Ezekiel 22:4
Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
Original Language Analysis
בְּדָמֵ֨ךְ
in thy blood
H1818
בְּדָמֵ֨ךְ
in thy blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
1 of 21
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
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שָׁפַ֜כְתְּ
that thou hast shed
H8210
שָׁפַ֜כְתְּ
that thou hast shed
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
3 of 21
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
אָשַׁ֗מְתְּ
Thou art become guilty
H816
אָשַׁ֗מְתְּ
Thou art become guilty
Strong's:
H816
Word #:
4 of 21
to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish
וּבְגִלּוּלַ֤יִךְ
thyself in thine idols
H1544
וּבְגִלּוּלַ֤יִךְ
thyself in thine idols
Strong's:
H1544
Word #:
5 of 21
properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשִׂית֙
which thou hast made
H6213
עָשִׂית֙
which thou hast made
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
7 of 21
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
טָמֵ֔את
and hast defiled
H2930
טָמֵ֔את
and hast defiled
Strong's:
H2930
Word #:
8 of 21
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
וַתַּקְרִ֣יבִי
to draw near
H7126
וַתַּקְרִ֣יבִי
to draw near
Strong's:
H7126
Word #:
9 of 21
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
יָמַ֔יִךְ
and thou hast caused thy days
H3117
יָמַ֔יִךְ
and thou hast caused thy days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
10 of 21
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וַתָּב֖וֹא
and art come
H935
וַתָּב֖וֹא
and art come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
11 of 21
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
12 of 21
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
14 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כֵּ֗ן
H3651
כֵּ֗ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
15 of 21
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
נְתַתִּ֤יךְ
therefore have I made
H5414
נְתַתִּ֤יךְ
therefore have I made
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
16 of 21
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לַגּוֹיִ֔ם
unto the heathen
H1471
לַגּוֹיִ֔ם
unto the heathen
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
18 of 21
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
Cross References
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.Ezekiel 16:57Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.Ezekiel 22:2Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
Historical Context
When Jerusalem fell (586 BC), surrounding nations indeed mocked (Lamentations 2:15-16; Psalm 79:4; Ezekiel 36:20). The city meant to display God's glory became object lesson of divine judgment. This public shame served pedagogical purposes—both Israel and watching nations learned that covenant violation brings deserved consequences. The reproach persisted for generations, shaping Jewish identity and theology through exile and post-exilic periods.
Questions for Reflection
- How does public shame serve as part of divine judgment?
- What does becoming a 'mocking to all countries' teach about corporate witness and failure?
- In what ways should awareness of watching eyes shape Christian living and church practice?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
"Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries." The accumulated guilt from bloodshed and idolatry brings twofold consequences: temporal (hastened judgment—"caused thy days to draw near") and reputational ("reproach unto the heathen"). International shame results from public judgment—surrounding nations mock Jerusalem's fall. This reverses Israel's intended role as light to nations; instead, they become warning example.