Ezekiel 22:20

[As] they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt [it]; so will I gather [you] in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave [you there], and melt you.

As they gather {H6910} silver {H3701}, and brass {H5178}, and iron {H1270}, and lead {H5777}, and tin {H913}, into the midst {H8432} of the furnace {H3564}, to blow {H5301} the fire {H784} upon it, to melt {H5413} it; so will I gather {H6908} you in mine anger {H639} and in my fury {H2534}, and I will leave {H3240} you there, and melt {H5413} you.

Then, just as they collect silver, copper, iron, lead and tin into a crucible and blow fire on it to melt it down; so likewise I will collect you in my anger and fury, throw you in there, and melt you down.

Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to melt with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, leave you there, and melt you.

As they gather silver and brass and iron and lead and tin into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my wrath, and I will lay you there, and melt you.

Commentary

Context of Ezekiel 22:20

Ezekiel 22 presents a scathing indictment of Jerusalem, portraying it as a "bloody city" consumed by corruption, injustice, and idolatry. Chapters 20-23 in the Book of Ezekiel focus heavily on the sins of Israel and Judah, detailing the spiritual decay that led to God's impending judgment through the Babylonian exile. Leading up to verse 20, the Lord, through Ezekiel, lists specific transgressions of the princes, priests, prophets, and people, including shedding innocent blood, taking bribes, exploiting the vulnerable, and profaning holy things (see Ezekiel 22:6-12). Verses 18-19 introduce the metaphor of the furnace, stating that Israel has become like dross – a worthless residue of metals – in the midst of the furnace, signifying their impurity and unworthiness in God's sight.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: This verse powerfully conveys God's active and severe judgment against a deeply sinful people. The phrase "anger and my fury" emphasizes the intensity of God's righteous indignation against persistent rebellion and corruption.
  • The Furnace as a Metaphor for Judgment: Unlike some passages where fire is used for purification (e.g., Malachi 3:3), here the furnace signifies punitive destruction. God gathers the inhabitants of Jerusalem like a mixture of base and precious metals, not for refinement and restoration, but for a devastating melting that consumes them. This imagery parallels the failure of true spiritual refining, as seen in Jeremiah 6:29-30.
  • Consequences of Societal Corruption: The verse underscores that widespread moral and spiritual decay within a nation will inevitably invite divine reckoning. The mixture of metals represents the entire populace, indicating that no segment of society was exempt from the pervasive corruption.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "fury" (Χ—Φ΅ΧžΦΈΧ” - chemah) often denotes intense heat, burning anger, or wrath, vividly aligning with the furnace imagery. The verb "melt" (Χ ΦΈΧͺַךְ - nathak) implies pouring out or dissolving, suggesting a complete disintegration or liquefaction under intense heat, signifying utter destruction or dissolution of the nation's structure and identity.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 22:20 serves as a somber warning that God's justice is sure and His wrath against unrepentant sin is fierce. For believers, it highlights the importance of pursuing holiness and righteousness, both individually and corporately, and standing against societal injustices and moral decay. It reminds us that while God is merciful, He is also a God of justice who will not tolerate perpetual wickedness. This passage can prompt reflection on our own spiritual state and the need for genuine repentance, knowing that God's desire is for our restoration, not our destruction (see Ezekiel 33:11).

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, 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.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 54:16

    Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

  • Jeremiah 4:20

    Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, [and] my curtains in a moment.

  • Ezekiel 21:31

    And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, [and] skilful to destroy.

  • Ezekiel 21:32

    Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no [more] remembered: for I the LORD have spoken [it].

  • Jeremiah 4:11

    At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,

  • Jeremiah 4:12

    [Even] a full wind from those [places] shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.

  • Ezekiel 24:13

    In thy filthiness [is] lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
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