Ezekiel 24 11

Ezekiel 24:11 kjv

Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.

Ezekiel 24:11 nkjv

"Then set the pot empty on the coals, That it may become hot and its bronze may burn, That its filthiness may be melted in it, That its scum may be consumed.

Ezekiel 24:11 niv

Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away.

Ezekiel 24:11 esv

Then set it empty upon the coals, that it may become hot, and its copper may burn, that its uncleanness may be melted in it, its corrosion consumed.

Ezekiel 24:11 nlt

Now set the empty pot on the coals.
Heat it red hot!
Burn away the filth and corruption.

Ezekiel 24 verses

Ezekiel 24 11 Meaning

Ezekiel 24:11 describes the process of thoroughly cleansing an empty cooking pot by intensely heating it. The pot is placed upon glowing coals so that its bronze material becomes extremely hot, causing any residual filthiness and accumulated scum or corrosion to melt and be utterly consumed or purged away within it. Metaphorically, this verse represents God's severe and inescapable judgment on Jerusalem, likened to a pot whose deep-seated moral and spiritual corruption—its "filthiness" and "scum"—requires a devastating "refining" fire, in this case, the Babylonian siege and destruction, to remove. The "empty" state implies that its contents (the inhabitants) have already suffered, and now the very structure and identity of the city must be purified.

Ezekiel 24 11 Context

Ezekiel 24:11 is part of the "parable of the boiling pot" (vv. 3-14), given to Ezekiel on the very day Nebuchadnezzar began his final siege against Jerusalem (588 BC). The chapter marks a pivotal point, confirming the inevitable and complete destruction of Jerusalem. The pot represents Jerusalem, its inhabitants the choicest pieces of meat and bones (vv. 4-5). The city's "filthiness" (vv. 6-7) refers to its moral depravity, idolatry, injustice, and the shedding of innocent blood. Verse 11 portrays the final, most extreme stage of God's judgment: after the "contents" (people) have been removed or consumed by the siege, the empty pot itself—the very structure and identity of Jerusalem—must undergo a radical purification by intense, consuming fire to cleanse it of its deep, ingrained "scum" and "filthiness" that had made it utterly polluted. This fierce purification signifies that the city's corruption was so profound that only utter destruction could remedy it.

Ezekiel 24 11 Word analysis

• Then set it empty (לְרֵֽקָהּ, lə·re·qāh): The Hebrew verb root for "empty" (ריק, reyq) conveys the idea of vacating, making barren, or emptying out. The phrase suggests a deliberate act after the primary function of the pot (boiling its contents) is done. It signifies that Jerusalem's inhabitants have either been killed, removed, or metaphorically "cooked out," and now the pot (the city) itself is subject to a profound cleansing process.
• upon the coals thereof (גֶחָלֶ֫יהָ, ge·ḥā·le·hā): Geḥālīm refers to glowing embers or live coals, representing intense, scorching heat. In biblical prophecy, fire often symbolizes divine judgment, wrath, or testing. The placement directly on coals emphasizes the severity and the all-consuming nature of this judgment, far beyond mere warmth, aiming for a destructive purification.
• that the brass of it may be hot (נְחֻשְׁתָּהּ יֵחַם, nə·ḥuš·tāh ye·ḥam): Nəḥušhūshā means "bronze" or "copper," a common metal for household pots. Heating the brass refers to impacting the very material substance and foundation of the city. The word yeḥam (from חמם, ḥamām, "to be hot") points to the intended state of extreme temperature, necessary for chemical transformation and removal of impurities.
• and the filthiness of it (טֻמְאָתָהּ, ṭum·ʾā·ṯāh): Ṭumʾā is a strong term for ritual impurity or moral defilement, often associated with idolatry, sin, and shedding blood. This is the ingrained corruption that pollutes Jerusalem's core, the direct cause of God's severe judgment.
• may be molten in it (נִתְּכָה בְתוֹכָהּ, niṯ·kāh ḇə·ṯō·ḵāh): Niṯ·kāh comes from נָתַךְ (nātak), "to pour out" or "melt down." This indicates that the impurity is so fused with the metal that it must literally melt out or dissolve within the pot. The process implies a radical transformation or disintegration of the defilement, becoming fluid and separable.
• that the scum of it (חֶלְאָתָהּ, ḥel·ʾā·ṯāh): Ḥelʾā specifically refers to rust, corrosion, or the hardened residue (scum) that accumulates inside a pot, particularly one used repeatedly for boiling and not properly cleaned. This term highlights the persistent, resistant, and deeply embedded nature of Jerusalem's accumulated sins and corruption, not merely superficial blemishes.
• may be consumed (תִּתֹּם, tiṯ·tōm): From the verb תָּמַם (tāmām), "to be complete," "finished," "consumed," or "utterly destroyed." Here, it signifies the total eradication, the complete end of the scum and filthiness, leaving no trace behind. This speaks to the absolute finality and thoroughness of God's purificatory judgment.

• "Then set it empty upon the coals thereof": This phrase depicts a deliberate and intense act of cleansing directed at the core fabric of Jerusalem, symbolized by the pot, after its "contents" (people) have been dealt with. It emphasizes that even after the initial calamities, the deep-seated spiritual and moral defilement of the city remains, requiring further, radical divine intervention.
• "that the brass of it may be hot, and the filthiness of it may be molten in it": This links the physical property of the pot's material (brass) directly to its moral state (filthiness). The intense heat is not merely punishment but a necessary catalytic process to address and melt away the pervasive and fundamental corruption within the city, suggesting that its sins were profoundly fused into its very identity.
• "that the scum of it may be consumed": This climactic purpose highlights the stubborn and entrenched nature of Jerusalem's sin (scum). The imagery conveys that surface cleansing is insufficient; only an all-consuming fire can obliterate such persistent and deep-rooted wickedness, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to holiness and His ultimate judgment on unrepentant sin.

Ezekiel 24 11 Bonus section

The "empty" state of the pot being placed upon the coals signifies a layered judgment. First, the city's inhabitants were consumed. Second, and perhaps even more chillingly, the vessel itself, stripped of its previous contents, now undergoes an agonizing cleansing. This indicates that Jerusalem's spiritual malady was not superficial; it had permeated the very walls and structure of the city. The metaphor illustrates that the place itself was defiled by the actions of its inhabitants. Furthermore, the act of melting the scum within suggests an irreversible process; there is no possibility of a partial or temporary cleaning. The defilement is to be wholly transformed and utterly eliminated by this fiery process, indicating the point of no return for Jerusalem and the absolute nature of divine wrath against deeply entrenched sin. This level of judgment serves as a profound testament to the holiness of God and the ultimate consequences of His covenant people turning their backs on Him repeatedly.

Ezekiel 24 11 Commentary

Ezekiel 24:11 powerfully communicates the uncompromising nature of God's judgment against chronic sin. Jerusalem's persistent spiritual "filthiness" – idolatry, injustice, and bloodshed – had become deeply embedded, like stubborn corrosion in a metal pot. The metaphor conveys that typical cleansing or warnings were insufficient. God's response is an extreme, refining fire, symbolized by the intense heat from the coals, representing the devastating Babylonian siege. This judgment is not merely to punish but to radically purify, aiming to melt away and utterly consume the deeply ingrained "scum" of its iniquity. Even after the city's inhabitants ("meat" and "bones" of the pot) have suffered, the very fabric of the city demands this severe, destructive cleansing. It illustrates the divine principle that prolonged, unrepentant sin ultimately invites a comprehensive and consuming judgment that aims to obliterate all traces of corruption, even at the cost of destruction.