Back to Ezekiel 22

Ezekiel 22:3-12

You shall say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A city that sheds blood within herself, that her time may come, and that makes idols against herself to defile her! You have become guilty in your blood that you have shed, and are defiled in your idols which you have made! You have caused your days to draw near, and have come even to your years. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mocking to all the countries. Those who are near, and those who are far from you, will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.

“ ‘ “Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone according to his power, have been in you to shed blood. In you have they treated father and mother with contempt. Among you they have oppressed the foreigner. In you they have wronged the fatherless and the widow. You have despised my holy things, and have profaned my Sabbaths. Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood. In you they have eaten on the mountains. They have committed lewdness among you. In you have they uncovered their fathers’ nakedness. In you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity. One has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife; and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. Another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter. In you have they taken bribes to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me,” says the Lord Yahweh.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Ezekiel 22:3-12 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “You, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations. You shall say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A city that sheds blood within herself, that her time may come, and that makes idols against herself to defile her! You have become guilty in your blood that you have shed, and are defiled in your idols which you have made! You have caused your days to draw near, and have come even to your years. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mocking to all the countries. Those who are near, and those who are far from you, will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.

“ ‘ “Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone according to his power, have been in you to shed blood. In you have they treated father and mother with contempt. Among you they have oppressed the foreigner. In you they have wronged the fatherless and the widow. You have despised my holy things, and have profaned my Sabbaths. Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood. In you they have eaten on the mountains. They have committed lewdness among you. In you have they uncovered their fathers’ nakedness. In you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity. One has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife; and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. Another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter. In you have they taken bribes to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me,” says the Lord Yahweh.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    You shall say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A city that sheds blood within herself, that her time may come, and that makes idols against herself to defile her!

    You have become guilty in your blood that you have shed, and are defiled in your idols which you have made! You have caused your days to draw near, and have come even to your years. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mocking to all the countries.

    Those who are near, and those who are far from you, will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.

    “ ‘ “Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone according to his power, have been in you to shed blood.

    In you have they treated father and mother with contempt. Among you they have oppressed the foreigner. In you they have wronged the fatherless and the widow.

    You have despised my holy things, and have profaned my Sabbaths.

    Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood. In you they have eaten on the mountains. They have committed lewdness among you.

    In you have they uncovered their fathers’ nakedness. In you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity.

    One has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife; and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. Another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.

    In you have they taken bribes to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me,” says the Lord Yahweh.

  • KJV King James Version

    Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.

    Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.

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

    Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.

    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.

    Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.

    In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.

    In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.

    And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.

    In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And thou shalt say: Thus saith the Lord GOD: O city that sheddest blood in the midst of thee, that thy time may come, and that makest idols unto thyself to defile thee;

    thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed, and art defiled in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years; therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the nations, and a mocking to all the countries!

    Those that are near, and those that are far from thee, shall mock thee, thou defiled of name and full of tumult.

    Behold, the princes of Israel, every one according to his might, have been in thee to shed blood.

    In thee have they made light of father and mother; in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger; in thee have they wronged the fatherless and the widow.

    Thou hast despised My holy things, and hast profaned My sabbaths.

    In thee have been talebearers to shed blood; and in thee they have eaten upon the mountains; in the midst of thee they have committed lewdness.

    In thee have they uncovered their fathers' nakedness; in thee have they humbled her that was unclean in her impurity.

    And each hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and each hath lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; and each in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.

    In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken interest and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by oppression, and hast forgotten Me, saith the Lord GOD.

