Ezekiel 24:7
For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 15
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
דָמָהּ֙
For her blood
H1818
דָמָהּ֙
For her blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
2 of 15
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
בְּתוֹכָ֣הּ
is in the midst
H8432
בְּתוֹכָ֣הּ
is in the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
3 of 15
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
הָיָ֔ה
H1961
הָיָ֔ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
4 of 15
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
סֶ֖לַע
of a rock
H5553
סֶ֖לַע
of a rock
Strong's:
H5553
Word #:
7 of 15
a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
שָׂמָ֑תְהוּ
of her she set
H7760
שָׂמָ֑תְהוּ
of her she set
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
8 of 15
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
לֹ֤א
H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
9 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שְׁפָכַ֙תְהוּ֙
she poured
H8210
שְׁפָכַ֙תְהוּ֙
she poured
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
10 of 15
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
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
11 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָאָ֔רֶץ
it not upon the ground
H776
הָאָ֔רֶץ
it not upon the ground
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
12 of 15
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
לְכַסּ֥וֹת
to cover
H3680
לְכַסּ֥וֹת
to cover
Strong's:
H3680
Word #:
13 of 15
properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
Cross References
Leviticus 17:13And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.Deuteronomy 12:16Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.
Historical Context
Pre-exilic Jerusalem saw epidemic violence: child sacrifice in Hinnom Valley (Ezekiel 16:20-21), judicial murders, prophets killed (Matthew 23:37). Rather than hidden shame, these crimes were committed openly ('upon a rock'), often in religious contexts—making them sacrilege. The blood imagery culminates in Jesus's pronouncement: 'Upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth' (Matthew 23:35).
Questions for Reflection
- How does society today display 'blood on the rock'—normalized violence that cries out for justice?
- What does covering blood with dust teach about humility toward life and accountability for death?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock—the metaphor shifts from the rusty pot (verses 3-6) to Jerusalem's brazen display of bloodguilt. Blood poured upon the top of a rock (עַל־צְחִיחַ סֶלַע, al-tzechiach sela) remains visible, unabsorbed, crying out. By contrast, she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust—violating Leviticus 17:13's command to cover shed blood with earth.
The uncovered blood symbolizes Jerusalem's unrepentant violence (Ezekiel 22:3-4). While Leviticus covered sacrificial blood out of reverence for life (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh), Jerusalem flaunted innocent blood, displaying murder proudly. Genesis 4:10 warns: 'Your brother's blood cries to me from the ground.' Jerusalem's blood screams from exposed rock, demanding divine vengeance.