Back to Ezekiel 22

Ezekiel 22:27-30

Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain. Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord Yahweh says,’ when Yahweh has not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Yes, they have troubled the poor and needy, and have oppressed the foreigner wrongfully.

“I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Ezekiel 22:27-30 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, tell her, ‘You are a land that is not cleansed, nor rained on in the day of indignation.’ There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and precious things. They have made many widows within it. Her priests have done violence to my law, and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths. So I am profaned among them. Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain. Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord Yahweh says,’ when Yahweh has not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Yes, they have troubled the poor and needy, and have oppressed the foreigner wrongfully.

“I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out my indignation on them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have brought their own way on their heads,” says the Lord Yahweh.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.

    Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord Yahweh says,’ when Yahweh has not spoken.

    The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Yes, they have troubled the poor and needy, and have oppressed the foreigner wrongfully.

    “I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

  • KJV King James Version

    Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

    And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.

    The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

    And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey: to shed blood, and to destroy souls, so as to get dishonest gain.

    And her prophets have daubed for them with whited plaster, seeing falsehood, and divining lies unto them, saying: Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.

    The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have wronged the poor and needy, and have oppressed the stranger unlawfully.

    And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the breach before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.

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Cross-references (54)

  • Isaiah 59:16 (v30) He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. Therefore his own arm brought salvation to him; and his…
  • Jeremiah 5:1 (v30) “Run back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in its wide places, if you can find a man, if there…
  • Psalms 106:23 (v30) Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, so that he…
  • Genesis 18:23-32 (v30) Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you…
  • Isaiah 63:5 (v30) I looked, and there was no one to help; and I wondered that there was no one to uphold. Therefore my own arm brought salvation to me. My…
Show all 53 cross-references
  • Ezekiel 13:5 (v30) You have not gone up into the gaps or built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in Yahweh’s day.
  • Exodus 32:10-14 (v30) Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation.”…
  • Jeremiah 15:1 (v30) Then Yahweh said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not turn toward this people. Cast them out of my sight,…
  • Ezekiel 13:6-7 (v28) They have seen falsehood and lying divination, who say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but Yahweh has not sent them. They have made men to hope that the…
  • Ezekiel 22:7 (v29) In you have they treated father and mother with contempt. Among you they have oppressed the foreigner. In you they have wronged the…
  • Exodus 23:9 (v29) “You shall not oppress an alien, for you know the heart of an alien, since you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
  • Ezekiel 13:10-16 (v28) “ ‘Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, “Peace;” and there is no peace. When one builds up a wall, behold, they…
  • Ezekiel 22:13 (v27) “ ‘ “Behold, therefore I have struck my hand at your dishonest gain which you have made, and at your blood which has been within you.
  • Exodus 22:21 (v29) “You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
  • Leviticus 19:33 (v29) “ ‘If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.
  • Psalms 94:6 (v29) They kill the widow and the alien, and murder the fatherless.
  • Isaiah 5:7 (v29) For the vineyard of Yahweh of Armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but,…
  • Jeremiah 5:31 (v29) The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority; and my people love to have it so. What will you do in the end…
  • Jeremiah 23:25-32 (v28) “I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this be in…
  • Isaiah 1:23 (v27) Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless,…
  • Isaiah 10:2 (v29) to deprive the needy from justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their plunder, and that they may…
  • Isaiah 30:10 (v28) who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.
  • Ezekiel 22:6 (v27) “ ‘ “Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone according to his power, have been in you to shed blood.
  • Amos 3:10 (v29) “Indeed they don’t know to do right,” says Yahweh, “Who hoard plunder and loot in their palaces.”
  • Ezekiel 22:25 (vv27–28) There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and…
  • Isaiah 59:3-7 (v29) For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity. Your lips have spoken lies. Your tongue mutters wickedness. No one…
  • Jeremiah 5:26-28 (v29) For wicked men are found among my people. They watch, as fowlers lie in wait. They set a trap. They catch men. As a cage is full of birds,…
  • Jeremiah 6:13 (v29) “For from their least even to their greatest, everyone is given to covetousness. From the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals…
  • Jeremiah 8:10-11 (v28) Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to those who will possess them. For everyone from the least even to the…
  • Jeremiah 23:21 (v28) I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they prophesied.
  • Jeremiah 28:2 (v28) “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
  • Jeremiah 28:15 (v28) Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! Yahweh has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
  • Jeremiah 29:8-9 (v28) For Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you. Don’t listen to…
  • Jeremiah 37:19 (v28) Now where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you, nor against this land?’
  • Lamentations 2:14 (v28) Your prophets have seen false and foolish visions for you. They have not uncovered your iniquity, to reverse your captivity, but have seen…
  • Ezekiel 13:22-23 (v28) Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he…
  • Ezekiel 18:12 (v29) has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed…
  • Ezekiel 19:3-6 (v27) She brought up one of her cubs. He became a young lion. He learned to catch the prey. He devoured men. The nations also heard of him. He…
  • Ezekiel 21:29 (v28) while they see for you false visions, while they divine lies to you, to lay you on the necks of the wicked who are deadly wounded, whose…
  • Ezekiel 45:9 (v27) “ ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Let it suffice you, princes of Israel: remove violence and plunder, and execute justice and righteousness;…
  • Hosea 7:1-7 (v27) When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the…
  • Micah 2:2 (v29) They covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
  • Micah 3:2-3 (v27) You who hate the good, and love the evil; who tear off their skin, and their flesh from off their bones; who also eat the flesh of my…
  • Micah 3:3 (v29) who also eat the flesh of my people, and peel their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and…
  • Micah 3:9-11 (v27) Please listen to this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity. They…
  • Micah 7:8 (v27) Don’t rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light to me.
  • Zephaniah 3:3 (v27) Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day.
  • Zephaniah 3:4 (v28) Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
  • Matthew 21:13 (v27) He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!”
  • Matthew 25:43 (v29) I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
  • James 2:6-7 (v27) But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts? Don’t they blaspheme the…
  • James 5:1-4 (v27) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.…
  • James 5:4 (v29) Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of those who reaped have…

53 distinct cross-references across this passage (54 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (15 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv28, 30 They which should have reproved them, flattered them in…

They which should have reproved them, flattered them in their vices, and covered their doings with lies, Ezek. 13:10.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv27–30 Eze 22:27 Her princes in the midst thereof [are]…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv27–30 Her princes, as before, Eze 22:25,26. Princes; rulers of…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv27–30 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv27, 28, 30 Destroy souls - Ruin families; cutting off the fathers,…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv27–30 Verse 27. Her princes] Are as bad as her…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv27, 29 Eze 22:27-28. Her princes are like wolves — The…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv28, 30 Without. Septuagint, "they shall fall, seeing," &c.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv27–30 princes--who should have employed the influence of their position…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv27–30 27. Princes — Rather, captains (Jer_26:10). The subordinate officers…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv27–30 27. Her princes] The “princes” here are the chiefs…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv27–30 (27) Her princes.—These are not only the kings, but…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv27–30 Wolves. (comp. Hab_1:8; Zep_3:3; Mat_7:15; Act_20:29)
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv29–30 have oppressed ... and plundered
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v30 22:30-31 In response to the sins of these former…
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