Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to see the "princes" as just bad guys, but notice they're described as being "in her midst" – they are part of the community, supposed to protect it. Their true nature as "wolves" is revealed by how they actively "destroy souls," meaning they ruin entire families, not just take possessions, all for selfish profit.
Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel has just exposed the city of Jerusalem's deep corruption, starting with its leaders and prophets who have betrayed God's law. This verse zeroes in on those in power, describing the princes, or rulers, as predatory wolves who mercilessly prey on their own people, shedding innocent blood and destroying lives purely for personal profit. Immediately following this, the prophet declares that these corrupt leaders and the false prophets who support them have failed to mend the breaches in the wall of society, leaving the city vulnerable to God's judgment.
Imagine those sworn to protect becoming the greatest threat. Ezekiel paints a grim picture of leaders who should be shepherds but act like predators.
The Perversion of Power
Ezekiel uses a vivid metaphor: the princes, the leaders of Israel, are compared to wolves. This isn't just a casual insult; it's a stark contrast to their God-given role. They were meant to be like shepherds, guarding the flock (the people). Instead, they are ravenous predators, tearing apart the very people they were called to serve.
What drives these leaders to such cruelty? The verse points to a motive that infects hearts and corrupts actions: the pursuit of ill-gotten wealth.
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The Corrupting Power of Greed
The driving force behind the princes' violence is 'dishonest gain.' This phrase points to a deep-seated corruption where personal enrichment eclipses justice and compassion.
Understand the original words
sar · Hebrew Noun
Civil or political leaders, often used to describe those in positions of authority who have a responsibility to act with justice and righteousness on behalf of God.
Ezekiel delivers this scathing prophecy during the Babylonian exile, likely after Jerusalem's final destruction. The verse paints a grim picture of the corrupt leadership—the princes—who, like ravenous wolves, exploited and harmed God's people for personal gain, contributing to the nation's downfall.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants. This event marks a significant decline in Israelite political power and underscores the consequences of unfaithfulness.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judeans, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel himself and King Jehoiachin. This increases the despair and sense of abandonment among the exiles.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, exiling the remaining population. This is the nadir of Judean national and religious life.
c. 571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of the Rebuilt Temple
Ezekiel receives visions detailing a restored Jerusalem and a new Temple. These visions offer hope amidst devastation and outline a path to future renewal and faithfulness.
Micah echoes Ezekiel's indictment, vividly describing leaders who 'devour' their own people like cannibals, stripping them bare and crushing them for personal gain.
Jeremiah 5:26-28This passage highlights how wicked leaders, like Ezekiel's princes, prosper through oppression, growing wealthy by exploiting the poor and ignoring justice, leading to their own downfall.
Matthew 7:15Jesus warns against 'false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves,' a metaphor that powerfully parallels the predatory nature of Ezekiel's princes.
1 Samuel 8:3This verse describes Samuel's sons, who also 'turned aside after gain' and perverted justice, showing that the corrupt leadership condemned in Ezekiel was a recurring problem in Israel's history.
Proverbs 28:15This proverb directly links oppressive rulers to the suffering of the poor, stating that a wicked ruler is like a 'roaring lion or a charging bear,' mirroring the predatory image of the wolves in Ezekiel.
gillEzekiel 22:27: "Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain."
Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey,.... The king and his nobles, those of the first rank and quality, who ought to have protected the persons and property of the meaner sort; these were like "wolves" themselves, subtle, voracious, and cruel, preying upon harmless persons, as those creatures do upon the sheep and lambs: t…
ellicottEzekiel 22:27: "Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain."
(27) Her princes. —These are not only the kings, but also the nobles and those in authority at court—in other words, the ruling class. Their injustice and violence is a constant theme for prophetic rebuke.
It's easy to see the "princes" as just bad guys, but notice they're described as being "in her midst" – they are part of the community, supposed to protect it. Their true nature as "wolves" is revealed by how they actively "destroy souls," meaning they ruin entire families, not just take possessions, all for selfish profit.
Ezekiel has just exposed the city of Jerusalem's deep corruption, starting with its leaders and prophets who have betrayed God's law. This verse zeroes in on those in power, describing the princes, or rulers, as predatory wolves who mercilessly prey on their own people, shedding innocent blood and destroying lives purely for personal profit. Immediately following this, the prophet declares that these corrupt leaders and the false prophets who support them have failed to mend the breaches in the wall of society, leaving the city vulnerable to God's judgment.
Ezekiel has just exposed the city of Jerusalem's deep corruption, starting with its leaders and prophets who have betrayed God's law. This verse zeroes in on those in power, describing the princes, or rulers, as predatory wolves who mercilessly prey on their own people, shedding innocent blood and destroying lives purely for personal profit. Immediately following this, the prophet declares that these corrupt leaders and the false prophets who support them have failed to mend the breaches in the wall of society, leaving the city vulnerable to God's judgment.
"Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain." — It's easy to see the "princes" as just bad guys, but notice they're described as being "in her midst" – they are part of the community, supposed to protect it. Their true nature as "wolves" is reve…
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Last reviewed October 2026