Ezekiel 22:13

Authorized King James Version

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Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.

Original Language Analysis

וְהִנֵּה֙ H2009
וְהִנֵּה֙
Strong's: H2009
Word #: 1 of 12
lo!
הִכֵּ֣יתִי Behold therefore I have smitten H5221
הִכֵּ֣יתִי Behold therefore I have smitten
Strong's: H5221
Word #: 2 of 12
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
כַפִּ֔י mine hand H3709
כַפִּ֔י mine hand
Strong's: H3709
Word #: 3 of 12
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 4 of 12
near, with or among; often in general, to
בִּצְעֵ֖ךְ at thy dishonest gain H1215
בִּצְעֵ֖ךְ at thy dishonest gain
Strong's: H1215
Word #: 5 of 12
plunder; by extension, gain (usually unjust)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 6 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשִׂ֑ית which thou hast made H6213
עָשִׂ֑ית which thou hast made
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 7 of 12
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וְעַ֨ל H5921
וְעַ֨ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 8 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
דָּמֵ֔ךְ and at thy blood H1818
דָּמֵ֔ךְ and at thy blood
Strong's: H1818
Word #: 9 of 12
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 10 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הָי֖וּ H1961
הָי֖וּ
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 11 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְּתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ which hath been in the midst H8432
בְּתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ which hath been in the midst
Strong's: H8432
Word #: 12 of 12
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

Analysis & Commentary

Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. The phrase hinneh hiketi khappe (הִנֵּה הִכֵּיתִי כַפִּי), 'behold, I have struck my hand,' is a gesture of judicial determination—God claps hands in resolute judgment (Ezekiel 21:17).

Bits'ek (בִּצְעֵךְ), 'thy dishonest gain,' refers to unjust profit extracted through violence. Damayik asher hayu be-tokhek (דָּמַיִךְ אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ בְּתוֹכֵךְ), 'thy blood which has been in thy midst,' emphasizes that violence wasn't external threat but internal corruption. God's hand-striking signals irreversible decision—the accumulated evidence demands verdict.

Historical Context

This verse concludes the indictment section (vv. 1-12) and introduces the sentence section (vv. 14-22). The 'hand-smiting' gesture appears in ancient Near Eastern treaty curses, signaling oath-execution. Jerusalem's economic crimes and bloodshed, cataloged with legal precision, now receive proportional response. Babylon becomes the instrument of covenant curse (Deuteronomy 28:47-57).

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