“But now I clap my hands in indignation over your dishonest gain and bloodshed.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
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 who walks righteously, and speaks blamelessly; He who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil —
- Ezek 21:17I will also strike my hands together, and I will cause my wrath to rest. I, Yahweh, have spoken it.”
- Ezek 22:27Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.
- Amos 2:6–8Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Israel, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes;
- Ezek 21:14“You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and strike your hands together. Let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the fatally wounded. It is the sword of the great one who is fatally wounded, which enters into their rooms.
- Mic 2:1–3Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.
- 1 Th 4:6that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
- Mic 6:10–11Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed?
- Num 24:10Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
- Jer 5:26–27For among my people are found wicked men. They watch, as fowlers lie in wait. They set a trap. They catch men.
- Amos 8:4–6Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail,
- Prov 28:8He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
- Amos 3:10“Indeed they don’t know to do right,” says Yahweh, “Who hoard plunder and loot in their palaces.”
- Jer 7:9–11Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 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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