Ezekiel 7 23

Ezekiel 7:23 kjv

Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.

Ezekiel 7:23 nkjv

'Make a chain, For the land is filled with crimes of blood, And the city is full of violence.

Ezekiel 7:23 niv

"?'Prepare chains! For the land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence.

Ezekiel 7:23 esv

"Forge a chain! For the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence.

Ezekiel 7:23 nlt

"Prepare chains for my people,
for the land is bloodied by terrible crimes.
Jerusalem is filled with violence.

Ezekiel 7 verses

Ezekiel 7 23 meaning

Ezekiel 7:23 serves as a divine command for the inevitable judgment to be enacted against Judah and Jerusalem. The phrase "Make a chain" symbolically represents the impending captivity, subjugation, and the binding nature of God's righteous judgment. This severe punishment is explicitly justified by the pervasive and grave sins of the nation: the land being "full of bloody crimes" (denoting widespread bloodshed, perverted justice, and bloodguilt) and the capital city being "full of violence" (signifying brutal injustice, oppression, and societal breakdown). The verse underscores the divine response to deep-seated moral corruption, where judgment is a direct consequence of persistent sin.

Ezekiel 7 23 Context

Ezekiel chapter 7 is a prophecy of swift, imminent, and universal destruction upon the land of Israel and its people. It marks a decisive "end" (Ezek 7:2) to their period of grace and prosperity. The prophet relays God's declaration that judgment is approaching rapidly, reaching every corner of the land. This chapter details various aspects of their downfall: their idols will be shattered, their wealth will become worthless, their false prophets will be exposed, and all attempts at seeking help or repentance will be in vain. The nation, including its kings, priests, and elders, will be gripped by despair and terror (Ezek 7:26-27). The historical context is the final days leading up to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, during Ezekiel's early exile in Babylon. The people in Judah, particularly Jerusalem, still clung to a false sense of security, believing God would protect His temple and city despite their profound idolatry and moral corruption. Ezekiel 7:23 highlights a primary reason for this inescapable doom: the deep-seated societal corruption manifest in pervasive injustice and violence throughout the land and city, explicitly justifying the severity of the impending captivity.

Ezekiel 7 23 Word analysis

• Make (`asah` עשה): This Hebrew verb means to do, make, or prepare. Here, it functions as a divine command, signaling the active implementation of judgment. It's not a suggestion but a directive for the inevitable.
• a chain (`hasharsheret` הַשַּׁרְשֶׁרֶת): The Hebrew noun `sharsheret` refers to a chain, links, or a necklace. In this context, it unequivocally symbolizes captivity, imprisonment, and the binding of the nation under foreign rule. It signifies a loss of freedom, an enforced servitude, and the inescapable grasp of divine judgment. This metaphorical or literal chain implies a thorough and inescapable capture.
• for (כִּי `ki`): This conjunction indicates causality, meaning "because" or "for." It directly links the command to make a chain with the subsequent description of Israel's transgressions, emphasizing that the judgment is a righteous response to their sins.
• the land (`ha'aretz` הָאָ֕רֶץ): Specifically refers to the land of Israel, the covenant territory God had given His people. Its inclusion highlights that the corruption is not confined to the capital but is widespread across the entire nation, encompassing rural and urban areas alike.
• is full of (`male'` מָלְאָ֤ה): The verb `male'` means to be full, filled, or complete. It denotes saturation, suggesting that the land's iniquity is not isolated but overwhelming, reaching a tipping point where divine intervention is unavoidable.
• bloody crimes (`dāmīm mishpat` דָּמִים֙ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט): This potent Hebrew phrase means "bloods of judgment" or "judgments of blood." `Dāmīm` (plural for blood) often signifies bloodshed, bloodguilt, or murder, particularly innocent blood. `Mishpat` typically refers to justice, judgment, or law. Together, it strongly indicates judicial corruption, where justice is perverted, leading to innocent bloodshed, violent injustices carried out under legal guise, or systematic violence intertwined with the legal system. It denotes widespread murderous acts and profound bloodguilt, demanding divine retribution.
• and the city (`w'ha'ir` וְהָעִ֖יר): Refers specifically to Jerusalem, the capital, the spiritual and political heart of Judah, often considered inviolable. Its mention underscores that even the holy city, once the dwelling place of God's presence, has become a hotbed of transgression.
• is full of (`male'` מָלְאָ֣ה): Reiterates the completeness and saturation of sin within the city, paralleling the condition of the entire land.
• violence (`chāmās` חָמָֽס): This Hebrew noun denotes brutal violence, oppression, injustice, or wrong-doing. It refers to aggressive acts that violate rights and cause harm, encompassing social injustice, exploitation, and moral depravity. The same word is used to describe the earth before Noah's flood (Gen 6:11, 13), signifying a profound level of unrighteousness that merits devastating judgment.

