Ezekiel 22:2

KJV

Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now, thou son {H1121} of man {H120}, wilt thou judge {H8199}, wilt thou judge {H8199} the bloody {H1818} city {H5892}? yea, thou shalt shew {H3045} her all her abominations {H8441}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Now, human being, are you prepared to judge? Are you prepared to judge the city drenched in blood? Then make her realize how disgusting all her practices are!

Berean Standard Bible

“As for you, son of man, will you judge her? Will you pass judgment on the city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her abominations

American Standard Version

And thou, son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? then cause her to know all her abominations.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 22:2 initiates a powerful divine indictment against Jerusalem, delivered through the prophet Ezekiel. God commissions Ezekiel, addressing him as "son of man," to confront the city, metaphorically branded "the bloody city," by exposing the full extent of its pervasive moral and spiritual abominations. This verse sets the stage for a detailed cataloging of Jerusalem's profound wickedness, providing the righteous justification for the impending and severe divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the immediate opening of Ezekiel chapter 22, a pivotal prophetic oracle that functions as a comprehensive bill of indictment against the city of Jerusalem. It follows a series of pronouncements concerning God's judgment on foreign nations (Ezekiel 20-21) and precedes further condemnations against Jerusalem and its corrupt leaders (Ezekiel 23). Chapter 22 specifically itemizes the manifold sins that have provoked God's wrath, meticulously laying out the moral and ethical justification for the city's imminent destruction. The emphatic repetition of the question, "wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge," powerfully underscores the divine imperative and Ezekiel's unique, divinely appointed role in this solemn process of exposing and declaring judgment upon sin.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ezekiel prophesied during the tumultuous period of the Babylonian exile, having been deported to Babylon in 597 BC. At the time of this prophecy, Jerusalem was still standing, though under significant Babylonian pressure, and would ultimately fall in 586 BC. The city, intended to be the sacred center of Yahweh's worship and a beacon of righteousness, had become deeply corrupted. Its societal fabric, from leaders and priests to prophets and the common people, was steeped in idolatry, pervasive injustice, widespread bloodshed, and profound moral depravity, representing a blatant violation of the Mosaic Covenant. Culturally, the practices condemned—such as child sacrifice, the systematic oppression of the vulnerable, and rampant idolatry—were characteristic of surrounding pagan nations but were strictly forbidden for Israel. God's impending judgment on Jerusalem was not arbitrary but a direct and just consequence of their persistent rebellion against their covenant relationship, despite repeated warnings from prophets like [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - Jeremiah's Temple Sermon") and Ezekiel himself in earlier chapters, such as the allegories of unfaithfulness in [Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - Jerusalem's Adultery") and [Ezekiel 20](/ezekiel/20 "Ezekiel 20 - Israel's Rebellious History in the Wilderness").
* **Key Themes:** Ezekiel 22:2 significantly contributes to several overarching themes that permeate the book of Ezekiel. Firstly, it powerfully highlights **Divine Judgment and Justice**, demonstrating that God, as the perfectly righteous Judge, cannot tolerate unrepentant sin within His chosen people, even within His holy city. Secondly, it emphasizes **Prophetic Responsibility**, as Ezekiel is explicitly commanded to "judge" and "shew her all her abominations," underscoring the prophet's crucial, often unpopular, and challenging role in exposing sin and faithfully declaring God's truth. This aligns seamlessly with Ezekiel's earlier commission as a [watchman for Israel](/zekiel/3-17 "Ezekiel 3:17 - Ezekiel Appointed as a Watchman"). Thirdly, the verse vividly portrays **The Extent of Sin**, branding Jerusalem as "the bloody city," which signifies its widespread violence, murder, and other detestable practices, revealing the profound depth of its moral and spiritual decay. Finally, it speaks to the theme of **Exposure of Wickedness**, as God insists that Jerusalem's hidden and overt sins be brought fully to light, affirming that nothing is concealed from His omniscient gaze and that divine accountability is utterly inevitable.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **son of man (Hebrew, _bên ʼâdâm'_):** This characteristic title, used over ninety times for Ezekiel (H1121, 'bên' - son; H120, 'ʼâdâm' - human being), profoundly emphasizes his humanity and mortality, distinguishing him from the divine speaker, Yahweh. It underscores his role as a representative of mankind, a frail human commissioned to speak God's authoritative word to his fellow human beings. While a common address, it powerfully highlights the stark contrast between the finite prophet and the infinite, omnipotent God who sends him.
* **judge (Hebrew, _shâphaṭ'_):** Occurring twice in the verse for intense emphasis, this verb (H8199) signifies far more than merely pronouncing a verdict. It encompasses the full spectrum of judicial action: to pronounce sentence (whether for or against), to vindicate the righteous, to punish the wicked, and by extension, even to govern. Here, God commands Ezekiel not to passively observe but to actively declare God's righteous judgment against Jerusalem, effectively laying out the charges and the divine sentence against the city.
* **abominations (Hebrew, _tôwʻêbah'_):** This potent term (H8441) refers to something morally disgusting, abhorrent, or utterly detestable to God. In the Old Testament, it frequently denotes severe violations of divine law, particularly idolatry (the worship of false gods), sexual perversion, and grave social injustices that defile the land and offend God's holiness. Ezekiel is commanded to "shew her all her abominations," meaning to meticulously expose the full, repulsive extent of Jerusalem's spiritual and moral corruption, leaving no sin unaddressed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city?"**: God directly addresses Ezekiel, using his distinctive prophetic title, and issues a rhetorical question that functions as a powerful, urgent command. The deliberate repetition of "wilt thou judge" intensifies the divine imperative, emphasizing both the gravity of the prophet's task and the absolute certainty of the impending judgment. The immediate identification of Jerusalem as "the bloody city" vividly characterizes it by its defining moral stain—its pervasive guilt through violence, murder, and the shedding of innocent blood.
* **"yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations."**: This declarative clause clarifies Ezekiel's specific and active role in the process of judgment. He is not merely to condemn in general terms but to meticulously reveal, expose, and lay bare every single detestable practice and sin that Jerusalem has committed. This public disclosure serves as both an irrefutable justification for God's impending wrath and a final, undeniable witness to the city's profound and unrepentant rebellion against its covenant Lord.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 22:2 is rich with several potent **literary devices** that amplify its message. The repeated rhetorical question, "wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge," functions as a powerful form of **anaphora**, where a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses, creating intense **emphasis** and underscoring the divine mandate and the prophet's solemn duty. The epithet "the bloody city" is a striking instance of **metonymy**, where a characteristic (bloodshed) stands in for the entity (Jerusalem), vividly encapsulating the city's pervasive guilt and moral corruption. This phrase also serves as a potent **epithet**, a descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned. The direct and forceful command to "shew her all her abominations" highlights the transparency of divine judgment and the inevitability of exposure for hidden sins. The entire verse functions as an **apostrophe**, a direct address to an absent or abstract entity (Jerusalem, through the prophet Ezekiel), imbuing the prophecy with a profound sense of confrontational urgency and divine authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 22:2 delivers a stark and profound theological statement about God's intrinsic holiness, His unyielding justice, and His unwavering commitment to covenant faithfulness. It unequivocally reveals that divine judgment is never arbitrary but is always a righteous and necessary response to persistent and pervasive sin, particularly when that sin defiles the very place meant for God's sacred presence. The chilling designation "the bloody city" signifies a society utterly corrupted, where the sanctity of human life and the foundational principles of divine law have been flagrantly disregarded. God's explicit command to "shew her all her abominations" underscores His divine imperative for full disclosure of sin, not merely for the sake of condemnation, but as an essential step towards understanding the profound depth of human rebellion and, consequently, the unimpeachable righteousness of His impending judgment. This divine insistence on exposing sin highlights God's perfect knowledge and His absolute refusal to overlook wickedness, even within His chosen city.

