And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even though Jerusalem was God's chosen city, He declares He'll treat it with the same severe judgment He brought on Samaria, the capital of the rebellious northern kingdom. The imagery of wiping a dish suggests a complete and utter cleansing, not just a surface scrub, hinting at a total destruction of the city's defenses and way of life. This isn't just a punishment; it's a demonstration that God's justice is absolute and applies to His own people when they stray so far.
And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God declares a devastating judgment upon Jerusalem, comparing its impending destruction to the fate of Samaria, the capital of the wicked northern kingdom of Israel, which was destroyed by the Assyrians. This declaration follows a description of King Manasseh's extreme wickedness and idolatry, and foreshadows the Babylonian exile that will eventually befall Judah. The imagery of a measuring line and plumb line signifies God's meticulous assessment of Jerusalem's sin, leading to its complete annihilation.
God isn't playing favorites, even with His chosen city. When sin takes root, judgment follows. But what does this 'measuring line' really mean?
In this verse, God declares He will stretch the 'measuring line of Samaria' and the 'plumb line of the house of Ahab' over Jerusalem.
The Fall of Samaria
Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which had long since fallen to the Assyrians due to its idolatry and wickedness. Its destruction was a stark warning.
The Wickedness of Ahab
The 'house of Ahab' represents extreme rebellion and sin, particularly the idolatry and violence that King Ahab and his wife Jezebel had brought to Israel. They actively promoted Baal worship and persecuted God's prophets.
By using these specific references, God shows that Jerusalem's sin has reached a level comparable to the worst examples of rebellion and idolatry in Israel's history. He is measuring them by the standard of those who completely rejected Him, indicating that their judgment will be just as severe.
God's judgment isn't just a slap on the wrist. The imagery here is brutal and absolute, leaving nothing untouched. What does this vivid picture teach us about the finality of divine judgment?
The verse concludes with a powerful, unsettling image: 'I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.'
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Utter Cleansing
Imagine wiping a dirty dish. You scrub it, you rinse it, and then you turn it upside down to ensure no residue remains. This is God's intent for Jerusalem.
Complete Destruction
This isn't just about removing sin; it's about removing the city itself as a viable entity, overturning its established order and structures. It signifies a complete and utter devastation, leaving the place desolate and useless, much like a dish that has been thoroughly cleaned and put away.
This imagery underscores the severity of God's wrath against persistent, unrepentant sin. It’s a picture of total removal and reversal, leaving no trace of the former state.
Understand the original words
qāw · Hebrew Noun
A tool used for measuring the extent of destruction; symbolically, it represents God's standard of judgment applied to a city or nation to determine their total ruin.
mišqōlet · Hebrew Noun
A weight suspended by a line used to ensure vertical accuracy; symbolically, it represents the standard of God's righteousness by which His people are tested and found wanting, leading to judgment.
The prophecy in 2 Kings 21:13 uses the destruction of Samaria as a stark warning to Jerusalem. It declares that the same fate, the same thorough judgment that befell the northern kingdom, would also come upon Judah because of its persistent sin and the legacy of wicked kings like Manasseh.
c. 786-746 BC
Reign of Jeroboam II
Israel experienced a period of prosperity and territorial expansion under Jeroboam II, yet societal corruption and idolatry grew unchecked.
c. 745 BC
Rise of Tiglath-Pileser III
The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III begins his aggressive military campaigns, ushering in a new era of imperial expansion and control over the region.
734-732 BC
Assyrian Campaigns in the Levant
Tiglath-Pileser III conquers territories in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting populations and establishing Assyrian control, setting a precedent for future conquests.
722 BC— this verse
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II destroys the capital city of Samaria and deports the remaining population of the Northern Kingdom of Israel into exile.
c. 705-681 BC
Reign of Sennacherib
The Assyrian king Sennacherib conquers many cities in Judah and besieges Jerusalem, though the city miraculously remains unconquered according to biblical accounts.
640-609 BC
Reign of Josiah
King Josiah of Judah institutes religious reforms based on the recently discovered Book of the Law, attempting to purge idolatry and centralize worship.
609 BC
Death of Josiah and Egyptian Intervention
Josiah is killed in battle against the Egyptians at Megiddo, leading to a period of instability and increased foreign influence over Judah.
Micah uses the same imagery of destruction and dismantling against Samaria, highlighting a pattern of judgment for sin that is now being applied to Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 19:11Jeremiah echoes this prophecy, directly referencing the potter's clay vessel and its shattering, emphasizing the finality and completeness of God's judgment on Jerusalem.
2 Kings 19:34This passage shows God's protective intervention for Jerusalem against Assyria, contrasting sharply with the utter destruction prophesied here, underscoring how persistent sin invites judgment.
Isaiah 28:17Isaiah speaks of judgment coming like a flood and overflow, with a measuring line and plumb line used to bring down a defiant people, mirroring the tools of judgment described in this verse.
Even though Jerusalem was God's chosen city, He declares He'll treat it with the same severe judgment He brought on Samaria, the capital of the rebellious northern kingdom. The imagery of wiping a dish suggests a complete and utter cleansing, not just a surface scrub, hinting at a total destruction of the city's defenses and way of life. This isn't just a punishment; it's a demonstration that God's justice is absolute and applies to His own people when they stray so far.
God declares a devastating judgment upon Jerusalem, comparing its impending destruction to the fate of Samaria, the capital of the wicked northern kingdom of Israel, which was destroyed by the Assyrians. This declaration follows a description of King Manasseh's extreme wickedness and idolatry, and foreshadows the Babylonian exile that will eventually befall Judah. The imagery of a measuring line and plumb line signifies God's meticulous assessment of Jerusalem's sin, leading to its complete annihilation.
God declares a devastating judgment upon Jerusalem, comparing its impending destruction to the fate of Samaria, the capital of the wicked northern kingdom of Israel, which was destroyed by the Assyrians. This declaration follows a description of King Manasseh's extreme wickedness and idolatry, and foreshadows the Babylonian exile that will eventually befall Judah. The imagery of a measuring line and plumb line signifies God's meticulous assessment of Jerusalem's sin, leading to its complete annihilation.
"And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down." — Even though Jerusalem was God's chosen city, He declares He'll treat it with the same severe judgment He brought on Samaria, the capital of the rebellious northern kingdom. The imagery of wiping a di…
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Last reviewed October 2026