• "Make a chain": This phrase commands the implementation of inescapable judgment, particularly foreign captivity and enslavement. It reflects the Lord’s decision to deliver His people into the hands of their enemies as a direct consequence of their actions. The chain is both a physical symbol of impending subjugation and a metaphor for the unbreakable nature of God's determined judgment.
• "for the land is full of bloody crimes": This passage indicates that widespread acts of bloodshed, often involving judicial corruption and injustice, pervaded the national fabric. This was not merely isolated incidents but a systemic problem where life and justice were cheap, violating divine commands against murder and perverting God's own laws.
• "and the city is full of violence": This specifically targets Jerusalem, the spiritual and governmental center, highlighting its saturation with `chamas`. This includes oppressive social injustices, abuse of power, exploitation of the weak, and general lawlessness, illustrating a complete moral collapse within the very heart of the nation. The parallelism with "the land" emphasizes the widespread and deep-seated nature of their rebellion, from the largest metropolitan areas to the remotest parts of the country.

Ezekiel 7 23 Bonus section

The concept of "making a chain" can be understood in multiple dimensions: literally, as the tools for deportation and physical subjugation under the Babylonians; metaphorically, as the unbreakable decree of God's judgment binding the nation to its fate; and ethically, as their own sins becoming the chains that bind them to their deserved punishment. This verse starkly contrasts the expectation of freedom and blessing in the Promised Land with the reality of captivity and bondage wrought by their unfaithfulness to God. The divine judgment isn't arbitrary but a precise "fitting punishment" (lex talionis) where the unbridled freedom to commit "bloody crimes" and "violence" leads to a loss of all freedom in a land that was once flowing with milk and honey. This reflects a consistent biblical principle that the wages of sin ultimately lead to spiritual or physical bondage, ultimately broken only by divine grace.

Ezekiel 7 23 Commentary

Ezekiel 7:23 presents a stark pronouncement of divine judgment, signaling the absolute certainty and justification for Judah's impending downfall. The command "Make a chain" is a symbolic imperative, not for human action, but for the universe itself, or the instruments of divine will, to enact captivity. It declares an irreversible decree for Israel's binding by foreign powers due to their severe moral depravity. The two specific charges – "bloody crimes" and "violence" – encapsulate the societal breakdown that enraged God. "Bloody crimes" signifies more than mere murder; it implies pervasive bloodguilt often arising from systemic injustice and perverted legal processes, where the innocent suffered and justice was corrupted for gain or power. "Violence" ('chamas') denotes brutal oppression, moral depravity, and widespread abuse, permeating all levels of society, from personal interactions to governmental rule. The dual emphasis on "the land" and "the city" underscores the pervasive nature of their sin, affecting both the general populace and the spiritual-political heart, Jerusalem. God’s judgment is thus portrayed as a just and necessary response to an entire nation's rebellion, signifying an end to His long-suffering and the inevitable fulfillment of covenant curses for gross disobedience. This serves as a warning against complacent trust in external rituals or physical locations while internalizing profound sin.