Ezekiel 22:6-7
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The phrase "according to his power" or "to their power" here carries a double meaning: not only did these princes shed blood to the extent of their ability, but their own strength and influence, their literal "arm," became their only law. Instead of upholding justice, their power was ruthlessly employed as the sole justification for violence.
“Behold, the princes of Israel in you, every one according to his power, have been bent on shedding blood. Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel has just been commanded to expose the city of Jerusalem's many detestable acts. This verse begins a list of specific sins, starting with the highest in society. The princes, those in positions of authority who should uphold justice, are shown to be the most corrupt, using their power not for good, but for violence and murder.
We often think of 'power' as a neutral tool. But in Ezekiel's day, it was something far more sinister for Israel's leaders.
The Hebrew word translated as 'power' here literally means 'arm.' Imagine that! For the princes of Israel, their strength, their authority, their 'arm,' was not used for justice or protection, but was bent on shedding blood. They made their own might their law. This wasn't about using their power to its fullest extent; it was about their power itself being the instrument of violence and arbitrary rule. They were meant to uphold God's law, but instead, they wielded their authority like a weapon against the innocent.
Ezekiel doesn't just point a finger at one or two bad apples. He describes a rotten barrel.
The verse emphasizes that every prince, 'every one according to his power,' was involved. There was no one righteous leader to be found among them. This wasn't a fringe problem; it was systemic. The very leadership structure of Israel had become a source of violence. This means the corruption wasn't just individual sin, but a deep-seated corruption within the nation's heart, led by those who should have known better.
Understand the original words
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sar · Hebrew Noun
Those who hold authority or rule over a community; in Israel, these were leaders expected to govern according to God’s law.
qalah · Hebrew Verb
To treat with disdain, dishonor, or disregard for established authority or status. Used here regarding the command to honor parents.
ger · Hebrew Noun
A foreigner or temporary resident living in a land not their own; they were biblically afforded specific protections and were not to be oppressed.
osheq · Hebrew Noun
The act of obtaining money or goods through force, threats, or illegal pressure, especially against those who are vulnerable.
Ezekiel's prophecy in exile highlights that the princes, who should have upheld justice and protected the people, were the very ones driving the violence and corruption that led to Jerusalem's downfall.
c. 640–609 BC
Reign of King Josiah
Josiah's reign saw a religious reform aiming to re-establish pure worship of God, but it did not fundamentally change the corrupt political and social structures.
609 BC
Josiah's Death in Battle
Josiah died fighting the Egyptians, marking a turning point towards increasing foreign influence and political instability in Judah.
609 BC
Jehoiakim's Corrupt Reign
Josiah's successor, Jehoiakim, was a cruel and oppressive ruler who further entrenched injustice and violence, setting the stage for divine judgment.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar, the first wave of Judean exiles, including elites and Daniel, were taken to Babylon, signaling the decline of Judah's sovereignty.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another major deportation occurred, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, intensifying the crisis of exile and God's judgment.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonians finally destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, bringing a brutal end to the kingdom of Judah and confirming God's judgment on its corruption.
This passage also condemns the leaders of Israel, describing them as those who 'hate the good and love the evil, who flay the skin from them and their flesh from their bones,' highlighting a consistent theme of corrupt leadership abusing their power.
Isaiah 1:23This verse directly contrasts the corrupt princes with what they should be, calling them 'associates of thieves' and lovers of 'gifts' and 'presents,' echoing Ezekiel's depiction of those who gain power through violence and corruption.
Jeremiah 5:26-28Similar to Ezekiel's accusation against the princes, Jeremiah laments that among the people are wicked men who 'lie in wait like fowlers' and 'set a trap,' showing a societal decay where leaders fail to curb violence and injustice.
2 Kings 21:16This historical account of King Manasseh directly illustrates the kind of bloodshed and violence that Ezekiel is condemning, noting that he 'filled Jerusalem with innocent blood.'
barnesEzekiel 22:6: "Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood."
Render it: Behold the princes of Israel, each according to his might (literally "arm") have been in thee in order to shed blood. They looked to might not right.
bensonEzekiel 22:6: "Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood."
Ezekiel 22:6-12 . Behold, the princes of Israel, &c. — Probably the members of the great sanhedrim, or the king’s counsellors and chief officers, are here intended; every one in thee — Not one to be found of a more merciful temper; to their power — According to their ability; to shed blood — Every one of the princes committed acts of violence, and shed blood, as far as he had it in his power to d…
The phrase "according to his power" or "to their power" here carries a double meaning: not only did these princes shed blood to the extent of their ability, but their own strength and influence, their literal "arm," became their only law. Instead of upholding justice, their power was ruthlessly employed as the sole justification for violence.
Ezekiel has just been commanded to expose the city of Jerusalem's many detestable acts. This verse begins a list of specific sins, starting with the highest in society. The princes, those in positions of authority who should uphold justice, are shown to be the most corrupt, using their power not for good, but for violence and murder.
Ezekiel has just been commanded to expose the city of Jerusalem's many detestable acts. This verse begins a list of specific sins, starting with the highest in society. The princes, those in positions of authority who should uphold justice, are shown to be the most corrupt, using their power not for good, but for violence and murder.
"“Behold, the princes of Israel in you, every one according to his power, have been bent on shedding blood. Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are…" — The phrase "according to his power" or "to their power" here carries a double meaning: not only did these princes shed blood to the extent of their ability, but their own strength and influence, th…
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Last reviewed October 2026
