Ezekiel 22:2
Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
Original Language Analysis
בֶן
Now thou son
H1121
בֶן
Now thou son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 12
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֔ם
of man
H120
אָדָ֔ם
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
3 of 12
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֖ט
wilt thou judge
H8199
הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֖ט
wilt thou judge
Strong's:
H8199
Word #:
4 of 12
to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal
הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֖ט
wilt thou judge
H8199
הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֖ט
wilt thou judge
Strong's:
H8199
Word #:
5 of 12
to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עִ֣יר
city
H5892
עִ֣יר
city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
7 of 12
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הַדָּמִ֑ים
the bloody
H1818
הַדָּמִ֑ים
the bloody
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
8 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
וְה֣וֹדַעְתָּ֔הּ
yea thou shalt shew
H3045
וְה֣וֹדַעְתָּ֔הּ
yea thou shalt shew
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
9 of 12
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אֵ֖ת
H853
אֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Isaiah 58:1Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.Nahum 3:1Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;Ezekiel 24:9Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.Ezekiel 24:6Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.Ezekiel 20:4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:Acts 7:52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:Matthew 27:25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.1 Timothy 5:20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.Hosea 4:2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.2 Kings 21:16Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
Historical Context
Jerusalem earned the title 'bloody city' through judicial murders (v. 6), bribery for bloodshed (v. 12), and oppression of vulnerable populations (v. 7, 29). Archaeological evidence confirms extreme social stratification in 7th-century Jerusalem, with wealthy elites exploiting poor. The prophet must formally indict what everyone knew but none acknowledged.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God require Ezekiel to enumerate specific sins rather than make general accusations?
- When Jerusalem resembles pagan Nineveh in guilt, what does this reveal about religious identity versus ethical practice?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? God commands Ezekiel with emphatic repetition (hatishpot hatishpot, הֲתִשְׁפֹּט הֲתִשְׁפֹּט) to 'judge, yes judge' the ir ha-damim (עִיר הַדָּמִים), 'city of bloodshed.' This identical phrase appears in Nahum 3:1 for Nineveh, linking Jerusalem's guilt to pagan oppressor-nations.
Yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations (to'evoteha, תּוֹעֲבוֹתֶיהָ)—technical covenant term for violations so severe they provoke divine revulsion. Ezekiel must enumerate specific crimes, not vague accusations. The judicial process requires evidence, which verses 3-12 provide exhaustively.