Ezekiel 22 5

Ezekiel 22:5 kjv

Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.

Ezekiel 22:5 nkjv

Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult.

Ezekiel 22:5 niv

Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil.

Ezekiel 22:5 esv

Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you; your name is defiled; you are full of tumult.

Ezekiel 22:5 nlt

O infamous city, filled with confusion, you will be mocked by people far and near.

Ezekiel 22 verses

Ezekiel 22 5 Meaning

Ezekiel 22:5 declares that Jerusalem, because of its rampant corruption and injustice, will become an object of universal derision. Both neighboring and distant peoples will mock it. Its notoriety for sin and internal disorder will be fully exposed, bringing widespread shame.

Ezekiel 22 5 Context

Ezekiel 22 opens with a pronouncement of judgment against Jerusalem, explicitly detailing the city's egregious sins. The prophet lists widespread idolatry, bloodshed, disrespect for family and authority, oppression of the vulnerable (foreigners, orphans, widows), sexual abominations, bribery, usury, and general corruption. These sins had defiled the city that was meant to be holy to the Lord. Verse 5 fits into this litany of indictments, highlighting the outcome of such moral decay: Jerusalem, a city once renowned for God's presence, will be stripped of its dignity and become a public spectacle of shame. Historically, this prophecy foretells the impending Babylonian siege and destruction (586 BC), which indeed led to Jerusalem's humiliation before the surrounding nations and distant empires, as its supposed divine protection was exposed as futile in the face of its rampant iniquity.

Ezekiel 22 5 Word analysis

• Those who are near and those who are far:

  • Original Word & Meaning: Hebrew: קְרוֹבִים (qerovim - near ones) and רְחוֹקִים (rechoqim - far ones).
  • Significance: This emphasizes the universal reach of Jerusalem's disgrace. It will be known by immediate neighbors, such as Edom, Moab, and Philistia, who had long observed and often delighted in Judah's struggles. It also includes powerful, distant empires like Babylon and other great powers of the ancient Near East, who would hear of its collapse. This highlights that God's judgment and the consequences of sin are not hidden; they are displayed publicly for all to witness.
  • Biblical Connection: Echoes Deut 28:37 where Israel is prophesied to become "a horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples."

• will mock you:

  • Original Word & Meaning: Hebrew: לָעַג (la'ag - to mock, scorn, deride, show contempt).
  • Significance: This verb signifies more than simple observation; it conveys active derision, scoffing, and triumph over Jerusalem's downfall. Such mockery from pagan nations would be a deep wound to the city's pride and identity, especially as it was seen as the dwelling place of the Most High God. This public humiliation underscores the extent of its fall and God's righteous wrath.
  • Biblical Connection: Seen in Lamentations (e.g., Lam 1:7; 2:15-16), where Jerusalem is indeed mocked by those who pass by.

• O infamous one:

  • Original Word & Meaning: Hebrew: טְמֵאַת שֵׁם (t'met shem - defiled of name, or unclean of name). Tameh (טָמֵא) means ritually unclean or polluted, while shem (שֵׁם) means name, reputation, character, or renown.
  • Significance: Jerusalem was meant to be "the Holy City," bearing the name and glory of Yahweh. This phrase indicates that its actual character has become the antithesis of its intended identity. Its "name" – its reputation and very essence – has become polluted by widespread sin, turning its honor into notorious shame. It is stained and spiritually impure, exposing the deep spiritual decay at its core.
  • Biblical Connection: Directly contrasts with Jerusalem's intended status as "holy" (e.g., Isa 52:1, Zech 2:12), highlighting its defilement from God's standards (Lev 18:24-25).

• full of tumult:

  • Original Word & Meaning: Hebrew: רַבַּת מְהוּמָה (rabbat mehumah - abundant/full of uproar, confusion, disorder, panic). Rabbat (רַבַּת) denotes abundance or fullness, and mehumah (מְהוּמָה) describes a state of violent commotion, disorder, or panic, often linked to divine judgment creating internal chaos.
  • Significance: This points to the internal state of Jerusalem. It wasn't just external reputation; within its walls, there was widespread injustice, violence, social disarray, and moral chaos rather than peace (shalom) and order. This moral and social anarchy created a cacophony of oppression and corruption, making the city a hub of unrest that would eventually collapse under its own internal turmoil, and inviting external judgment.
  • Biblical Connection: Occurs in military contexts (e.g., 1 Sam 14:20 referring to a great panic or confusion from God), but here applied to social/moral chaos caused by sin.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Those who are near and those who are far will mock you": This phrase powerfully conveys the universal, public, and inescapable nature of Jerusalem's impending shame. No corner of the earth will be ignorant of its fall; its disgrace will become a widely known testament to the consequences of forsaking God's ways. The enemies' mocking becomes an ironic fulfillment of divine justice, as God permits their scorn to reveal His holy judgment.
  • "O infamous one, full of tumult": These two descriptive titles summarize the city's tragic transformation. "Infamous one" articulates how Jerusalem's renowned sanctity has devolved into notorious sin, where its character and identity are tainted and associated with impurity. "Full of tumult" portrays the pervasive internal chaos resulting from rampant injustice, violence, and social disorder, indicating a complete breakdown of its spiritual and civic structure. Together, these phrases explain why it will be mocked: its true, corrupted nature is now utterly apparent and universally condemned.

Ezekiel 22 5 Bonus section

• The public shame described in this verse is a significant aspect of ancient Near Eastern culture, where honor and shame played crucial roles in social and political life. To be mocked by outsiders was one of the deepest forms of humiliation.
• This prophecy demonstrates that God's reputation is also intertwined with the behavior of His people. When Jerusalem, meant to bear God's name, became defiled, it brought reproach not only upon itself but also, in the eyes of the nations, upon the God who dwelt there. Yet, this judgment was ultimately for the purification and vindication of God's holy name (Ezek 36:20-23).
• The use of "you" as the direct object of the prophecy emphasizes a personal confrontation between God and Jerusalem, treating the city as a living, accountable entity.

Ezekiel 22 5 Commentary

Ezekiel 22:5 serves as a scathing indictment and prophecy of divine judgment upon Jerusalem. The verse succinctly captures the city's moral and spiritual bankruptcy, projecting its eventual downfall as a spectacle of global shame. Jerusalem, once the chosen city, intended to embody holiness and justice, had instead become a festering center of sin—especially bloodshed and oppression. This radical deviation from its divine calling rendered its very name "infamous" (defiled), transforming its sacred renown into widespread infamy. Its internal life was not one of peace, but "full of tumult," characterized by relentless social injustice, violence, and disorder, reflecting a chaotic rejection of God's order. This profound moral and spiritual pollution would not remain hidden. God, in His righteousness, would allow the city's disgrace to be publicly displayed. The "mockery" from "near and far" nations—a bitter pill for Judah—is presented as an inevitable consequence and a further instrument of divine judgment. This open humiliation reveals that God does not overlook the pervasive sin of His own people, nor does He exempt them from judgment, even if it brings temporary reproach to His own name through their failures. Instead, He ensures that their blatant wickedness becomes an open testimony to the world of the severe consequences of defying His covenant.