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Cross-references (172)

  • Deuteronomy 27:16 (v7) ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
  • Ezekiel 23:38-39 (v8) Moreover this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my Sabbaths. For when they had slain…
  • Exodus 22:21-22 (v7) “You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. “You shall not take advantage of any widow or…
  • Leviticus 18:9 (v11) “ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or…
  • Leviticus 18:15 (v11) “ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
Show all 100 cross-references
  • Leviticus 20:17 (v11) “ ‘If a man takes his sister—his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter—and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a…
  • 2 Samuel 13:14 (v11) However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.
  • Ezekiel 20:13 (v8) “ ‘ “But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which…
  • Ezekiel 22:26 (v8) 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,…
  • Ezekiel 23:35 (v12) “Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Because you have forgotten me, and cast me behind your back, therefore you also bear your lewdness and…
  • Hosea 4:14 (v9) I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with…
  • Isaiah 1:23 (vv6, 12) Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless,…
  • Ezekiel 22:27 (vv3, 6) Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.
  • Leviticus 18:19 (v10) “ ‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
  • Leviticus 19:16 (v9) “ ‘You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people. “ ‘You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.
  • Leviticus 20:9 (v7) “ ‘For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall…
  • Deuteronomy 27:25 (v12) ‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
  • 2 Kings 21:16 (v4) Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; in addition to his sin with which…
  • Ezekiel 20:21 (v8) “ ‘ “But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does,…
  • Ezekiel 20:24 (v8) because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their…
  • Hosea 4:2 (v9) There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.
  • Hosea 4:10 (v9) They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh.
  • Micah 7:2-3 (v12) The godly man has perished out of the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his…
  • Ezekiel 18:6 (vv9–10) and has not eaten on the mountains, hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife,…
  • Ezekiel 18:11 (vv9, 11) or who does not do any of those things, but even has eaten at the mountain shrines, and defiled his neighbor’s wife,
  • Malachi 3:5 (vv7, 11) I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the…
  • Exodus 20:16 (v9) “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
  • Leviticus 18:7-8 (v10) “ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her…
  • Leviticus 18:20 (v11) “ ‘You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her.
  • Leviticus 19:30 (v8) “ ‘You shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary; I am Yahweh.
  • Leviticus 20:10 (v11) “ ‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the…
  • Leviticus 20:11 (v10) “ ‘The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood…
  • Leviticus 20:12 (v11) “ ‘If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed a perversion. Their blood shall…
  • Leviticus 25:35-36 (v12) “ ‘If your brother has become poor, and his hand can’t support himself among you, then you shall uphold him. He shall live with you like an…
  • Deuteronomy 16:19 (v12) You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality. You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and…
  • Deuteronomy 23:19 (v12) You shall not lend on interest to your brother: interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest.
  • Psalms 15:5 (v12) he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.
  • Psalms 44:13-14 (v4) You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. You make us a byword among the nations, a…
  • Psalms 50:20 (v9) You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother’s son.
  • Psalms 106:21 (v12) They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,
  • Proverbs 10:18 (v9) He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
  • Jeremiah 2:32 (v12) “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
  • Jeremiah 7:6 (v7) if you don’t oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, and don’t shed innocent blood in this place, and don’t walk after other…
  • Ezekiel 5:14-15 (v4) “ ‘Moreover I will make you a desolation and a reproach among the nations that are around you, in the sight of all that pass by. So it will…
  • Ezekiel 16:43 (v9) “ ‘ “Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have raged against me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will…
  • Ezekiel 16:57 (v4) before your wickedness was uncovered, as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all who are around her, the…
  • Ezekiel 18:8 (v12) he who hasn’t lent to them with interest, hasn’t taken any increase from them, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true…
  • Ezekiel 22:2 (v4) “You, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations.
  • Amos 8:4-6 (v8) Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail, Saying, ‘When will the new moon be gone, that we…
  • Zechariah 7:10 (v7) Don’t oppress the widow, nor the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your…
  • Malachi 1:6-8 (v8) “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect…
  • Malachi 1:12 (v8) “But you profane it, in that you say, ‘Yahweh’s table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.’
  • Matthew 15:4-6 (v7) For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you…
  • Matthew 26:59 (v9) Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
  • Mark 7:10 (v7) For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
  • 1 Corinthians 10:18-21 (v9) Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? What am I saying then? That a thing…
  • Revelation 12:9-10 (v9) The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown…
  • Genesis 35:22 (v10) While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob…
