King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 22:18 Mean?

Ezekiel 22:18 in the King James Version says “Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of ...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 22 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. dross of silver: Heb. drosses, etc”

Ezekiel 22:18 · KJV

Context

16

And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. shalt take: or, shalt be profaned

17

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

18

Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. dross of silver: Heb. drosses, etc

19

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.

20

As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. As: Heb. According to the gathering

Read Ezekiel 22 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross (ben adam hayu li beit-Yisrael le'sigim, בֶּן־אָדָם הָיוּ לִי בֵית־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְסִגִים). The term sigim (סִגִים) means "dross" or "slag"—the worthless impurities removed during metal refining. Israel, intended to be refined silver (precious metal for God's use), had become entirely waste material. This inverts the expected metaphor: instead of refining producing pure silver, the entire nation proved to be impurities with no precious metal remaining.

All they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. The list of base metals—nechoshet (נְחֹשֶׁת, brass/bronze), bedil (בְּדִיל, tin), barzel (בַּרְזֶל, iron), oferel (עוֹפֶרֶת, lead)—describes the worthless residue left after smelting. The phrase "dross of silver" (siggei kaseph, סִגֵּי כָסֶף) is devastating: they are not even useful metals, only the waste byproduct. Israel's covenant privilege meant nothing without covenant faithfulness.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient metallurgy involved heating ore in furnaces to separate precious metals from impurities. The dross floated to the surface and was skimmed off as refuse. Ezekiel's audience, familiar with this process, would grasp the severity: they were the discarded waste, not the refined product. This imagery appears elsewhere (Isaiah 1:22, Jeremiah 6:28-30, Malachi 3:2-3), but Ezekiel's version is most severe—total rejection.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'base metals' have replaced genuine godliness in your spiritual life?
  2. How does understanding that covenant privilege without faithfulness makes us 'dross' affect your view of religious identity?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
בֶּן1 of 17

“Son”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

אָדָ֕ם2 of 17

“of man”

H120

ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

הָיוּ3 of 17
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לִ֥י4 of 17
H0
בֵֽית5 of 17

“the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל6 of 17

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

סִגִ֥ים7 of 17

“is to me become dross”

H5509

scoria

כֻּלָּ֡ם8 of 17
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

נְ֠חֹשֶׁת9 of 17

“all they are brass”

H5178

copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e., coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver)

וּבְדִ֨יל10 of 17

“and tin”

H913

alloy (because removed by smelting); by analogy, tin

וּבַרְזֶ֤ל11 of 17

“and iron”

H1270

iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement

וְעוֹפֶ֙רֶת֙12 of 17

“and lead”

H5777

lead (from its dusty color)

בְּת֣וֹךְ13 of 17

“in the midst”

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

כּ֔וּר14 of 17

“of the furnace”

H3564

a pot or furnace (as if excavated)

סִגִ֥ים15 of 17

“is to me become dross”

H5509

scoria

כֶּ֖סֶף16 of 17

“of silver”

H3701

silver (from its pale color); by implication, money

הָיֽוּ׃17 of 17
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

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 22:18 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 22:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 1:22Psalms 119:119Jeremiah 6:28-30Isaiah 48:10Proverbs 17:3Lamentations 4:1-2

Test Your Knowledge

Ezekiel 22 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Ezekiel 22 with CommentaryAll Ezekiel ChaptersComplete Ezekiel QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes