Ezekiel 7:23

Translation
King James Version
¶ Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
Ask
KJV (with Strong's)
Make H6213 a chain H7569: for the land H776 is full H4390 of bloody H1818 crimes H4941, and the city H5892 is full H4390 of violence H2555.
Ask
Complete Jewish Bible
"'Forge a chain, for the land is full of capital crimes and the city full of violence.
Ask
Berean Standard Bible
Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence.
Ask
American Standard Version
Make the chain; for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
Ask
World English Bible Messianic
Make the chain; for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
Ask
Geneva Bible (1599)
Make a chaine: for the lande is full of the iudgement of blood, and the citie is full of crueltie.
Ask
Young's Literal Translation
Make the chain; for the land Hath been full of bloody judgments, And the city hath been full of violence.
Ask
See also
Ezekiel 9:9Jeremiah 27:22 Kings 21:16Hosea 4:2Ezekiel 11:6Ezekiel 22:3Ezekiel 22:6
In the KJVVerse 20,601 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Ezekiel 7:23 delivers a stark prophetic command, "Make a chain," symbolizing the imminent, inescapable, and severe judgment of God upon Judah and Jerusalem. This divine decree is a direct and righteous consequence of the nation's profound moral and spiritual decay, characterized by the land being "full of bloody crimes" and the city "full of violence." The verse encapsulates God's unwavering verdict against a society that has thoroughly corrupted itself, leaving no recourse but the execution of divine wrath through the literal and symbolic bondage of captivity and exile.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Ezekiel 7 forms a crucial segment within the prophet's early ministry, specifically a series of unyielding pronouncements of judgment directed at Judah and Jerusalem. Following the devastating vision of God's glory departing the temple in earlier chapters (Ezekiel 8-11), this chapter emphatically declares, "the end is come" upon the land (Ezekiel 7:2), signaling the finality and comprehensiveness of God's impending wrath. Verse 23, with its chilling imperative to "Make a chain," serves as a vivid, tangible symbol within this broader prophetic declaration, immediately followed by the explicit reasons for such severe judgment—the pervasive "bloody crimes" and "violence." It is a direct and forceful statement within a chapter saturated with themes of divine retribution, the end of Israel's sovereignty, and the dismantling of false security.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The prophecy of Ezekiel 7:23 is set against the grim backdrop of the impending Babylonian invasion and the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Despite repeated and urgent warnings from prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the people of Judah had stubbornly persisted in widespread idolatry, egregious social injustice, and a profound disregard for God's covenant laws. Culturally, "bloody crimes" (Hebrew: mishpat damim, referring to capital offenses, murder, and judicial corruption leading to bloodshed) and "violence" (Hebrew: châmâç, encompassing oppression, lawlessness, and moral decay) were rampant, indicating a complete breakdown of societal order and ethical standards. The "chain" was not merely a metaphor but a grim reality of ancient Near Eastern warfare, where conquered populations, including royalty and commoners, were literally bound and led into exile as captives, a fate vividly portrayed in the eventual capture and blinding of King Zedekiah and the deportation of the people of Judah, as recorded in Jeremiah 52:11.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent throughout the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is the theme of Divine Judgment and Consequence, illustrating the direct and unavoidable link between persistent, unrepentant sin and God's righteous punishment. The "chain" is an undeniable symbol of the Inevitable Captivity and Exile, serving as a physical manifestation of the spiritual bondage brought about by sin and covenant infidelity. Furthermore, the phrases "full of bloody crimes" and "full of violence" underscore the theme of Pervasive Corruption and Societal Depravity. This was not isolated wrongdoing but a systemic issue affecting both the land (the nation as a whole) and the city (Jerusalem, the spiritual and political heartland). This echoes earlier biblical warnings about the consequences of widespread sin, such as the earth being "filled with violence" in Genesis 6:11 leading to the Great Flood. The verse also highlights Covenant Infidelity, as Judah's actions were a direct breach of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, necessitating divine intervention to uphold His holiness and justice.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • full (Hebrew, mâlêʼ', H4390): This word (H4390) signifies being completely filled or saturated, in a wide application, both literally and figuratively. Its repetition in Ezekiel 7:23 emphasizes the pervasiveness and overwhelming nature of sin within the land and city. It indicates that the "bloody crimes" and "violence" were not isolated incidents but had permeated every aspect of society, leaving no room for righteousness, justice, or moral integrity.
  • bloody crimes (Hebrew, dâm and mishpâṭ', H1818): The KJV phrase "bloody crimes" translates the Hebrew "mishpat damim" (מִשְׁפַּט דָּמִים). While dâm (H1818) refers to "blood" (especially that which causes death, figuratively bloodshed or bloodguiltiness), mishpâṭ (H4941) means "judgment," "verdict," "law," or "crime." Together, "mishpat damim" specifically denotes capital offenses, acts of bloodshed that demand judicial retribution, or even corrupt judgments that lead to the shedding of innocent blood. It signifies severe violence and injustice worthy of the gravest penalty, highlighting the profound legal and moral gravity of the nation's offenses before God.
  • violence (Hebrew, châmâç', H2555): This term (H2555) denotes not only physical aggression but also injustice, oppression, and lawlessness. It describes a state of societal breakdown where the rights of the vulnerable are trampled, and moral order collapses. The pervasive presence of châmâç indicates a deep-seated corruption that extends beyond mere individual acts to a pervasive culture of wrongdoing, where power is abused, and the innocent suffer without recourse or protection.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Make a chain:" This is a direct, imperative command, likely given to the prophet Ezekiel as a symbolic act or a prophetic declaration of what God intends to do. The "chain" (H7569, rattôwq) is a literal instrument of bondage and captivity, signifying the impending loss of freedom, dignity, and national sovereignty that awaits Judah. It is a stark visual and conceptual representation of the inevitable exile and the complete subjugation of a rebellious people.
  • "for the land is full of bloody crimes," This clause provides the primary justification for the divine judgment. The "land" (H776, ʼerets), representing the entire nation of Judah, is depicted as being completely saturated with "bloody crimes" (mishpat damim). This points to widespread murder, capital offenses, judicial corruption, and the shedding of innocent blood, indicating a profound moral and legal depravity that has defiled the very ground they inhabit and has provoked God's righteous anger.
  • "and the city is full of violence." This second clause narrows the focus to "the city" (H5892, ʻîyr), specifically Jerusalem, the capital and spiritual center of Judah. It emphasizes that the pervasive sin of "violence" (H2555, châmâç) has concentrated in the heart of the nation. This violence encompasses not just physical aggression but also systemic injustice, oppression, and lawlessness, demonstrating that even the supposed center of worship and law has become utterly corrupted, necessitating divine intervention.

