Ezekiel 22 31

Ezekiel 22:31 kjv

Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 22:31 nkjv

Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 22:31 niv

So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."

Ezekiel 22:31 esv

Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD."

Ezekiel 22:31 nlt

So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"

Ezekiel 22 verses

Ezekiel 22 31 Meaning

This verse powerfully declares God's unwavering judgment upon Jerusalem. He states His intention to pour out His fury and indignation upon them, consuming them with the fire of His jealousy. The verse emphasizes the severity and totality of God's wrath as a direct consequence of their idolatry and abominations.

Ezekiel 22 31 Context

Ezekiel 22 depicts Jerusalem as a city utterly consumed by sin. It details the corruption of its leaders, priests, and people, who engaged in idolatry, injustice, bloodshed, and perversion. The chapter acts as a final condemnation before the prophesied destruction of the city by the Babylonians. Verse 31, in particular, summarizes the ultimate cause of Jerusalem's downfall: God's unyielding wrath poured out because of their persistent unfaithfulness and abhorrent practices.

Ezekiel 22 31 Word Analysis

• And I poured (Hebrew: וָאֶשְׁפֹּךְ - va'eshpōkh): This is the conjunctive waw followed by the imperfect tense of the verb שָׁפַךְ (shāp̄aḵ), meaning "to pour out" or "to shed." It signifies an action in progress or a deliberate, comprehensive outpouring. The past tense "poured" reflects God's decisive action and pronouncement of judgment.

• out (Shāp̄aḵ conveys completeness; nothing is held back.)

• my fury (Hebrew: חֲמָתִי - khamātī): Khamáh refers to hot anger, wrath, indignation, or rage. The possessive suffix "-i" denotes it as God's personal wrath. This emphasizes the righteous indignation of God against sin.

• upon (Hebrew: עַל - ʿal): A preposition indicating direction, upon, over, against.

• you (Hebrew: עָלֵיכֶם - ʿalêḵem): Plural masculine pronoun. Refers to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and by extension, the nation of Israel.

• and I poured (Hebrew: וְאֶשְׁפֹּךְ - wəʾeshpōḵ): Another instance of the verb shāp̄aḵ, signifying another outpouring.

• out

• my indignation (Hebrew: זַעֲמִי - zaʿamî): Zaʿam signifies rage, fury, indignation, displeasure, or wrath. It's often used for the wrath of God against sin. The possessive suffix "-i" again personalizes it.

• upon (Hebrew: עָלֶיהָ - ʿalêhā): Plural feminine pronoun. Though the antecedent is "you" (masculine plural), the "upon her" here likely refers to the city of Jerusalem, which is grammatically feminine in Hebrew. This poetic shift can represent the personification of the city receiving the wrath.

• and I consumed (Hebrew: וָאַכְלִי - wāʾaḵlî): The conjunctive waw followed by the imperfect tense of the verb אָכַל (ʾāḵal), meaning "to eat," "to consume," or "to devour." It signifies complete destruction. The root ʾāḵal is used metaphorically for intense destruction, such as by fire or sword.

• them (Hebrew: בָּהֶם - bāhem): Plural pronoun, referring back to "you" (the people).

• with (Hebrew: בְּ - bə): Preposition indicating means or instrument.

• the fire (Hebrew: אֵשׁ - ʾēsh): Literally fire, representing intense destructive power, a common metaphor for divine judgment.

• of my jealousy (Hebrew: קִנְאָתִי - qɪnʾātî): Qen'á means jealousy, zeal, envy, or ardor. In the context of God, it signifies His passionate, protective zeal for His covenant and His hatred of idolatry and disloyalty, which incites His wrath. The possessive suffix "-i" links this jealousy directly to God.

• Groups of words:

  • "poured out my fury... my indignation" (וָאֶשְׁפֹּךְ... זַעֲמִי): This repetition emphasizes the thoroughness and severity of God's judgment. It is not a partial response but a complete outpouring.
  • "consumed them with the fire of my jealousy" (וָאַכְלִי בָּהֶם בְּאֵשׁ קִנְאָתִי): This striking imagery portrays God's jealousy not as a passive emotion but an active, destructive force, like fire that devours completely. Jealousy here refers to God's passionate commitment to His covenant and His righteous anger against those who betray it through idolatry.

Ezekiel 22 31 Bonus Section

The concept of God's "jealousy" (קִנְאָה, qen'á) is significant throughout Scripture. It does not carry the negative connotations of human jealousy but rather denotes a zealous, protective passion. God is jealous for His people's exclusive devotion because He knows this exclusive devotion is best for them and is the right response to His covenant love. In Exodus 20:5, God declares Himself a "jealous God," showing that this characteristic is intrinsic to His covenant relationship. This verse in Ezekiel serves as a potent reminder that sin and idolatry provoke a righteous and serious response from a God who passionately loves and cares for His people, but also demands faithfulness.

Ezekiel 22 31 Commentary

This verse starkly illustrates God's righteous anger. It's not a capricious rage, but a holy indignation stirred by the deep betrayal of His covenant through the persistent idolatry and wicked practices of Jerusalem. The outpouring of His fury and indignation, likened to a consuming fire fueled by His jealousy, signifies the total and absolute judgment that will fall upon the city. God’s jealousy here is protective, safeguarding His honor and covenant from the violation brought by idolatry. The imagery conveys the severity of the consequences for such profound unfaithfulness.