osah): Again, a present participle, pointing to an ongoing practice of creation. The people actively engaged in constructing and instituting idolatry.
  • idols (גִּלּוּלִים – gillulim): This is a highly pejorative term used frequently by Ezekiel and other prophets (e.g., Lev 26:30, 1 Kgs 15:12, Jer 50:2, Ezek 6:4). Derived from a root meaning "to roll," it metaphorically refers to "dung pellets" or "worthless things," expressing utter contempt for the false gods and practices. It highlights the foolishness and degradation of worshipping man-made objects.

• for herself to defile herself! (לְטָמְאָהּ – l'tam'ah)

  • for herself: Underscores that the city's idolatry was self-initiated and self-serving, a deliberate choice against God's covenant.
  • to defile herself (לְטָמְאָהּ – l'tam'ah): The infinitive purpose clause. Idolatry's explicit result and intent (from a spiritual perspective) is self-defilement. It renders the city morally and spiritually unclean, breaking its covenant relationship with a holy God. Defilement separates one from divine presence and necessitates purification or results in judgment (Lev 18:24-28).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "O city that sheds blood in her midst": This phrase combines the identification of Jerusalem with the pervasive and deeply embedded nature of violence and injustice within its societal fabric. It is not just a place where blood is shed, but a city characterized by this active transgression.
  • "and makes idols for herself to defile herself": This group connects active creation of false gods with the immediate consequence and inherent purpose of self-corruption. Idolatry isn't passive; it's a willful act of allegiance that inherently contaminates the spiritual purity of the worshipper and the community. It represents a deliberate breaking of the covenant relationship with God.

Ezekiel 22 3 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of "sheds blood" and "makes idols" is highly significant, reflecting a common prophetic theme. In Israelite thought, breaking the first commandment (idolatry) inherently leads to the breaking of subsequent commandments, particularly those related to the sanctity of human life and justice. When allegiance shifts from the true God, the moral compass of society is lost, making injustice and violence (including the judicial murder of the innocent or child sacrifice in pagan rites) inevitable outcomes. Idolatry pollutes the spiritual realm, while bloodshed defiles the land itself and society, rendering it unfit for God's dwelling or blessing (Lev 18:25, Pss 106:36-39). The intensity of "for herself to defile herself" points to the inherent self-destructive nature of sin – it's a wound inflicted by the community upon itself, leading to alienation from God. This double accusation speaks to a holistic apostasy: rebellion against God's being (idolatry) and rebellion against His character in society (bloodshed).

Ezekiel 22 3 Commentary

Ezekiel 22:3 is a foundational accusation in God's judgment against Jerusalem, pinpointing the dual offenses of rampant social injustice (shedding blood) and widespread spiritual apostasy (making idols). The prophetic formula "Thus says the Lord GOD" authenticates the pronouncement as divine and immutable. The term "city" is personified, making the condemnation deeply personal and highlighting Jerusalem's betrayal of its chosen status. "Sheds blood in her midst" conveys that violence, murder, and systemic injustice were not peripheral but core to the city's internal life and culture, indicative of a society where life's sanctity was disregarded. This bloodshed was often linked to the corruption of the powerful and legal systems, allowing the innocent to suffer without recourse. Concurrently, the city "makes idols," a stark violation of the first two commandments. The use of "gillulim" ("dung-gods") by Ezekiel emphasizes the contemptible and debased nature of these false deities, signaling a deliberate turning from the holy God of Israel. Both sins culminate in "defiling herself," underscoring the spiritual and moral impurity that separates the city from God's presence and provokes His righteous wrath. This verse encapsulates the comprehensive breakdown of both the moral-ethical and cultic-religious spheres, presenting a complete picture of Judah's rebellion which necessitated divine intervention. Practically, this verse reminds believers that true faith demands both upright conduct in society (avoiding injustice) and singular devotion to God (avoiding all forms of idolatry, including modern attachments that usurp God's place).