Ezekiel 22:27
Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
Original Language Analysis
בְקִרְבָּ֔הּ
in the midst
H7130
בְקִרְבָּ֔הּ
in the midst
Strong's:
H7130
Word #:
2 of 12
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
טֹ֣רְפֵי
ravening
H2963
טֹ֣רְפֵי
ravening
Strong's:
H2963
Word #:
4 of 12
to pluck off or pull to pieces; causatively to supply with food (as in morsels)
טָ֑רֶף
the prey
H2964
טָ֑רֶף
the prey
Strong's:
H2964
Word #:
5 of 12
something torn, i.e., a fragment, e.g., a fresh leaf, prey, food
לִשְׁפָּךְ
to shed
H8210
לִשְׁפָּךְ
to shed
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
6 of 12
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
דָּם֙
blood
H1818
דָּם֙
blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
7 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
לְאַבֵּ֣ד
and to destroy
H6
לְאַבֵּ֣ד
and to destroy
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
נְפָשׁ֔וֹת
souls
H5315
נְפָשׁ֔וֹת
souls
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
לְמַ֖עַן
H4616
לְמַ֖עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
10 of 12
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
Cross References
Ezekiel 22:13Behold, 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.Isaiah 1:23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.Ezekiel 22:6Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.
Historical Context
Judah's final kings (Jehoiakim, Zedekiah) taxed mercilessly to pay tribute to Egypt and Babylon while enriching themselves. Jeremiah 22:13-17 specifically condemns Jehoiakim for building his palace with forced labor and bloodshed. The princes' 'dishonest gain' bankrupted the nation morally and economically.
Questions for Reflection
- How does political power combined with greed create the 'wolf' leaders Ezekiel describes?
- In what ways might Christian leaders today pursue 'dishonest gain' under the guise of ministry?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves (זְאֵבִים טֹרְפֵי טָרֶף, ze'evim torefei taref)—the wolf metaphor intensifies. While verse 25's prophets are lions (majestic predators), verse 27's political leaders are wolves (pack hunters, cowardly scavengers). Both shed blood (שְׁפָךְ־דָּם, shefakh-dam) and destroy souls (אַבֵּד נְפָשׁוֹת, abbed nefashot).
The motive: to get dishonest gain (לְמַעַן בְּצֹעַ בָּצַע, lema'an betso'a batsa)—literally 'for the sake of cutting off profit,' the same word used in the tenth commandment's prohibition against coveting. Jesus warned of wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15); Ezekiel shows wolves in royal robes.