Ezekiel 22:9

In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.

In thee are men {H582} that carry tales {H7400} to shed {H8210} blood {H1818}: and in thee they eat {H398} upon the mountains {H2022}: in the midst {H8432} of thee they commit {H6213} lewdness {H2154}.

In you, people gossip to the point of inciting bloodshed; in you are those who go to eat on the mountains; in you, they commit lewd acts;

Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.

Slanderous men have been in thee to shed blood; and in thee they have eaten upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they have committed lewdness.

Ezekiel 22:9 reveals the severe moral and spiritual degradation within Jerusalem, detailing specific sins that provoked God's judgment. This verse is part of a scathing indictment against the city, highlighting the widespread corruption from its leaders to its common people.

Context

The prophet Ezekiel, ministering during the Babylonian exile, delivers a series of divine pronouncements against Judah and Jerusalem. Chapter 22 is a powerful "bloody city" oracle, listing a litany of transgressions that have rendered the city deserving of God's wrath and impending destruction. Ezekiel 22:3 sets the tone, declaring Jerusalem "the city that sheds blood in her midst." Verse 9 specifically targets three categories of deeply offensive sins, underscoring the pervasive nature of their rebellion against the Lord.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Malicious Slander and Violence: The phrase "men that carry tales to shed blood" points to the insidious nature of gossip, false accusations, and malicious reporting that directly leads to violence, injustice, and even murder. This indicates a society where words are weaponized, and human life is held in contempt, a direct violation of the sanctity of life and the spirit of the Ninth Commandment (Exodus 20:16).
  • Pervasive Idolatry: "And in thee they eat upon the mountains" refers to the practice of participating in pagan feasts and sacrifices on "high places" or mountains. These were sites dedicated to the worship of foreign gods, a stark act of spiritual infidelity against the covenant God of Israel. This widespread idolatry was a constant source of divine displeasure throughout Israel's history (1 Kings 14:23).
  • Flagrant Sexual Immorality: "In the midst of thee they commit lewdness" denotes rampant sexual depravity, including prostitution and other illicit sexual acts often associated with pagan fertility cults. The Hebrew word for "lewdness," zimmah (זִמָּה), implies premeditated and outrageous wickedness, highlighting the deep moral decay and disregard for God's laws concerning purity and sexuality (Leviticus 18:22).

Linguistic Insights

The term "carry tales" (from the Hebrew root for 'to go about' or 'slander') combined with "to shed blood" (לְשַׁפְכַת דָּם - l'shafkhat dam) paints a vivid picture of destructive gossip leading to fatal outcomes. "Eat upon the mountains" is a clear reference to pagan sacrificial meals on bamoth (בָּמוֹת), the high places. "Lewdness" is zimmah (זִמָּה), a strong term for depraved and often sexually perverse behavior, emphasizing the moral corruption of the city.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 22:9 serves as a timeless warning about the consequences of unchecked sin in society and individual lives. It demonstrates how social injustice, spiritual apostasy, and moral depravity are interconnected and provoke divine judgment. For believers today, this verse calls for:

  • Responsible Speech: To guard against gossip and slander, recognizing the destructive power of words (Proverbs 18:21).
  • Undivided Worship: To commit to exclusive worship of the one true God, rejecting any form of idolatry, whether overt or subtle (e.g., placing anything above God).
  • Moral Purity: To uphold God's standards of sexual purity and integrity, living lives that honor Him in all aspects.

The passage reminds us that God is holy and righteous, and He will judge those who persist in rebellion against His commands. It underscores the importance of repentance and turning back to the Lord.

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.

  • Hosea 4:14

    I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people [that] doth not understand shall fall.

  • Hosea 4:2

    By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

  • Leviticus 19:16

    Thou shalt not go up and down [as] a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I [am] the LORD.

  • Hosea 4:10

    For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 16:43

    Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these [things]; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon [thine] head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.

  • Ezekiel 18:6

    [And] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

  • Ezekiel 18:11

    And that doeth not any of those [duties], but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,

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