Ezekiel 22:19

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.

Therefore thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Because ye are all become dross {H5509}, behold, therefore I will gather {H6908} you into the midst {H8432} of Jerusalem {H3389}.

Therefore Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'Because you have all become dross, I will collect all of you inside Yerushalayim.

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because all of you have become dross, behold, I will gather you into Jerusalem.

Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye are all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 22 presents a scathing indictment of Jerusalem's widespread corruption and moral decay. The prophet Ezekiel, ministering during the Babylonian exile, vividly describes the city as a "bloody city" (Ezekiel 22:2), filled with idolatry, injustice, bloodshed, and abuse of power by its leaders, priests, and people. This verse, Ezekiel 22:19, marks a turning point where God declares His decisive judgment. Having exposed their sins, God now pronounces the consequence: He will gather them into Jerusalem, not for protection, but for an intense process of judgment and purification, likened to smelting metal.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The verse unequivocally states, "Thus saith the Lord GOD," emphasizing God's sovereign authority and righteous indignation against the deep-seated sin of His people. The gathering into Jerusalem is not a homecoming but an act of divine wrath.
  • The Corruption of Israel: The core accusation is, "ye are all become dross." This highlights the profound spiritual and moral degradation of the nation. They had lost their purity and purpose, becoming worthless impurities in God's sight.
  • Jerusalem as a Refining Furnace: The city, once holy, is designated as the place where God's judgment will be executed. It becomes a crucible where the people will undergo an intense, fiery purification process, as further elaborated in Ezekiel 22:20-21. This imagery of gathering into a furnace is a powerful metaphor for the trials and suffering they would face.
  • God's Sovereign Action: The phrases "I will gather you" underscore that this is God's doing. He is actively involved in purging His people, even through severe means, to achieve His ultimate purpose of holiness.

Linguistic Insights

The key term here is "dross" (Hebrew: sigim). This word refers to the worthless impurities, slag, or refuse that separates from precious metals like silver when they are heated and refined. It vividly portrays the people's spiritual state: they were no longer pure silver but had become contaminated and valueless in their rebellion against God. The imagery of smelting is common in prophetic literature to describe divine judgment and purification, as seen in Isaiah 1:25 and Malachi 3:3. The act of "gathering" (Hebrew: qabats) here is not a gentle assembly but a forceful collection for the purpose of judgment.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 22:19 serves as a stark reminder of God's intolerance for sin and His commitment to purity among His people. For believers today, this verse emphasizes:

  • The Seriousness of Sin: God views sin as a corrupting force that renders us "dross" and demands His righteous response.
  • God's Refining Process: While the immediate context is judgment, the ultimate purpose of God's "fiery trials" (1 Peter 4:12) is often purification. Difficult circumstances or periods of discipline can be God's way of removing the dross from our lives, shaping us to be more like Christ.
  • Self-Examination: We are called to examine our own hearts and lives to ensure we are not accumulating spiritual "dross" through unconfessed sin, idolatry, or compromise with worldly values. God desires a people of pure heart and genuine devotion.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 24:3

    And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set [it] on, and also pour water into it:

  • 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.

  • Matthew 13:30

    Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

  • Matthew 13:40

    As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

  • Matthew 13:42

    And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

  • Micah 4:12

    But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

  • Ezekiel 11:7

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they [are] the flesh, and this [city is] the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
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