Ezekiel 22:15

And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.

And I will scatter {H6327} thee among the heathen {H1471}, and disperse {H2219} thee in the countries {H776}, and will consume {H8552} thy filthiness {H2932} out of thee.

I will scatter you among the Goyim and disperse you throughout the countries; thus I will remove your defilement from you,

I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you throughout the lands; I will purge your uncleanness.

And I will scatter thee among the nations, and disperse thee through the countries; and I will consume thy filthiness out of thee.

Context

Ezekiel 22 is a severe prophetic indictment against Jerusalem, often referred to as the "bloody city" due to its widespread moral corruption, idolatry, oppression, and violence. The chapter details a litany of sins committed by all levels of society—princes, priests, prophets, and the common people—who had forsaken God's law and profaned His holy name. Verse 15 is part of God's pronounced judgment, outlining the severe consequences for their persistent rebellion and spiritual defilement. It highlights God's justice in responding to a people who continually broke their covenant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Dispersion: The central message is God's active judgment against sin. The scattering "among the heathen" and dispersal "in the countries" refers to the Babylonian exile, a historical event that was a direct fulfillment of prophetic warnings. This dispersion was a painful consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness, as previously warned in the Law (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:64).
  • Purification Through Discipline: Crucially, the verse adds "and will consume thy filthiness out of thee." This reveals that God's judgment is not solely punitive but also redemptive. The exile, though harsh, was a divine act of purification, intended to refine His people and remove the deep-seated spiritual and moral corruption that had permeated their society. It was a painful but necessary surgery to restore them to a right relationship with Him, a theme echoed in later promises of a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 36:26).

Linguistic Insights

The term "filthiness" in the KJV, or "impurity" in many modern translations, comes from the Hebrew word tum'ah (טֻמְאָה). This word carries a strong connotation of ritual, moral, and spiritual defilement. While it can refer to ceremonial uncleanness, in Ezekiel, it frequently signifies profound moral depravity, idolatry, and rebellion against God's commands. The removal of this tum'ah is God's ultimate objective through the severe process of scattering and exile, aiming for a people who are truly consecrated to Him.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 22:15 offers profound lessons for believers today. It underscores God's unwavering holiness and His intolerance for sin, even among those He has chosen. While we are no longer under the Old Covenant law, the principle remains: God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Any "filthiness" or unconfessed sin in our lives can hinder our relationship with Him. This verse reminds us that God's discipline, though sometimes painful, is ultimately for our spiritual purification and growth, leading us towards greater conformity to His character and a deeper walk with Him. It calls us to examine our own lives for areas that need cleansing and to trust in God's refining work.

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.

  • Nehemiah 1:8

    Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

  • Deuteronomy 4:27

    And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

  • Ezekiel 22:22

    As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.

  • Zechariah 7:14

    But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

  • Leviticus 26:33

    And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

  • Ezekiel 36:19

    And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.

  • Ezekiel 12:14

    And I will scatter toward every wind all that [are] about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.

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