Literary Devices

Ezekiel 7:23 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of impending judgment with dramatic force. Symbolism is central, with the "chain" serving as a powerful and concrete symbol of the coming Babylonian captivity and the devastating loss of national freedom and sovereignty. This symbol is visceral, representing the inescapable consequences of Judah's sin. The verse utilizes powerful Repetition with the phrase "is full" (H4390, mâlêʼ), emphasizing the overwhelming and pervasive nature of the nation's sin. This repetition highlights that corruption was not isolated but had saturated both the entire land and its capital city, creating a sense of absolute saturation that leaves no room for mitigation or escape. Furthermore, the verse employs Juxtaposition by immediately following the command for judgment ("Make a chain") with the explicit reasons for it ("for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence"). This direct cause-and-effect structure underscores God's justice, demonstrating that His judgment is not arbitrary but a righteous and proportionate response to profound moral decay. The description of the land and city being "full of" these evils also borders on Hyperbole, intensifying the perception of their depravity and justifying the severity of the divine response.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ezekiel 7:23 profoundly illustrates the theological truth that God, in His perfect holiness and unyielding justice, cannot tolerate unrepentant sin indefinitely. The "chain" of judgment is a direct and unavoidable consequence of Judah's persistent covenant infidelity, where "bloody crimes" and "violence" had become the norm, defiling the land and provoking divine wrath. This verse underscores the principle that sin, especially when pervasive and systemic, carries severe consequences, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to righteousness and His ultimate sovereignty over human affairs. It serves as a stark reminder that national and individual moral decay inevitably leads to divine reckoning, whether through external forces, the internal collapse of society, or direct divine intervention. God's character demands that He act decisively when His covenant people persistently and flagrantly violate His laws, ensuring that justice prevails.

