Ezekiel 22:27-29
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The shocking truth here is that these "princes"—the very leaders meant to protect the people—are described as "wolves," not just outside predators, but in their midst, actively preying on those they should shepherd. They aren't just corrupt; they're using their God-given authority to brutally devour lives and livelihoods for selfish profit.
Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is laying out the profound corruption within Jerusalem, revealing that the leaders, like ravenous wolves, are preying on their own people instead of protecting them. This is part of a larger indictment in chapter 22, where the prophet exposes the wickedness of all levels of society—priests, princes, and commoners—who have abandoned justice and embraced greed, filling the land with violence and impurity. The verses that follow will show how even the false prophets complicity in this rot, covering up the rulers' sins rather than calling them to repentance.
When leaders should be protectors, but become predators, what does that reveal about their hearts?
Ezekiel paints a stark picture of the rulers in Jerusalem. He calls them 'princes,' a title that suggests leadership and responsibility, but immediately compares them to 'wolves.' Wolves are not protectors; they are hunters who tear and destroy. These leaders, who were appointed to safeguard the people and uphold justice, were instead preying on them. They were meant to be shepherds, but they acted like ravenous beasts, driven by greed rather than duty. This isn't just bad leadership; it's a perversion of the authority God had given them, a betrayal of the very people they were meant to serve.
What drives leaders to inflict such devastation on their own people?
The core motivation behind the princes' 'wolf-like' behavior is clear: 'to get dishonest gain.' This wasn't just about accumulating wealth; it was about ruthless exploitation. They were willing to 'shed blood' and 'destroy lives' – not just physically, but by ruining families and livelihoods, leaving widows and orphans in their wake. Their pursuit of ill-gotten riches led them to inflict the deepest possible wounds on the community. This highlights how unchecked greed can corrupt even those in power, turning them into instruments of destruction rather than instruments of justice and well-being.
Understand the original words
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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.
nabi · Hebrew Noun
Spokespersons for God who receive divine revelation and are tasked with declaring His message faithfully, regardless of its popularity.
shav chazah · Hebrew Noun/Verb phrase
A false prophecy or a deceptive declaration presented as if it originated from God, aimed at misleading the people or soothing their conscience.
Adonai YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
Divine title emphasizing the Master-Servant relationship (Adonai) and the self-existent, covenant-keeping nature of God (YHWH).
ger · Hebrew Noun
A non-native resident in Israel who was under the legal protection of the community and subject to certain laws of the covenant.
Ezekiel delivered this prophecy while in exile in Babylon, vividly describing the corrupt leadership in Jerusalem that had contributed to the nation's downfall. The 'wolves' are not just generic oppressors, but the very rulers who were meant to protect God's people, exploiting them for personal gain and thus sealing Jerusalem's fate.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Captivity of Northern Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its population. This event marks a significant decline in the nation's political and spiritual standing.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon conquers parts of Judah, deporting notable citizens and royal family members, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This begins the period of Babylonian exile.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon following a revolt. Jerusalem's temple is desecrated, and the situation grows dire.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its temple, ending the Kingdom of Judah. The majority of the remaining population is exiled to Babylon, leaving the land largely desolate.
This passage directly parallels Ezekiel's accusation, describing the leaders as 'devourers' who 'strip the skin' from the people and 'crush their bones' for their own gain.
Jeremiah 5:26-28Jeremiah also speaks of wicked leaders who 'turn aside the way of the righteous' and 'grow rich' through oppression, echoing the theme of powerful figures preying on the vulnerable for dishonest gain.
Proverbs 28:15This verse paints a stark picture of a wicked ruler, likening them to a 'roaring lion' and a 'rushing bear,' which powerfully conveys the predatory and destructive nature of those in authority when they lack godly fear.
Matthew 7:15Jesus warns about 'false prophets' who come 'in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves,' a metaphor that resonates with Ezekiel's description of princes acting with wolf-like predatory cruelty, hidden beneath a veneer of leadership.
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.
The shocking truth here is that these "princes"—the very leaders meant to protect the people—are described as "wolves," not just outside predators, but in their midst, actively preying on those they should shepherd. They aren't just corrupt; they're using their God-given authority to brutally devour lives and livelihoods for selfish profit.
Ezekiel is laying out the profound corruption within Jerusalem, revealing that the leaders, like ravenous wolves, are preying on their own people instead of protecting them. This is part of a larger indictment in chapter 22, where the prophet exposes the wickedness of all levels of society—priests, princes, and commoners—who have abandoned justice and embraced greed, filling the land with violence and impurity. The verses that follow will show how even the false prophets complicity in this rot, covering up the rulers' sins rather than calling them to repentance.
Ezekiel is laying out the profound corruption within Jerusalem, revealing that the leaders, like ravenous wolves, are preying on their own people instead of protecting them. This is part of a larger indictment in chapter 22, where the prophet exposes the wickedness of all levels of society—priests, princes, and commoners—who have abandoned justice and embraced greed, filling the land with violence and impurity. The verses that follow will show how even the false prophets complicity in this rot, covering up the rulers' sins rather than calling them to repentance.
"Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lo…" — The shocking truth here is that these "princes"—the very leaders meant to protect the people—are described as "wolves," not just outside predators, but in their midst, actively preying on those the…
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Last reviewed October 2026
