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Ezekiel 22:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 22:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A city that sheddeth blood in the midst of her, that her time may come, and that maketh idols against herself to defile her!” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A city that sheddeth blood in the midst of her, that her time may come, and that maketh idols against herself to defile her!
Ezekiel 22:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 22

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
2And thou, son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? then cause her to know all her abominations.
3And thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A city that sheddeth blood in the midst of her, that her time may come, and that maketh idols against herself to defile her!
4Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed, and art defiled in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the nations, and a mocking to all the countries.
5Those that are near, and those that are far from thee, shall mock thee, thou infamous one [and] full of tumult.
6Behold, the princes of Israel, every one according to his power, have been in thee to shed blood.
← Ezekiel 22:2Ezekiel 22:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then say thou, thus saith the Lord God, &c.] For though the prophet was to sit as judge, yet in the name of the King of kings, under whose authority he acted: the city sheddeth blood in the midst of it; openly and impudently, in the face of all, and in great abundance; even innocent blood, as the Targum has it: murders were frequent and common, either through quarrels, or through unrighteous judgments in courts of judicature: that her time may come; to fill up the measure of her iniquity, and to receive the just punishment of her sins. So the Targum, “the time of her destruction:” and maketh idols against herself, to defile herself; being guilty, not only of murder, but of idolatry; she was…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“sheddeth blood . . . that her time may come--Instead of deriving advantage from her bloody sacrifices to idols, she only thereby brought on herself "the time" of her punishment. against herself-- (Pro 8:36).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Her time - The time of ripeness in her sins, and of execution of judgments on her. To defile - For this does more defile them, and provoke God to wrath against them. Ezekiel 22:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“sheddeth: Eze 22:27, Eze 24:6-9; Zep 3:3 that her: Eze 22:4, Eze 7:2-12, Eze 12:25; Rom 2:5; Pe2 2:3 and maketh: Kg2 21:2-9; Jer. 2:1-3:25 Ezekiel 22:4”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 22 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification