Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.
Parallel translations
- WEB Those who are near, and those who are far from you, will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.
- BSB Those near and far will mock you, O infamous city, full of turmoil.
- NKJV Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult.
- NASB Those who are near and those who are far from you will make fun of you, you of ill repute, full of turmoil.
- NLT O infamous city, filled with confusion, you will be mocked by people far and near.
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
Both near and distant nations will mock Jerusalem as infamous and full of turmoil. Her reputation is one of shame, not glory.
Overview
The mockery of all surrounding peoples underscores how far Jerusalem has fallen from her holy calling. Her name has become a byword for tumult and infamy rather than a testimony to the Lord. This public disgrace is part of the judgment her persistent sin has earned.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Jer 15:2–3And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.
- Isa 22:2Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 22:5 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.