Ezekiel Chapter 22 · Verse 4

Authorized King James Version

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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)
שְׁנוֹתָ֑יִךְ even unto thy years H8141
שְׁנוֹתָ֑יִךְ even unto thy years
Strong's: H8141
Word #: 13 of 21
a year (as a revolution of time)
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.)
חֶרְפָּה֙ thee a reproach H2781
חֶרְפָּה֙ thee a reproach
Strong's: H2781
Word #: 17 of 21
contumely, disgrace, the pudenda
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
וְקַלָּסָ֖ה and a mocking H7048
וְקַלָּסָ֖ה and a mocking
Strong's: H7048
Word #: 19 of 21
ridicule
לְכָל H3605
לְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 20 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ to all countries H776
הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ to all countries
Strong's: H776
Word #: 21 of 21
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

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.

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