King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 22:12 Mean?

Ezekiel 22:12 in the King James Version says “In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy ne...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 22 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.”

Ezekiel 22:12 · KJV

Context

10

In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.

11

And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter. one: or, every one another: or, every one lewdly: or, by lewdness

12

In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.

13

Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.

14

Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.

Read Ezekiel 22 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood—shochad laqu'u (שֹׁחַד לָקְחוּ), 'bribes they took,' corrupting justice to enable murder (Deuteronomy 27:25). Thou hast taken usury and increase (neshek ve-tarbit, נֶשֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית), two Hebrew terms for interest forbidden between covenant brothers (Leviticus 25:35-37), exploiting vulnerable debtors.

Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion (vatebats'i re'eki be-oshek, וַתְּבַצְּעִי רֵעֵכִי בְּעֹשֶׁק)—violent profit-taking. The climax: And hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD (ve-oti shachakht, וְאֹתִי שָׁכָחַתְּ). Economic injustice isn't merely social failure but theological apostasy—forgetting God who redeemed slaves (Leviticus 25:42, 55).

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Historical & Cultural Context

These economic crimes plagued late Judean society. Jeremiah condemned similar practices (Jeremiah 22:13-17), and Amos had earlier indicted the northern kingdom for identical violations (Amos 2:6-8). Debt slavery, land seizures, and judicial bribery created a brutal economy contradicting Jubilee principles. Jerusalem's market reflected Canaanite values, not Sinai covenant.

Reflection Questions

  1. How is economic exploitation presented as fundamentally theological—'thou hast forgotten me'—rather than merely ethical?
  2. What does the connection between bribery, usury, and bloodshed reveal about the systemic nature of injustice?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
שֹׁ֥חַד1 of 17

“gifts”

H7810

a donation (venal or redemptive)

לָקַ֗חַתְּ2 of 17

“In thee have they taken”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

בָ֖ךְ3 of 17
H0
לְמַ֣עַן4 of 17
H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

שְׁפָךְ5 of 17

“to shed”

H8210

to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc

דָּ֑ם6 of 17

“blood”

H1818

blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe

נֶ֧שֶׁךְ7 of 17

“usury”

H5392

interest on a debt

וְתַרְבִּ֣ית8 of 17

“and increase”

H8636

multiplication, i.e., percentage or bonus in addition to principal

לָקַ֗חַתְּ9 of 17

“In thee have they taken”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

וַתְּבַצְּעִ֤י10 of 17

“and thou hast greedily gained”

H1214

to break off, i.e., (usually) plunder; figuratively, to finish, or (intransitively) stop

רֵעַ֙יִךְ֙11 of 17

“of thy neighbours”

H7453

an associate (more or less close)

בַּעֹ֔שֶׁק12 of 17

“by extortion”

H6233

injury, fraud, (subjectively) distress, (concretely) unjust gain

וְאֹתִ֣י13 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שָׁכַ֔חַתְּ14 of 17

“and hast forgotten”

H7911

to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention

נְאֻ֖ם15 of 17

“me saith”

H5002

an oracle

אֲדֹנָ֥י16 of 17

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִֽה׃17 of 17

“GOD”

H3069

god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 22:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 22:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 27:25Ezekiel 23:35Deuteronomy 16:19Micah 7:2-3Ezekiel 18:8Deuteronomy 23:19

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