“Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable sins.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations;
- KJV Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,
- BSB “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her abominations
- NKJV “Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,
- NASB “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God commands Ezekiel to confront Jerusalem with her abominations. The aim is honest self-knowledge, not flattery.
Overview
Rather than comfort, the prophet must hold up a mirror so the city sees her sin clearly. 'Make known her abominations' frames the whole chapter as a divine indictment. True repentance begins with an unflinching recognition of guilt, which this allegory is meant to produce.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ezek 22:2“You, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations.
- Ezek 20:4“Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
- Isa 58:1“Cry aloud, don’t spare. Lift up your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Hos 8:1“Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh’s house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law.
- Ezek 23:36Yahweh said moreover to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations.
- Ezek 8:9–17He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations that they do here.”
- Ezek 33:7–9So you, son of man, I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 16:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.