Ezekiel 22:12 Meaning and Explanation
“In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jerusalem's people practice bribery, usury, extortion, and have forgotten God.
The Context of Ezekiel 22:12
Bribery, usury, and extortion flow from forgetting God.
What Does Ezekiel 22:12 Mean?
Those in Jerusalem accept bribes to shed innocent blood, making murder a commodity for sale. Beyond this, they engage in usury (charging excessive interest) and extortion, preying on vulnerable neighbors to accumulate wealth. These financial crimes rank alongside murder as grave transgressions.
The culmination—'and hast forgotten me'—reveals the spiritual root of all these sins. When a people turn away from God and His law, they progressively abandon every restraint on greed, violence, and exploitation. God Himself speaks in grief at this abandonment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 22:12
What does Ezekiel 22:12 mean?
Jerusalem's people practice bribery, usury, extortion, and have forgotten God.
What is the context of Ezekiel 22:12?
Bribery, usury, and extortion flow from forgetting God.