Bible Strands
Ezekiel 22:24
“Son of man, say to her, ‘In the day of indignation, you are a land that has not been cleansed, upon which no rain has fallen.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks through Ezekiel ("Son of man") to address a defiled land during a period of divine indignation. The prophet is commanded to declare this reality to "her" as judgment approaches.
The words — אֶ֔רֶץ ('E.retz) = land and מְטֹהָרָ֖ה (me.to.ha.Rah) = cleansed. The text literally describes a territory that remains uncleaned and unwatered by rain.
The thread — This motif of uncleaned rebellion parallels the unfaithfulness of leaders and people in 2 Chronicles 28:22, 2 Chronicles 36:14, and Isaiah 1:5. Each passage tracks a pattern of persistent defiance meeting divine reckoning.
Why it lands — The passage demands a clear-eyed acknowledgment of spiritual defilement and the cessation of self-deception before judgment arrives. It requires the reader to confront the reality of unaddressed sin without seeking comfort in ritual or status.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 28:22 In the time of his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 36:14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 1:5 Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted.
- Isaiah 9:13 But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.
- Jeremiah 2:30 “I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
- Jeremiah 5:3 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
- Jeremiah 6:29 The bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged.
- Jeremiah 44:16 “As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you!
- Ezekiel 24:13 Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.
- Zephaniah 3:2 She heeded no voice; she accepted no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God.