Ezekiel 22:7 kjv
In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
Ezekiel 22:7 nkjv
In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow.
Ezekiel 22:7 niv
In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the foreigner and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.
Ezekiel 22:7 esv
Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you.
Ezekiel 22:7 nlt
Fathers and mothers are treated with contempt. Foreigners are forced to pay for protection. Orphans and widows are wronged and oppressed among you.
Ezekiel 22 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 22:7 | "In you they have spoken against their fathers, in you they have humbled their mothers..." | Against parents/elders (Ex 20:12; Prov 23:22; Mark 7:11) |
| Eze 22:7 | "...in you they have wronged the sojourner." | Mistreatment of strangers (Lev 19:33-34; Deut 10:19; Ps 146:9; Jer 7:6) |
| Eze 22:7 | Speaking against father, humbling mother. | Disrespect and shame within families (Mal 4:6) |
| Eze 22:7 | Wronging the sojourner. | Ignoring the rights of the vulnerable (Isa 1:17; 1 Tim 5:3) |
| Eze 22:7 | A nation whose foundation is rotten. | Consequences of societal decay (Isa 5:12-13; Jer 17:5-6) |
| Eze 22:7 | Violence and injustice pervasive. | Sin pervades all levels (Mic 3:1-3; Zeph 3:3) |
| Eze 22:7 | Profanation of the holy name. | God is dishonored by sin (Eze 36:20-23) |
| Eze 22:7 | Breaking of oaths and covenant. | Betrayal of God's trust (Eze 16:59) |
| Eze 22:7 | Ignoring spiritual leaders. | Rejecting God's appointed messengers (Jer 5:31) |
| Eze 22:7 | Wasting resources on idolatry. | Misplaced devotion (Jer 10:14-15) |
| Eze 22:7 | Slander and deceit rampant. | Lies and falsehood prevalent (Prov 10:18) |
| Eze 22:7 | Unrighteous judgment and oppression. | Injustice against the weak (Ps 82:3-4) |
| Eze 22:7 | Breaking of sanctity of worship. | Corrupted religious practices (Amos 8:4-6) |
| Eze 22:7 | Profaning sacred things. | Disregard for the holy (Lam 2:6) |
| Eze 22:7 | Rejection of God's law. | Stubborn disobedience (Neh 9:14) |
| Eze 22:7 | Societal breakdown. | Loss of order and family values (Judg 17:6; Judg 21:25) |
| Eze 22:7 | Father and mother figures disrespected. | Disregard for authority and respect (Eph 6:1-2) |
| Eze 22:7 | Sojourner, stranger unprotected. | Lack of compassion and hospitality (Gal 3:28) |
| Eze 22:7 | Israel's sins recapitulated. | Repetition of historical failures (Ps 106:34-38) |
| Eze 22:7 | Judah's sin worse than ancestors. | Incremental spiritual decline (2 Kings 21:1-2) |
Ezekiel 22 verses
Ezekiel 22 7 Meaning
Ezekiel 22:7 states: "In you they have spoken against their fathers, in you they have humbled their mothers, in you they have wronged the sojourner." This verse vividly portrays the severe moral and spiritual corruption within Jerusalem, highlighting the widespread disrespect and mistreatment of foundational familial relationships and vulnerable outsiders. It's a declaration of their transgression against basic societal and divine order.
Ezekiel 22 7 Context
Ezekiel 22 is a chapter of severe indictment against Jerusalem. The prophet Ezekiel is given a vision detailing the depth of sin and corruption that has permeated the city and its people. This chapter is a powerful exposé of a nation that has turned away from God, breaking every core commandment. The specific verse in question, Ezekiel 22:7, exemplifies this breakdown by detailing transgressions within familial structures and against vulnerable members of society, revealing a nation stripped of its moral fabric and covenantal obligations. Historically, this judgment was prophesied against Judah during a period leading up to the Babylonian exile, a consequence for their persistent disobedience.
Ezekiel 22 7 Word Analysis
- בָּךְ (bak): "in you" - This prepositional phrase indicates the location or sphere where these transgressions are occurring. It emphasizes that Jerusalem itself is the locus of this severe sin, encompassing its people and institutions.
- עָלוּ (alu): "have spoken against" (literally, "have gone up against") - This verb, used here in the perfect tense, signifies completed action, emphasizing the settled and continuous nature of this verbal abuse and opposition directed at familial elders.
- אָב (av): "father" - Refers to one's parent, specifically the male progenitor. The insult here signifies profound disrespect for parental authority and heritage.
- בָּךְ (bak): "in you" - Reinforces that the actions are internalized within the community.
- הָנִחוּ (hanichu): "have humbled" or "have oppressed" - From the root נוּחַ (nuach), meaning "to rest" or "to be humbled." Here it implies degradation or subjecting one's mother to indignity and suffering, a grave offense.
- אֵם (em): "mother" - Refers to one's parent, specifically the female progenitor. Disrespecting and humbling a mother is a violation of familial bonds and natural affection.
- בָּךְ (bak): "in you" - Further pinpointing the locus of the wrongdoing.
- עָשְׁקוּ (ashku): "have wronged" or "have oppressed" - This verb implies exerting undue pressure, violating rights, or cheating. It points to exploitation and mistreatment.
- גֵר (ger): "sojourner" or "stranger" or "foreigner" - Refers to an alien living within the community, who is by nature vulnerable and in need of protection under the law and custom.
Words-Group Analysis
- "spoken against their fathers," "humbled their mothers": This parallel structure highlights a systemic decay of respect within the most basic family unit. It’s not just isolated incidents but a pattern of behavior that demeans and disrespects parental figures, showing a collapse of familial hierarchy and reverence.
- "wronged the sojourner": This phrase demonstrates the failure to uphold justice and compassion towards the most vulnerable members of society. The sojourner, an outsider, represents those without strong familial or social protection, and their oppression reveals a society devoid of basic empathy and fairness, failing to extend the covenantal protection God mandated.
Ezekiel 22 7 Bonus Section
This verse encapsulates the essence of unrighteousness by pointing to the internal disintegration of society, specifically within family units, and the external mistreatment of the vulnerable. This inversion of respect and compassion is often a precursor to national judgment, as seen in the consistent emphasis on the importance of honoring parents and treating foreigners justly throughout Scripture. The "sojourner" or "stranger" motif is significant because Israel was itself a sojourner in Egypt, and God commanded them to remember this and to extend kindness. Their failure to do so was a direct repudiation of God's covenant and character. The pervasiveness of these sins ("in you they have...") suggests that these transgressions were not fringe elements but central to the city's corrupt character, underscoring the totality of their spiritual and moral rebellion.
Ezekiel 22 7 Commentary
Ezekiel 22:7 describes a society deeply flawed, where the most fundamental pillars of respect and justice—family honor and care for the vulnerable—have been systematically eroded. The inhabitants of Jerusalem, by "speaking against their fathers" and "humbling their mothers," displayed a shocking contempt for parental authority and the sanctity of familial relationships. This disrespect extended outward, as they "wronged the sojourner," the unprotected foreigner dwelling among them, showing a complete lack of compassion and justice. This verse is a stark indictment of a people who have not only turned away from God's commandments but have also dismantled the very social fabric that would reflect divine order and love. Their sin is profound, touching upon the core of human decency and religious duty.