Bible Strands
Ezekiel 5:5
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God speaks through Ezekiel to the exiled community, immediately following a command to burn a portion of hair as a sign of impending judgment on Israel. The words — The Hebrew phrase זֹאת יְרוּשָׁלַם (zot yerushalayim) literally identifies the city, while בְּתוֹךְ הַגּוֹיִם (betokh hagoyim) places her in the midst of surrounding countries. The thread — This declaration of prominence aligns with Ezekiel 4:1’s command to draw Jerusalem on a brick and Deuteronomy 4:6’s observation that Israel’s obedience will be noted by surrounding peoples. Why it lands — The text establishes Jerusalem’s privileged position before immediately charging her people with rejecting God’s ordinances more wickedly than the nations around her.
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
Thus saith the Lord God; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 4:1 “Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it the city of Jerusalem.
- Deuteronomy 4:6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
- Jeremiah 6:6 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.
- Ezekiel 16:14 Your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect in the splendor I bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.
- Micah 5:7 Then the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind.
- Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
- Luke 22:19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.