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.

In thy filthiness {H2932} is lewdness {H2154}: because I have purged {H2891} thee, and thou wast not purged {H2891}, thou shalt not be purged {H2891} from thy filthiness {H2932} any more, till I have caused my fury {H2534} to rest {H5117} upon thee.

Because of your filthy lewdness, because you refused to be purified when I wanted to purify you; now you will not be purified from your filth until I have satisfied my fury on you.

Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.

In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have cleansed thee and thou wast not cleansed, thou shalt not be cleansed from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my wrath toward thee to rest.

Context

Ezekiel 24:13 is part of a somber prophecy delivered to the prophet Ezekiel concerning Jerusalem's impending destruction. This chapter, specifically beginning with Ezekiel 24:1-2, dates the prophecy to the very day the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar began (the tenth day of the tenth month, in the ninth year of Ezekiel's exile).

The preceding verses (Ezekiel 24:3-14) use the vivid and unsettling parable of the "boiling pot" to illustrate Jerusalem's deep moral and spiritual corruption. The city is likened to a pot filled with choice meat (its inhabitants) that is to be consumed by fire, and its accumulated "filthiness" (the residue of its sins) is so ingrained that even intense heat cannot cleanse it.

Key Themes

  • Persistent Unrighteousness: The verse highlights Jerusalem's deep-seated spiritual depravity, characterized by idolatry, bloodshed, and injustice. Despite God's attempts to purify the city through warnings and lesser judgments, Jerusalem remained unrepentant.
  • Divine Patience Exhausted: The phrase "I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged" signifies that God's long-suffering and repeated efforts to bring His people to repentance have been met with stubborn resistance. A point of no return has been reached regarding a cleansing that leads to restoration.
  • Inevitable and Final Judgment: The chilling declaration "thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee" reveals that the only "cleansing" left for Jerusalem is the complete and devastating judgment of God, executed through the Babylonian invasion. This judgment is not for purification unto repentance but for the cessation of their active rebellion through destruction.

Linguistic Insights

  • The word translated "filthiness" in KJV is from the Hebrew tuma'ah (טֻמְאָה), which denotes ritual or moral impurity, often associated with idolatry or bloodshed. Here, it underscores Jerusalem's profound moral corruption.
  • "Lewdness" comes from the Hebrew zimmah (זִמָּה), referring to depravity, wickedness, or a heinous plot, emphasizing the deliberate and egregious nature of their sins.
  • The verb "purged" is from taher (טָהֵר), meaning to cleanse or purify. The repetition "I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged" powerfully conveys God's earnest attempts and Jerusalem's utter failure to respond to His cleansing work.

Significance and Application

Ezekiel 24:13 serves as a stark warning about the severe consequences of persistent rebellion and an unrepentant heart. It underscores several timeless truths:

  • God's Justice: While God is patient and merciful, His justice demands a response to sin. There comes a point where opportunities for repentance-driven cleansing cease, and judgment becomes the only recourse.
  • Responsibility to Respond: The verse implicitly challenges individuals and communities to respond to God's calls for repentance and purification. We are called to confess our sins and allow God to cleanse us.
  • The Danger of Hardening the Heart: Jerusalem's fate is a solemn reminder of the danger of continually hardening one's heart against divine warnings and attempts at spiritual refinement. God's discipline, though painful, is ultimately for our good, if we respond to it (Hebrews 12:11).

This passage reminds us that while God desires to purify us, our refusal to yield to His cleansing work can lead to a state where only the fire of judgment remains to bring an end to the active rebellion.

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.

  • Ezekiel 22:24

    Son of man, say unto her, Thou [art] the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.

  • Ezekiel 5:13

    Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken [it] in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.

  • Zephaniah 3:2

    She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.

  • Ezekiel 8:18

    Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, [yet] will I not hear them.

  • Ezekiel 16:42

    So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:1

    ¶ Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

  • Jeremiah 6:28

    They [are] all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: [they are] brass and iron; they [are] all corrupters.

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