Ezekiel 22:15
And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.
Original Language Analysis
וַהֲפִיצוֹתִ֤י
And I will scatter
H6327
וַהֲפִיצוֹתִ֤י
And I will scatter
Strong's:
H6327
Word #:
1 of 8
to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)
אוֹתָךְ֙
H853
אוֹתָךְ֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 8
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם
thee among the heathen
H1471
בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם
thee among the heathen
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
3 of 8
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
וְזֵרִיתִ֖יךְ
and disperse
H2219
וְזֵרִיתִ֖יךְ
and disperse
Strong's:
H2219
Word #:
4 of 8
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow
בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹת
thee in the countries
H776
בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹת
thee in the countries
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
5 of 8
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וַהֲתִמֹּתִ֥י
and will consume
H8552
וַהֲתִמֹּתִ֥י
and will consume
Strong's:
H8552
Word #:
6 of 8
to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
Cross References
Nehemiah 1:8Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:Zechariah 7:14But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.Deuteronomy 4:27And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.Ezekiel 22:22As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.Ezekiel 36:19And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.Leviticus 26:33And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
Historical Context
The Babylonian exile (586 BC) fulfilled this prophecy with devastating precision. Judah's population was scattered across the Babylonian Empire—Babylon itself, Egypt, surrounding nations. Archaeological evidence shows Jewish communities emerging in multiple regions. Remarkably, exile did 'consume their filthiness'—post-exilic Judaism never again fell into systematic idolatry.
Questions for Reflection
- How might God use circumstances that feel like scattering to purge idolatrous attachments from your life?
- What 'filthiness' in your heart requires radical intervention to remove?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries—the Hebrew verbs va'hafotzti (וַהֲפִצוֹתִי, "I will scatter") and vehezairotiykha (וְהֵזֵרוֹתִיךְ, "I will disperse") describe violent expulsion, like seed thrown across a field. This was the covenant curse of Deuteronomy 28:64: "The LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other." Exile wasn't random tragedy but covenantal consequence.
And will consume thy filthiness out of thee. The word ve'hitamoti tummatekh mimmekh (וְהִתַּמֹּתִי טֻמְאָתֵךְ מִמֵּךְ, "I will consume/purge your uncleanness from you") presents exile as refining fire. God's purpose in scattering wasn't mere punishment but purification—removing idolatry by removing access to the temple and land where syncretism flourished. Exile would 'burn away' the dross of false worship, preparing a remnant for restoration (Zechariah 13:9).