Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘“Behold, therefore I have struck my hand at your dishonest gain which you have made, and at your blood which has been within you.
- BSB Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst.
- NKJV “Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst.
- NASB “Behold, then, I strike with My hand your profit which you have made and the bloodshed which is among you.
- NLT “But now I clap my hands in indignation over your dishonest gain and bloodshed.
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 strikes His hand at Jerusalem's dishonest gain and bloodshed, signaling His firm response to her sins. Her ill-gotten wealth and violence provoke His action.
Overview
The gesture of striking the hands expresses God's indignation and settled resolve to judge. He singles out the city's two chief sins, greed and bloodshed, as the focus of His wrath. The verse assures that God takes notice of injustice and will surely act against it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Isa 33:15He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
- Ezek 21:17I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.
- Ezek 22:27Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
- Amos 2:6–8Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
- Ezek 21:14Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.
- Mic 2:1–3Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
- 1 Th 4:6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
- Mic 6:10–11Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
- Num 24:10And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
- Jer 5:26–27For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
- Amos 8:4–6Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
- Prov 28:8He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
- Amos 3:10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
- Jer 7:9–11Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
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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 22:13 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
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