Ezekiel 33:25

Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You eat meat with the blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God commands Ezekiel to address the exiled Israelites in Judah’s ruins who falsely claim the land as their inheritance based on their population size. The prophet delivers this divine indictment directly to that specific group.

The words — The Hebrew לָכֵן (laKhen) means "therefore," and אֱמֹר (’emōr) means "say," structuring the command to transmit Yahweh’s direct speech. The preposition עַל־ (‘al-) translates as "with," explicitly linking the forbidden practice of eating meat to its blood.

The thread — The text’s charge against consuming blood corresponds to Genesis 9:4 and Deuteronomy 12:16, while the pairing of idolatry and bloodshed mirrors Jeremiah 7:9. These citations provide the covenantal legal framework for the accusation.

Why it lands — The verse explicitly states that observed violations of dietary and moral laws disqualify the people from possessing the land. It requires the reader to recognize that claimed inheritance depends on adherence to the stated conditions rather than ancestral precedent or numerical strength.

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

לָכֵן֩la./Khen<to>/ therefore אֱמֹ֨ר'e.Morsay אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם'a.lei./Hemto/ them כֹּֽה־koh-thus אָמַ֣ר׀'a.Marhe says אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהֹוִ֗הYah.wehYahweh עַל־'al-with הַדָּ֧ם׀ha./Damthe/ blood תֹּאכֵ֛לוּto.Khe.luyou eat וְעֵינֵכֶ֛םve./'ei.ne./Khemand/ eyes/ your תִּשְׂא֥וּtis.'Uyou lift up אֶל־'el-to גִּלּוּלֵיכֶ֖םgi.lu.lei./Khemidols/ your וְדָ֣םve./Damand/ blood תִּשְׁפֹּ֑כוּtish.Po.khuyou shed וְהָאָ֖רֶץve./ha./'A.retzand/ ¿/ land תִּירָֽשׁוּ׃ti.Ra.shuwill you possess?

King James Version

Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?

Cross-references

Genesis 9:4 But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.
Deuteronomy 12:16 but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.
Jeremiah 7:9 Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,
Leviticus 3:17 This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”
Ezekiel 18:6 He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.
Ezekiel 22:6 See how every prince of Israel within you has used his power to shed blood.
Ezekiel 22:27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.
Leviticus 7:26 You must not eat the blood of any bird or animal in any of your dwellings.
Leviticus 17:10 If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people.
Leviticus 19:26 You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.