* [Isaiah 1:15](/isaiah/1-15 "Isaiah 1:15 - Hands Full of Blood")
* [Jeremiah 2:34](/jeremiah/2-34 "Jeremiah 2:34 - Blood of the Poor")
* [Revelation 18:24](/revelation/18-24 "Revelation 18:24 - Blood of Prophets and Saints")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 22:2 serves as a timeless mirror, reflecting God's unchanging character and His righteous expectations for humanity. It compels us to consider the profound and devastating implications of sin, not merely as isolated individual acts but as a pervasive corruption that can infiltrate and permeate societies, institutions, and even religious bodies. Just as ancient Jerusalem faced intense divine scrutiny for its "bloody" practices and "abominations," so too are contemporary societies and individuals held accountable before the sovereign God. This passage challenges us to critically examine the presence of injustice, violence, and moral decay in our own communities, nations, and even within the church, recognizing that true peace, flourishing, and divine blessing are impossible where God's holy standards are continually violated and His name profaned. For believers, it is a potent call to personal and corporate repentance, to courageously expose and confess our own "abominations" before God, trusting implicitly in His boundless mercy and transformative grace. It also profoundly reminds us of our prophetic responsibility to speak truth to power, to advocate tirelessly for righteousness and justice, and to be a radiant light in a world often saturated with darkness, reflecting God's perfect justice and His compassionate love.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways might our own communities or nations today be characterized as "bloody" or filled with "abominations" in God's discerning sight?**
* **What particular "abominations" (practices detestable to God) might we be inadvertently overlooking or tolerating in our personal lives, our families, or within our local church?**
* **How can we, as faithful followers of Christ, effectively and lovingly "shew" (expose) the truth about sin and God's righteousness in a manner that is both convicting and ultimately redemptive?**
* **What is our personal and collective responsibility when we witness pervasive injustice or profound moral decay, and how does this verse motivate us to courageous and compassionate action?**

### FAQ
**What does "son of man" mean when God addresses Ezekiel?**

Answer: The title "son of man" (Hebrew: *bên ʼâdâm*) is used over 90 times throughout the book of Ezekiel. It primarily serves to emphasize Ezekiel's humanity and mortality in stark contrast to God's divine power, transcendence, and eternal nature. It functions to humble the prophet, constantly reminding him that he is a frail human messenger delivering the authoritative word of the almighty God. Furthermore, it highlights his solidarity with the people he is sent to, underscoring that he is one of them, yet divinely commissioned to speak on God's behalf. This title sets Ezekiel apart from other prophets who might be called "man of God," focusing instead on his humble, representative, and dependent role as God's instrument.

**Why is Jerusalem called "the bloody city"?**

Answer: Jerusalem is called "the bloody city" because it was deeply stained with the pervasive guilt of widespread bloodshed and violence. This indictment encompassed literal murders, the judicial killing of innocent individuals, systemic oppression that led to the death and suffering of the poor and vulnerable, and possibly even the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice, which was a pagan custom adopted by some Israelites. The Hebrew word for "bloody" (*dâm*) often appears in the plural ("bloods") in such contexts, intensifying the meaning to signify a multitude of violent acts and profound bloodguilt that permeated the city. This severe indictment is powerfully echoed in other prophetic books, such as [Isaiah 1:21](/isaiah/1-21 "Isaiah 1:21 - The Faithful City Become a Harlot") and [Nahum 3:1](/nahum/3-1 "Nahum 3:1 - Woe to the Bloody City").

**What are "abominations" in the context of Ezekiel's prophecy?**

Answer: In Ezekiel's prophecy, "abominations" (Hebrew: *tôwʻêbah*) refers to practices that are utterly detestable, repugnant, and abhorrent to God, constituting severe violations of His holy character and covenant laws. These abominations included various forms of idolatry (such as the worship of other gods, graven images, or cosmic elements), egregious sexual perversions (including incest, adultery, and cultic prostitution), and severe social injustices (like the oppression of the poor, the acceptance of bribery, and the perversion of justice). These acts were not merely moral failings but profoundly defiled the land and the very temple, provoking God's righteous and holy wrath. Ezekiel 22 proceeds to list many of these specific abominations, such as those detailed in [Ezekiel 22:6-12](/ezekiel/22-6-12 "Ezekiel 22:6-12 - Sins of Jerusalem's Leaders and People").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 22:2, with its stark portrayal of a "bloody city" consumed by its "abominations," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in several profound and redemptive ways. First, while Ezekiel was divinely commissioned to expose Jerusalem's pervasive sin, Jesus Christ, the true and ultimate "Son of Man" (a title He frequently used for Himself, as powerfully seen in [Matthew 8:20](/matthew/8-20 "Matthew 8:20 - The Son of Man Has Nowhere to Lay His Head")), came not merely to expose sin but to bear its full, crushing weight. He perfectly fulfilled and surpassed the prophetic role, speaking truth to power and fearlessly exposing the hypocrisy and deep-seated sin of His generation, particularly among the religious leaders (e.g., [Matthew 23:1-36](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees")). Second, the "bloody city" of Jerusalem, stained by the blood of countless innocents and prophets, ultimately became the very city where the most innocent blood of all was shed—the precious blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (as profoundly prophesied in [Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5-6 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant and His Atoning Sacrifice")). His atoning sacrifice on the cross in Jerusalem was the ultimate, divine answer to the pervasive problem of humanity's "abominations" and "bloodguilt." Through His shed blood, He takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), offering a complete cleansing and reconciliation that no human judgment or prophetic exposure could ever provide. Thus, the divine judgment declared by Ezekiel powerfully foreshadows humanity's desperate need for a divine Savior, who would not only expose sin in its raw ugliness but conquer it definitively through His perfect, atoning sacrifice.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

Ezekiel 20:4

Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge [them]? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

Nahum 3:1

¶ Woe to the bloody city! it [is] all full of lies [and] robbery; the prey departeth not;

Isaiah 58:1

¶ Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Ezekiel 24:9

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.

2 Kings 21:16

Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD.

Matthew 27:25

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.