King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 28:22 Mean?

Ezekiel 28:22 in the King James Version says “And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and ... — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.

Ezekiel 28:22 · KJV


Context

20

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

21

Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,

22

And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.

23

For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

24

And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets—God's instruments of judgment: דֶּבֶר (deber, 'pestilence/plague') and דָּם (dām, 'blood'). The combination appears frequently in covenant curses (Leviticus 26:25, Deuteronomy 32:24).

And the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side—The Hebrew וְנִפַל חָלָל בְּתוֹכָהּ בְּחֶרֶב עָלֶיהָ מִסָּבִיב (wĕniphal ḥālāl bĕthôkhāh bĕḥereb ʿāleyhā missābîb) depicts complete encirclement and slaughter. מִסָּבִיב (missābîb, 'on every side') means no escape. And they shall know that I am the LORD—The inevitable conclusion: fulfilled prophecy produces recognition of YHWH's sovereignty. God's judgments are not arbitrary but covenant-based, publicly demonstrated, and designed to reveal His character to both victims and observers.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Historical records confirm pestilence, bloodshed, and siege warfare characterized Sidon's judgments. The Persian siege (345 BC) involved famine (causing plague), betrayal (bloodshed), and complete military encirclement. Classical historians Diodorus Siculus and Arrian describe the horror. Ezekiel's 'sword upon her on every side' proved literally accurate.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does God use multiple instruments of judgment (pestilence, blood, sword)?
  2. How do comprehensive judgments ('on every side') demonstrate the impossibility of escaping God?
  3. What should we learn from the fulfillment of specific prophetic details?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
אָמַר֙1 of 19

And say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

כֹּ֤ה2 of 19
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַר֙3 of 19

And say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י4 of 19

the Lord

H136

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

יְהוִ֔ה5 of 19

GOD

H3069

god

הִנְנִ֤י6 of 19
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

עָלַ֙יִךְ֙7 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

צִיד֔וֹן8 of 19

Behold I am against thee O Zidon

H6721

tsidon, the name of a son of canaan, and of a place in palestine

וְנִכְבַּדְתִּ֖י9 of 19

and I will be glorified

H3513

to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same

בְּתוֹכֵ֑ךְ10 of 19

in the midst

H8432

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

וְֽיָדְע֞וּ11 of 19

of thee and they shall know

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

כִּֽי12 of 19
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אֲנִ֣י13 of 19
H589

i

יְהוָ֗ה14 of 19

that I am the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בַּעֲשׂ֥וֹתִי15 of 19

when I shall have executed

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

בָ֛הּ16 of 19
H0
שְׁפָטִ֖ים17 of 19

judgments

H8201

a sentence, i.e., infliction

וְנִקְדַּ֥שְׁתִּי18 of 19

in her and shall be sanctified

H6942

to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)

בָֽהּ׃19 of 19
H0

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 28:22 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 28:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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