  • Jeremiah 52:11 - This verse directly recounts the literal captivity and chaining of King Zedekiah, fulfilling the prophecy of the "chain" in Ezekiel and illustrating the physical reality of the judgment.
  • Genesis 6:11 - Parallels the pervasive "violence" in Noah's day, which likewise led to a comprehensive divine judgment (the Flood), demonstrating a consistent pattern of God's response to widespread human depravity.
  • Leviticus 18:25 - Highlights the concept that the land itself can be defiled by sin, specifically "bloody crimes" and moral abominations, to the point where it "vomits out" its inhabitants, connecting the land's defilement to the judgment of exile.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Ezekiel 7:23 stands as a timeless and sobering warning to all generations, serving as a mirror for societies and individuals alike. It reminds us that communities and nations cannot perpetually engage in "bloody crimes" and "violence"—understood broadly as systemic injustice, oppression, the devaluation of human life, and a profound disregard for moral and spiritual order—without facing profound and often devastating consequences. This passage calls us to a deep and honest reflection on the moral state of our own communities and nations. Where there is widespread corruption, the trampling of justice, and a culture of aggression, there is a spiritual and moral void that invites severe repercussions, whether from the natural consequences of societal decay or from direct divine intervention. The "chain" serves as a powerful metaphor for the various forms of bondage—spiritual, social, or even physical—that inevitably result from unrepentant sin. It implicitly urges us to actively pursue righteousness, advocate for justice, and diligently work towards peace and reconciliation, rather than allowing a culture of violence and corruption to take root and flourish. Understanding such prophecies should lead us to a posture of humility, repentance, and a turning back to God, trusting in His promise to heal and restore when His people humble themselves and pray (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the concept of a society "full of bloody crimes and violence" manifest in our world today, and what are the contemporary "chains" that result from such conditions?
  • What is our individual and collective responsibility in addressing systemic injustice, moral decay, and violence within our communities and nations, both locally and globally?
  • How does God's judgment in Ezekiel 7:23 inform and deepen our understanding of His justice, His holiness, and His long-suffering nature in the face of persistent human sin?

FAQ

Is the "chain" in Ezekiel 7:23 a literal chain or symbolic?

Answer: The "chain" (Hebrew: rattôwq) in Ezekiel 7:23 functions as both a literal and symbolic representation. Prophetically, it vividly symbolizes the imminent Babylonian captivity of Judah, where the people would indeed be bound and led away into exile. This was a common and brutal practice for prisoners of war in the ancient Near East, as seen in the historical account of King Zedekiah's treatment in Jeremiah 52:11. Symbolically, it represents the profound loss of freedom, dignity, and national sovereignty that results from pervasive sin and divine judgment, signifying the inescapable bondage that awaits a nation that has forsaken God's ways and broken His covenant.

What does "bloody crimes" specifically refer to in this context?

Answer: The KJV phrase "bloody crimes" translates the Hebrew "mishpat damim," which literally means "judgment of blood" or "bloody judgment." It refers to capital offenses, acts of bloodshed, and severe violence that warrant judicial retribution. This encompasses not only outright murder but also judicial corruption where innocent blood is shed through unjust verdicts, or a general state of lawlessness where human life is devalued and violence is rampant. It signifies a profound moral and legal depravity that has thoroughly defiled the land and its inhabitants, making them liable for God's righteous judgment.

How does this verse relate to God's character?

Answer: Ezekiel 7:23 powerfully reveals several crucial aspects of God's character, particularly His absolute holiness, His unwavering justice, and His commitment to upholding righteousness. While God is merciful and patient, this verse demonstrates that His patience has limits when sin becomes pervasive, systemic, and unrepentant. It underscores that God is a righteous judge who will not tolerate widespread "bloody crimes" and "violence" indefinitely. His judgment, though severe and devastating, is a just and necessary response to uphold His holy character, the moral order of His creation, and the integrity of His covenant. It shows that God holds nations and individuals accountable for their actions, even when it means delivering them into the hands of their enemies, as outlined in the covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28:48.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

While Ezekiel 7:23 vividly portrays the devastating consequences of human sin and God's righteous judgment, it implicitly points to the ultimate solution and hope found in Jesus Christ. The "chain" of judgment and the pervasive "bloody crimes" and "violence" described in Ezekiel powerfully highlight humanity's profound bondage to sin and its inevitable wage, which is death, as stated in Romans 6:23. However, Christ came precisely to break these very chains. He is the sinless Lamb of God, who, through His own sacrificial "blood," takes away the sin of the world, as triumphantly proclaimed by John the Baptist in John 1:29. The ultimate "bloody crime" was the unjust crucifixion of the innocent Son of God, yet through this very act, Christ bore the judgment for all humanity's "bloody crimes" and "violence," becoming our substitute. He disarmed the spiritual forces of evil and triumphed over them by the cross, canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands (Colossians 2:14). Where Judah was bound by the consequences of its sin, believers in Christ are set free from the law of sin and death by the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). His kingdom is one of peace, righteousness, and justice, a stark contrast to the violence and injustice that necessitated the severe judgment in Ezekiel, ultimately fulfilling the deepest longing for a world free from the chains of sin and its devastating effects.

Copy as

Commentary on Ezekiel 7 verses 23–27

Here is, I. The prisoner arraigned: Make a chain, in which to drag the criminal to the bar, and set him before the tribunal of divine justice; let him stand in fetters (as a notorious malefactor), stand pinioned to receive his doom. Note, Those that break the bands of God's law asunder, and cast away those cords from them, will find themselves bound and held by the chains of his judgments, which they cannot break nor cast from them. The chain signified the siege of Jerusalem, or the slavery of those that were carried into captivity, or that they were all bound over to the righteous judgment of God, reserved in chains.

II. The indictment drawn up against the prisoner: The land is full of bloody crimes, full of the judgments of blood (so the word is), that is, of the guilt of blood which they had shed under colour of justice and by forms of law, with the solemnity of a judgment. The innocent blood which Manasseh shed, probably thus shed, by the judgment of the blood, was the measure-filling sin of Jerusalem, Kg2 24:4. Or, It is full of such crimes as by the law were to be punished with death, the judgment of blood. Idolatry, blasphemy, witchcraft, Sodomy, and the like, were bloody crimes, for which particular sinners were to die; and therefore, when they had become national, there was no remedy but the nation must be cut off. Note, Bloody crimes will be punished with bloody judgments. The city, the city of David, the holy city, that should have been the pattern of righteousness, the protector of it, and the punisher of wrong, is now full of violence; the rulers of that city, having greater power and reputation, are greater oppressors than any others. This was sadly to be lamented. How has the faithful city become a harlot!

III. Judgment given upon this indictment. God will reckon with them not only for the profaning of his sanctuary, but for the perverting of justice between man and man; for, as holiness becomes his house, so the righteous Lord loves righteousness and is the avenger of unrighteousness. Now the judgment given is, 1. That since they had walked in the way of the heathen, and done worse than they, God would bring the worst of the heathen upon them to destroy them and lay them waste, the most barbarous and outrageous, that have the least compassion to mankind and the greatest antipathy to the Jews. Note, Of the heathen some are worse than others, and God sometimes picks out the worst to be a scourge to his own people, because he intends them for the fire when the work is done. 2. That since they had filled their houses with goods unjustly gotten, and used their pomp and power for the crushing and oppressing of the weak, God would give their houses to be possessed and all the furniture of them to be enjoyed by strangers, and make the pomp of the strong to cease, so that their great men should not dazzle the eyes of the weak-sighted with their pomp, nor with their might at any time prevail against right, as they had done. 3. That, since they had defiled the holy places with their idolatries, God would defile them with his judgments, since they had set up the images of other gods in the temple, God would remove thence the tokens of the presence of their own God. When the holy places are deserted by their God they will soon be defiled by their enemies. 4. Since they had followed one sin with another, God would pursue them with one judgment upon another: "Destruction comes, utter destruction (Eze 7:25); for there shall come mischief upon mischief to ruin you, and rumour upon rumour to frighten you, like the waves in a storm, one upon the neck of another." Note, Sinners that are marked for ruin shall be prosecuted to it; for God will overcome when he judges. 5. Since they had disappointed God's expectations from them, he would disappoint their expectations from him; for, (1.) They shall not have the deliverance out of their troubles that they expect. They shall seek peace; they shall desire it and pray for it; they shall aim at and expect it: but there shall be none; their attempts both to court their enemies and to conquer them shall be in vain, and their troubles shall grow worse and worse. (2.) They shall not have the direction in the trouble that they expect (Eze 7:26): They shall seek a vision of the prophet, shall desire, for their support under their troubles, to be assured of a happy issue out of them. They did not desire a vision to reprove them for sin, nor to warn them of danger, but to promise them deliverance. Such messages they longed to hear. But the law shall perish from the priest; he shall have no words either of counsel or comfort to say to them. They would not hear what God had to say to them by ways of conviction, and therefore he has nothing to say to them by way of encouragement. Counsel shall perish from the ancients; the elders of the people, that should advise them what to do in this difficult juncture, shall be infatuated and at their wits' end. It is bad with a people when those that should be their counsellors know not how to consider within themselves, consult with one another, or counsel them. 6. Since they had animated and encouraged one another to sin, God would dispirit and dishearten them all, so that they should not be able to make head against the judgments of God that were breaking in upon them. All orders and degrees of men shall lie down by consent under the load (Eze 7:27): The king, that should inspire life into them, and the prince, that should lead them onto attack the enemy, shall mourn and be clothed with desolation; their heads and hearts shall fail, their politics and their courage; and then no wonder if the hands of the people of the land, that should fight for them, be troubled. None of the men of might shall find their hands. What can men contrive or do for themselves when God has departed from them and appears against them? All must needs be in tears, all in trouble, when God comes to judge them according to their deserts, and so make then know, to their cost, that he is the Lord, the God to whom vengeance belongs.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 23–27. Public domain.
Copy as
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Verse 23.) Make a conclusion, for the land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of wickedness. LXX: And I will bring disturbance, for the land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of iniquities. The Hebrew word Arethich () is interpreted by Aquila as conclusion, and by Symmachus and Theodotion as καθήλωσιν, meaning crucifixion. For this reason, the Septuagint uses φυρμὸν, which we translate as disturbance. Therefore, O prophet, conclude my wrath upon the land of Judah and upon the city of Jerusalem in a brief speech, so that just as the land is full of bloodshed, for all are judged in bloodshed, shedding innocent blood: which the Scripture also records that the Jews did in the person of Naboth: thus their own blood is shed, and the city full of wickedness is demonstrated. For the city of Jerusalem, from gate to gate, is filled with the blood of the prophets, even under Manasseh (1 Kings 21). And there will come for them a conclusion, and disturbance and affliction, so that none of those who are facing imminent miseries can escape.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as

Continue studying Ezekiel 7:23 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.

Read & Compare

Commentaries

Original Language & Research

Sermons, Hymns & Audio

TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.