In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse reveals a chilling connection: the greedy pursuit of wealth through extortion and forbidden interest isn't just bad business; it's a symptom of forgetting God. The way they're crushing their neighbors financially is directly linked to their spiritual amnesia, showing that deep-seated sin often stems from a heart that's lost its divine compass.
In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is revealing the deep corruption within Jerusalem, calling it the "bloody city" because of its pervasive violence and injustice. This verse highlights specific sins like judges taking bribes to condemn the innocent and people exploiting their neighbors through extortion and greedy financial practices. These actions are presented as direct results of forgetting God and His commands, leading to the inevitable judgment that looms over the city.
Imagine judges taking money to condemn an innocent person to death. This wasn't just unfair; it was a grave spiritual betrayal.
The Perversion of Justice
Ezekiel exposes a city where the very systems meant to protect life are corrupted. Taking bribes to shed blood is a horrific perversion. Judges and officials, who should uphold justice and protect the vulnerable, instead use their power to profit from death. This isn't merely legal corruption; it's a profound spiritual sickness where the sanctity of life, a gift from God, is disregarded for personal gain.
The Weight of Extortion
The verse also speaks of taking 'interest and profit' and gaining through 'extortion.' This points to a society obsessed with wealth, where people ruthlessly exploit their neighbors. They take advantage of others' needs, charging exorbitant interest or simply taking what isn't theirs through force or deceit. This greed blinds them to the humanity of those they harm and to the God who sees it all.
Beneath the layers of corruption and exploitation lies a deeper issue. What is the root cause of this societal decay?
The Forgotten Foundation
The ultimate sin, Ezekiel declares, is forgetting the Lord. When people disregard God, the moral compass spins wildly. His laws, which protect the weak and promote fairness, are ignored. His presence, which should inspire awe and righteous living, is dismissed.
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Forgetting's Consequences
This forgetfulness isn't just an intellectual lapse; it has devastating practical results. It leads to the breakdown of justice, the rise of oppression, and the disregard for human life. When God is forgotten, people are free to pursue their own selfish desires without restraint, leading to the very destruction Ezekiel warns about.
Ezekiel's prophecy in chapter 22 is delivered during the Babylonian exile, specifically after the second deportation. The verse condemns the deep-seated corruption within Jerusalem's leadership and populace, highlighting how their bribery, extortion, and greed demonstrated a profound forgetting of God, ultimately leading to the city's utter destruction.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of many Israelites. This event highlights the consequences of unfaithfulness to God and serves as a stark warning.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting skilled Israelites, including young nobles like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
After a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This intensifies the crisis for Judah.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Kingdom of Judah and leading to a final, larger exile. This is the catastrophic fulfillment of God's judgment.
This passage also condemns taking bribes, specifically highlighting how bribes blind judges and pervert justice, a direct parallel to the judges in Ezekiel's prophecy taking gifts to shed blood.
Deuteronomy 32:18This verse speaks of forgetting God as the rock of salvation, echoing Ezekiel's charge that the people have forgotten the Lord amidst their corrupt practices.
Isaiah 1:23Here, leaders are described as companions of thieves who love bribes and demand gifts, a vivid comparison to the corrupt individuals in Ezekiel 22 who profit from extortion and shedding blood.
Jeremiah 2:32This verse directly questions the people's ability to forget God's ways and instructions, aligning with Ezekiel's accusation that forgetfulness of God underpins their societal decay.
Micah 3:11Micah describes leaders who teach for hire and priests who teach for their price, revealing a pattern in Israel's history of corrupt leadership driven by greed, just as seen in Ezekiel 22.
cambridgeEzekiel 22:12: "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."
12 . taken gifts ] i.e. bribes, said of judges, Exodus 23:8 ; Isaiah 1:23 ; Micah 3:11 —Cf. ch. Ezekiel 18:13 , Ezekiel 23:35 . by extortion ] oppression , or violence, as Ezekiel 22:7 . The vices here enumerated follow one another without any strict connexion. 1. The despotic conduct of the pri…
pooleEzekiel 22:12: "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."
Judges, who should have saved, have sold the life of innocents; they who sat on God’s tribunal have acted the devil there, and murdered innocents, contrary to Exodus 23:8 . Taken usury: see Ezekiel 18:8 . Greedily gained of thy neighbours; with unsatiable thirst of gain torn to pieces and devour…
This verse reveals a chilling connection: the greedy pursuit of wealth through extortion and forbidden interest isn't just bad business; it's a symptom of forgetting God. The way they're crushing their neighbors financially is directly linked to their spiritual amnesia, showing that deep-seated sin often stems from a heart that's lost its divine compass.
Ezekiel is revealing the deep corruption within Jerusalem, calling it the "bloody city" because of its pervasive violence and injustice. This verse highlights specific sins like judges taking bribes to condemn the innocent and people exploiting their neighbors through extortion and greedy financial practices. These actions are presented as direct results of forgetting God and His commands, leading to the inevitable judgment that looms over the city.
Ezekiel is revealing the deep corruption within Jerusalem, calling it the "bloody city" because of its pervasive violence and injustice. This verse highlights specific sins like judges taking bribes to condemn the innocent and people exploiting their neighbors through extortion and greedy financial practices. These actions are presented as direct results of forgetting God and His commands, leading to the inevitable judgment that looms over the city.
"In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD." — This verse reveals a chilling connection: the greedy pursuit of wealth through extortion and forbidden interest isn't just bad business; it's a symptom of forgetting God. The way they're crushing the…
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Last reviewed October 2026