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.

Wherefore thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Woe {H188} to the bloody {H1818} city {H5892}, to the pot {H5518} whose scum {H2457} is therein, and whose scum {H2457} is not gone out {H3318} of it! bring it out {H3318} piece {H5409} by piece {H5409}; let no lot {H1486} fall {H5307} upon it.

"Therefore Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Woe to the city drenched with blood, to the pot whose scum is in it, and whose scum has not been removed. Empty it piece by piece, without troubling to draw lots.

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: β€˜Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now rusted, whose rust will not come off! Empty it piece by piece; cast no lots for its contents.

Wherefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the bloody city, to the caldron whose rust is therein, and whose rust is not gone out of it! take out of it piece after piece; No lot is fallen upon it.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 24 marks a pivotal moment in the prophet's ministry. It details two parables: the boiling pot (verses 1-14) and the death of Ezekiel's wife (verses 15-27), both serving as powerful signs of God's impending judgment on Jerusalem. Verse 6 specifically introduces the parable of the boiling pot, which symbolizes Jerusalem under siege by the Babylonians.

This prophecy was given on the very day Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 24:1-2), a powerful demonstration of God's foreknowledge and the certainty of His word. The city, once seen as a secure dwelling, is now depicted as a pot boiling with impurities, representing its inhabitants and their deep-seated sins.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Impurity: The central theme is God's righteous judgment against Jerusalem's persistent sin. The "scum" vividly portrays the city's moral and spiritual corruption – idolatry, injustice, and bloodshed – which clung stubbornly to it despite prior warnings and chastisements. This impurity was so ingrained that it could not be removed by ordinary means.
  • The "Bloody City": Jerusalem is labeled the "bloody city," highlighting its guilt from the violence, bloodshed, and injustice committed within its walls. This refers not only to physical violence but also to the spiritual bloodshed of covenant-breaking and idolatry that defiled the land.
  • Inevitability of Destruction: The command "bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it" signifies the thoroughness and impartiality of the coming destruction. There will be no escape by chance, no selection of who is spared; all are subject to the consequences of the city's collective guilt. This underscores the severity of God's wrath against unrepentant sin and the city's impending fall.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "scum" is chelah (Χ—ΦΆΧœΦ°ΧΦΈΧ”), which can mean rust, corrosion, or filth. It powerfully conveys the idea of deep-seated moral decay that has accumulated and hardened within the city, making it resistant to cleansing. This isn't just surface dirt, but an intrinsic impurity that has become part of the very fabric of the city's life.

The phrase "bloody city" ('ir damim) emphasizes the accumulated guilt from violence and injustice. This resonates with other prophetic condemnations of cities known for their bloodshed, such as Nineveh in Nahum 3:1, highlighting a divine principle of accountability for violent deeds.

Related Scriptures

This imagery of Jerusalem as a pot and its inhabitants as contents being "boiled" or "gathered" is also found earlier in Ezekiel, particularly in Ezekiel 11:3. There, the people initially use the metaphor to express a false sense of security, believing they are safe within the city walls like meat in a pot. However, in chapter 24, God reinterprets the metaphor to signify their judgment and destruction, turning their false security into a symbol of their doom.

The concept of God's judgment purifying a people, even through severe means, is a recurring theme in Scripture, often linked to the idea of refining silver or gold, as seen in Malachi 3:3. Here, however, the "scum" is so ingrained that it points to utter destruction for the city itself, rather than a process of purification.

Practical Application

  • Consequences of Unrepentance: Ezekiel 24:6 serves as a stark reminder that persistent sin and unrepentance lead to severe consequences. God's patience has limits, and His justice will ultimately prevail. It challenges us to examine our own lives for "scum" – those impurities or stubborn sins that cling to us.
  • God's Holiness and Justice: The verse underscores God's unwavering holiness and His commitment to justice. He cannot overlook deep-seated corruption, whether in individuals or communities. This should inspire both reverence and a desire for righteousness in our walk with Him.
  • Self-Examination: Are there areas in our lives, our communities, or even our churches where "scum" has accumulated – injustice, spiritual apathy, or unaddressed sin? This passage calls for honest self-assessment and a willingness to confront impurity, seeking cleansing and transformation before judgment falls.
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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 22:2

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

  • Nahum 3:1

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

  • 2 Kings 24:4

    And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.

  • Ezekiel 22:27

    Her princes in the midst thereof [are] like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, [and] to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

  • Obadiah 1:11

    In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou [wast] as one of them.

  • Micah 7:2

    The good [man] is perished out of the earth: and [there is] none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.

  • Nahum 3:10

    Yet [was] she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.
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