  • Genesis 49:4 (v10) Boiling over like water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
  • Exodus 20:12 (v7) “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
  • Exodus 21:17 (v7) “Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
  • Exodus 22:25-26 (v12) “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor. You shall not charge him interest. If…
  • Exodus 23:1 (v9) “You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness.
  • Exodus 23:7-8 (v12) “Keep far from a false charge, and don’t kill the innocent and righteous; for I will not justify the wicked. “You shall take no bribe, for…
  • Leviticus 19:13 (v12) “ ‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. “ ‘The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
  • Leviticus 20:18 (v10) “ ‘If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness, he has made her fountain naked, and she has uncovered…
  • Leviticus 26:32 (v4) I will bring the land into desolation, and your enemies that dwell in it will be astonished at it.
  • Numbers 32:14 (v4) “Behold, you have risen up in your fathers’ place, an increase of sinful men, to increase the fierce anger of Yahweh toward Israel.
  • Deuteronomy 5:16 (v7) “Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the…
  • Deuteronomy 22:22 (v11) If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both die, the man who lay with the woman and the woman. So you…
  • Deuteronomy 27:19 (v7) ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
  • Deuteronomy 27:20 (v10) ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
  • Deuteronomy 27:22 (v11) ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
  • Deuteronomy 27:23 (v10) ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
  • Deuteronomy 28:37 (v4) You will become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where Yahweh will lead you away.
  • Deuteronomy 29:24 (v4) Even all the nations will say, “Why has Yahweh done this to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?”
  • Deuteronomy 32:18 (v12) Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who gave you birth.
  • Judges 20:6 (v9) I took my concubine and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed…
  • 2 Samuel 13:1 (v11) After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
  • 2 Samuel 13:28-29 (v11) Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill…
  • 2 Samuel 16:21-22 (v10) Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are…
  • 1 Kings 9:7 (v4) then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and I will cast this house, which I have made holy for my name, out of…
  • 1 Kings 21:10-13 (v9) Set two men, wicked fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king!’ Then carry him out, and…
  • 2 Kings 21:2-9 (v3) He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel. For…
  • 1 Chronicles 5:1 (v10) The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given…
  • 2 Chronicles 7:20 (v4) then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, I will…
  • Nehemiah 5:1 (v12) Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
  • Nehemiah 5:7 (v12) Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I…
  • Nehemiah 9:34 (v6) Also our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies…
  • Job 31:9-11 (v11) “If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door, then let my wife grind for another, and let others…
  • Psalms 79:4 (v4) We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
  • Psalms 89:41-42 (v4) All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors. You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have…
  • Psalms 101:5 (v9) I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor. I won’t tolerate one who is arrogant and conceited.
  • Psalms 106:28 (v9) They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
  • Proverbs 1:19 (v12) So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
  • Proverbs 18:8 (v9) The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
  • Proverbs 20:20 (v7) Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
  • Proverbs 22:22-23 (v7) Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court; for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of…
  • Proverbs 26:22 (v9) The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
  • Proverbs 30:11 (v7) There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.

100 distinct cross-references across this passage (172 total citations).

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

Explain this passage (16 sources)

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

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv3, 5, 7 To her own undoing.

To her own undoing.

That is, the time of her destruction.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv3–12 Eze 22:3 Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv3–12 The city, Jerusalem,
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv3–12 Then say thou, thus saith the Lord God,.... For…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv3–10 Her time - The time of ripeness in her…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv3–10 Verse 3. Her time may come] Till now, it…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v6 Eze 22:6-12. Behold, the princes of Israel, &c. —…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv4, 5, 6, 10 Thy days, - i. e., of judgment; “thy years,”…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9, 10, 12 Hath. Septuagint, "was mixed with his relations," ver. 10.,…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 sheddeth blood . . . that her time may…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 3. The city that takes the sword shall perish…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–12 3. the city sheddeth] Rather as address: city that…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–7 (3) That her time may come.—Her time of punishment.…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv3–11 The city sheddeth blood, etc. As in the great…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv4, 6, 10 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6, 7, 10 22:6-12 These charges against the people of Judah and…
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