Ezekiel 14:22
But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The comfort described here isn't from the survivors bringing good news, but from seeing their wicked ways, which will make the exiles realize Jerusalem's destruction was utterly deserved and just. This realization, rather than joy, will bring them peace by confirming God's righteousness in judgment.
God has just declared His impending judgment on Jerusalem, emphasizing that He will unleash all four of His severe punishments – sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague – to utterly destroy the city and its people. Despite this total devastation, a small group of survivors, both sons and daughters, will escape and be brought out to join the existing exiles. When the exiles see the wicked ways of these newcomers, they will understand and accept that Jerusalem's destruction was just and inevitable.
Why would seeing more destruction bring comfort? This verse presents a challenging paradox about God's justice.
Ezekiel's message isn't just about destruction; it's about understanding why it happens. God promises that survivors will be brought out of Jerusalem to the exiles in Babylon. When the exiles see the 'ways and the doings' of these survivors, they will be 'comforted' concerning the disaster. This 'comfort' isn't joy over suffering, but a deep, rational consolation that comes from recognizing God's perfect justice. The exiles will see firsthand the wickedness that permeated Jerusalem, confirming that the judgment, though severe, was not arbitrary or excessive. It was a necessary consequence of unrepentant sin.
This shows us that understanding the truth, even painful truth about sin and its consequences, can bring a profound sense of peace. It solidifies our trust in God's righteousness, even when His actions are difficult to comprehend.
The 'remnant' left behind isn't necessarily the 'good guys.' Their survival serves a specific purpose in God's unfolding plan.
The survivors mentioned in this verse are not presented as a sign of God's favor or a group deserving special mercy. Instead, they are the very evidence that validates God's judgment on Jerusalem. They are brought out precisely because their 'ways and their doings' will demonstrate the depth of sin that necessitated such destruction.
This concept challenges the common idea of a 'remnant' always being the purely righteous. Here, the survivors embody the pervasive wickedness that God is purging. Their presence among the exiles in Babylon serves as a living testimony, allowing those already in exile to say, 'Yes, Jerusalem deserved this. We see the fruit of their sin right here.' It underscores that God's judgment is thorough and His justice is undeniable.
Understand the original words
pleitah · Hebrew Noun
Those who remain alive after a catastrophic event or divine judgment. Theologically, the remnant represents the continuation of God’s covenantal purpose despite widespread judgment.
derek · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the behavior, habits, and moral patterns of an individual or community. In the Old Testament, the "ways" of the people are frequently scrutinized by God as evidence of their heart-condition and loyalty to the covenant.
alilah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to specific actions, works, or practices performed by individuals. These are the objective manifestations of a person's inner character and moral or spiritual commitment.
nacham · Hebrew Verb
Ezekiel's prophecy unfolds against the backdrop of escalating judgment and the destruction of Jerusalem. The surviving remnant, brought from the ruined city to join the exiles in Babylon, serve as a stark testament to the city's unrighteousness, ultimately confirming the justice of God's actions to those already in exile.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Jehoiakim, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah, taking some of the royal family and nobility, including the prophet Daniel, captive to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon after a brief rebellion.
c. 587-586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its temple, deporting the remaining population except for the poorest to Babylon. This event is the ultimate context for Ezekiel's prophecy.
c. 586 BC onwards
Exile Community in Babylon
The Judean exiles live in communities in Babylon, maintaining their identity while grappling with God's judgment and seeking understanding of their situation.
This passage describes the vision of two baskets of figs, representing the exiled Judeans and those left behind in Jerusalem, highlighting their vastly different fates and spiritual conditions, which directly parallels Ezekiel's theme of survivors justifying God's judgment.
Ezekiel 14:12-20This section directly precedes the verse in question, detailing God's pronouncements of judgment through sword, famine, and wild beasts, setting the stage for how the survivors' presence will vindicate these actions.
Isaiah 10:20-22This passage speaks of a 'remnant' returning to the house of Jacob, offering a contrasting hope of salvation and restoration for the faithful, which provides a fuller picture of God's dealings with His people beyond just judgment.
Romans 9:27-29Paul quotes Isaiah to show that God's purpose for a remnant is not based on human righteousness but on His sovereign mercy, echoing the idea that even within judgment, God preserves a select group according to His own unfathomable plan.
calvinEzekiel 14:21-22: "For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?"
For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
Quoniam sic dicit Dominator Iehovah, Quanto magis cum quatuor judicia mea…
barnesEzekiel 14:22: "Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it."
Ye shall be comforted ... - By a truer estimate of the dispensations of the Almighty. This visitation will be recognized as inevitable and just.
The comfort described here isn't from the survivors bringing good news, but from seeing their wicked ways, which will make the exiles realize Jerusalem's destruction was utterly deserved and just. This realization, rather than joy, will bring them peace by confirming God's righteousness in judgment.
God has just declared His impending judgment on Jerusalem, emphasizing that He will unleash all four of His severe punishments – sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague – to utterly destroy the city and its people. Despite this total devastation, a small group of survivors, both sons and daughters, will escape and be brought out to join the existing exiles. When the exiles see the wicked ways of these newcomers, they will understand and accept that Jerusalem's destruction was just and inevitable.
God has just declared His impending judgment on Jerusalem, emphasizing that He will unleash all four of His severe punishments – sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague – to utterly destroy the city and its people. Despite this total devastation, a small group of survivors, both sons and daughters, will escape and be brought out to join the existing exiles. When the exiles see the wicked ways of these newcomers, they will understand and accept that Jerusalem's destruction was just and inevitable.
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To be comforted or relieved of grief. In this context, it refers to the vindication of God’s character; seeing the wicked deeds of those judged brings the realization that the divine action was righteous and necessary.
"But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem,…" — The comfort described here isn't from the survivors bringing good news, but from seeing their wicked ways, which will make the exiles realize Jerusalem's destruction was utterly deserved and just. Th…
