Ezekiel Chapter 22 · Verse 30

Authorized King James Version

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And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Original Language Analysis

וָאֲבַקֵּ֣שׁ And I sought H1245
וָאֲבַקֵּ֣שׁ And I sought
Strong's: H1245
Word #: 1 of 14
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
מֵהֶ֡ם H1992
מֵהֶ֡ם
Strong's: H1992
Word #: 2 of 14
they (only used when emphatic)
אִ֣ישׁ for a man H376
אִ֣ישׁ for a man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 3 of 14
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
גֹּֽדֵר among them that should make up H1443
גֹּֽדֵר among them that should make up
Strong's: H1443
Word #: 4 of 14
to wall in or around
גָּדֵר֩ the hedge H1447
גָּדֵר֩ the hedge
Strong's: H1447
Word #: 5 of 14
a circumvallation; by implication, an inclosure
וְעֹמֵ֨ד and stand H5975
וְעֹמֵ֨ד and stand
Strong's: H5975
Word #: 6 of 14
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
בַּפֶּ֧רֶץ in the gap H6556
בַּפֶּ֧רֶץ in the gap
Strong's: H6556
Word #: 7 of 14
a break (literally or figuratively)
לְפָנַ֛י before H6440
לְפָנַ֛י before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 8 of 14
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
בְּעַ֥ד H1157
בְּעַ֥ד
Strong's: H1157
Word #: 9 of 14
in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc
הָאָ֖רֶץ me for the land H776
הָאָ֖רֶץ me for the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 10 of 14
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
לְבִלְתִּ֣י H1115
לְבִלְתִּ֣י
Strong's: H1115
Word #: 11 of 14
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
שַׁחֲתָ֑הּ that I should not destroy H7843
שַׁחֲתָ֑הּ that I should not destroy
Strong's: H7843
Word #: 12 of 14
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
וְלֹ֖א H3808
וְלֹ֖א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 13 of 14
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מָצָֽאתִי׃ it but I found H4672
מָצָֽאתִי׃ it but I found
Strong's: H4672
Word #: 14 of 14
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

Analysis & Commentary

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." God's search for an intercessor echoes Abraham (Genesis 18:22-33), Moses (Exodus 32:11-14), and anticipates Christ the mediator. "Make up the hedge" (goder gader, גֹּדֵר גָּדֵר) means repair the breach in protective walls. "Stand in the gap" (omed ba-perets, עֹמֵד בַּפֶּרֶץ) depicts one blocking the breach to prevent enemy entry. Finding none sealed judgment's necessity.

Historical Context

Prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel interceded (Jeremiah 14:7-9; Ezekiel 9:8) but couldn't prevent judgment—too late, sins too great. The failure to find a qualified intercessor demonstrated humanity's inadequacy to bridge the gap between holy God and sinful people. This points toward Christ, the perfect mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15) who successfully stands in the gap through His atoning sacrifice.

Questions for Reflection