Read & explore together
The Sins of Jerusalem
Ezekiel 22:1–16 is a direct message from Yahweh that exposes Jerusalem’s guilt. The passage names violence, idolatry, injustice and sexual sin, then explains the judgement that will come because the city has forgotten Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, Yahweh tells Ezekiel to judge “the bloody city” and make her know her abominations. The message stays focused on Jerusalem’s guilt, listing specific sins and then declaring that Yahweh will deal with the city by scattering her among the nations.
Ezekiel 22:1–16Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh sees public and private sin clearly, and Jerusalem’s violence, idolatry, oppression and defilement bring his judgement.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A city charged with blood and idolsYahweh tells Ezekiel to judge Jerusalem and reveal her abominations. The main charges appear straight away: she sheds blood and makes idols.
Explanation
Yahweh tells Ezekiel to judge Jerusalem and reveal her abominations. The main charges appear straight away: she sheds blood and makes idols. These sins make her guilty and defiled. The result is near judgement, so the city becomes a reproach and a mocking among surrounding peoples.
02Power used to harm instead of protectThe message then points to leaders and social life. Princes use their power to shed blood.
Explanation
The message then points to leaders and social life. Princes use their power to shed blood. Family honour is broken when father and mother are treated with contempt. The foreigner, the fatherless and the widow are oppressed and wronged. This shows a community where strength is used against vulnerable people.
03Holy things despised and moral corruption spreadJerusalem has also despised Yahweh’s holy things and profaned his Sabbaths. Slander is linked with bloodshed, and the passage says people have eaten on the mountains and committed lewdness.
Explanation
Jerusalem has also despised Yahweh’s holy things and profaned his Sabbaths. Slander is linked with bloodshed, and the passage says people have eaten on the mountains and committed lewdness. It then names further sexual wrongdoing within families and marriages. The city is shown as deeply defiled in both worship and conduct.
04Dishonest gain, forgotten Yahweh, and judgement announcedBribes, interest, greedy gain and oppression fill the city, and Yahweh says, “you have forgotten me”.
Explanation
Bribes, interest, greedy gain and oppression fill the city, and Yahweh says, “you have forgotten me”. He also says, “I have struck my hand” at the dishonest gain and bloodshed within her. The city will not have a heart that endures or hands strong enough when Yahweh deals with it. He will scatter the people and purge their filthiness.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What repeated kinds of wrong does this passage connect with Jerusalem’s guilt?
Look for the repeated charges of bloodshed, idols, oppression, sexual sin and dishonest gain across the whole message.
02How does the passage show that sin affected both worship and everyday relationships?
Notice that Yahweh speaks about holy things and Sabbaths, and also about parents, neighbours, foreigners, widows and the fatherless.
03According to this passage, what is the outcome of Jerusalem’s guilt?
Trace the results from reproach and mocking to Yahweh’s direct action in scattering and purging the city.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 22:1–16
1Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“You, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations.
3You 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!
4You 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 to the end of your years. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mocking to all the countries.
5Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.
6“ ‘ “Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone according to his power, have been in you to shed blood.
7In 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.
8You have despised my holy things, and have profaned my Sabbaths.
9Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood. In you they have eaten on the mountains. They have committed lewdness among you.
10In you have they uncovered their fathers’ nakedness. In you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity.
11One 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.
12In 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.
13“ ‘ “Behold, therefore I have struck my hand at your dishonest gain which you have made, and at the blood which has been shed within you.
14Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I will deal with you? I, Yahweh, have spoken it, and will do it.
15I will scatter you among the nations, and disperse you through the countries. I will purge your filthiness out of you.
16You will be profaned in yourself in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” ’ ”