Ezekiel 22:13

Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.

Behold, therefore I have smitten {H5221} mine hand {H3709} at thy dishonest gain {H1215} which thou hast made {H6213}, and at thy blood {H1818} which hath been in the midst {H8432} of thee.

"'Therefore, I am clapping my hands together because of your ill-gotten gains and the blood shed in you.

Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst.

Behold, therefore, I have smitten my hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.

Ezekiel 22:13 is a powerful declaration of God's righteous judgment against the pervasive sin and corruption within Jerusalem, often referred to as the "bloody city." This verse encapsulates God's strong indignation and His decisive action in response to the flagrant injustices committed by His people.

Context of Ezekiel 22:13

Chapter 22 of Ezekiel presents a devastating indictment against Jerusalem, detailing a long list of its inhabitants' sins. God, speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, exposes the moral decay of the city's leaders—princes, priests, and prophets—as well as the common people. The charges include idolatry, oppression of the vulnerable (foreigners, fatherless, widows), Sabbath desecration, bribery, extortion, and rampant bloodshed. Verse 13 serves as God's direct and emphatic response to this catalogue of iniquities, signaling that His patience has run out and judgment is imminent. This passage highlights the severe consequences of a society that has turned away from God's laws and embraced wickedness.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Indignation: The phrase "I have smitten mine hand" is a vivid anthropomorphism, portraying God's dismay, anger, and determination to act. It signifies a conclusive and unyielding declaration of judgment against sin, similar to the divine response seen in Ezekiel 21:17.
  • Consequences of Injustice: The verse directly targets "dishonest gain" and "blood which hath been in the midst of thee." These represent economic exploitation, greed, and widespread violence or murder. God's judgment is a direct consequence of the people's failure to uphold justice and righteousness, a theme consistent throughout prophetic literature (e.g., Amos 5:24).
  • God's Holiness and Righteousness: This verse underscores God's absolute intolerance for sin and His commitment to justice. He cannot overlook the corruption and violence that had become endemic in Jerusalem.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "smitten mine hand" (nakah kappi) vividly conveys God's strong emotional response and His impending action. It's an expression of dismay, condemnation, and the finality of His decision to bring judgment. The term for "dishonest gain" is betza (בצע), which implies ill-gotten profits, often through violence, oppression, or fraud, emphasizing economic injustice. "Blood" (dam) here points to the heinous sin of bloodshed, encompassing murder and the shedding of innocent lives, which defiled the land and provoked God's wrath.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 22:13 serves as a timeless warning about the consequences of systemic sin, particularly social and economic injustice, and violence. For believers today, it calls for:

  • Ethical Conduct: A reminder to pursue honest dealings and reject greed or exploitation in all aspects of life.
  • Valuing Human Life: An emphasis on the sanctity of life and the abhorrence of violence or any action that harms others.
  • Societal Responsibility: An encouragement to stand for justice and righteousness within our communities, recognizing that God holds societies accountable for their collective actions.
  • Repentance and Transformation: A call to examine our own hearts and societies for areas of sin, seeking God's forgiveness and striving for a life that honors His commands, as urged in Micah 6:8.

Ultimately, this verse highlights God's unwavering commitment to justice and His readiness to act when His people turn away from His righteous path.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 33:15

    He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

  • Ezekiel 21:17

    I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said [it].

  • Ezekiel 22:27

    Her princes in the midst thereof [are] like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, [and] to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

  • Amos 2:6

    Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;

  • Amos 2:8

    And they lay [themselves] down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned [in] the house of their god.

  • Ezekiel 21:14

    Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite [thine] hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it [is] the sword of the great [men that are] slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.

  • Micah 6:10

    Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure [that is] abominable?

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