Ezekiel 24:6
Wherefore 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.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵ֞ן
H3651
לָכֵ֞ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 23
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
כֹּה
H3541
כֹּה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
2 of 23
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
עִ֣יר
city
H5892
עִ֣יר
city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
7 of 23
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הַדָּמִים֒
to the bloody
H1818
הַדָּמִים֒
to the bloody
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
8 of 23
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
סִ֚יר
to the pot
H5518
סִ֚יר
to the pot
Strong's:
H5518
Word #:
9 of 23
a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a hook
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
10 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
וְחֶ֨לְאָתָ֔הּ
is therein and whose scum
H2457
וְחֶ֨לְאָתָ֔הּ
is therein and whose scum
Strong's:
H2457
Word #:
11 of 23
properly, disease; hence, rust
וְחֶ֨לְאָתָ֔הּ
is therein and whose scum
H2457
וְחֶ֨לְאָתָ֔הּ
is therein and whose scum
Strong's:
H2457
Word #:
13 of 23
properly, disease; hence, rust
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
14 of 23
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הוֹצִיאָ֔הּ
is not gone out
H3318
הוֹצִיאָ֔הּ
is not gone out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
15 of 23
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
מִמֶּ֑נָּה
H4480
מִמֶּ֑נָּה
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
16 of 23
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הוֹצִיאָ֔הּ
is not gone out
H3318
הוֹצִיאָ֔הּ
is not gone out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
19 of 23
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
20 of 23
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נָפַ֥ל
fall
H5307
נָפַ֥ל
fall
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
21 of 23
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
Cross References
Ezekiel 22:2Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.Nahum 3:1Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;Nahum 3:10Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.Ezekiel 22:27Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.2 Kings 24:4And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.Micah 7:2The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.Obadiah 1:11In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
Historical Context
Jerusalem's "scum" (corruption) persisted despite previous warnings and partial judgments. When Babylon conquered, systematic deportation occurred—leaders first (597 BC), then general population (586 BC), finally even remaining poor (Jeremiah 52:15-16, 30). The piece-by-piece removal fulfilled the parable precisely—methodical, comprehensive exile leaving the land desolate.
Questions for Reflection
- How does persistent scum (corruption despite judgment) illustrate hardened sinfulness?
- What does piece-by-piece removal teach about judgment's thoroughness?
- In what ways does unrepented sin eventually require comprehensive rather than partial judgment?
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Analysis & Commentary
"Wherefore 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." "Bloody city" (ir ha-damim, עִיר הַדָּמִים) indicts Jerusalem's violence. "Scum" (chel'ah, חֶלְאָה) represents corruption that won't depart despite heating (judgment). "Piece by piece" depicts methodical, comprehensive destruction—everyone systematically removed. "Let no lot fall" means no chance selection; all are taken—comprehensive judgment sparing none.