Ezekiel 23:45-47
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What's striking here is that the "righteous men" judging them aren't necessarily from Israel, but likely the very foreign powers executing God's wrath. This highlights that even those outside God's covenant can be instruments of His justice against sin, fulfilling His pronouncements through unexpected means.
But righteous men shall pass judgment on them with the sentence of adulteresses, and with the sentence of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.” For thus says the Lord GOD: “Bring up a vast host against them, and make them an object of terror and a plunder. And the host shall stone them and cut them down with their swords. They shall kill their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Ezekiel has just finished a long, graphic parable comparing the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah to the sins of two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah. God declares through Ezekiel that because of their persistent idolatry and violence, they will face severe judgment. This verse describes the execution of that judgment, where the "righteous men" are instruments of God's wrath, bringing upon the unfaithful people the punishment due to both adulteresses and murderers.
Who are these 'righteous men' judging the unrighteous? They aren't saints in white robes, but something far more profound.
The verse states, 'the righteous men, they shall judge them.' This might sound like a call for perfect people to administer justice. But looking closer, these 'righteous men' are described as instruments chosen by God to carry out His judgment.
Why such specific and harsh judgments? The punishment wasn't random; it directly mirrored the depth of their betrayal.
The core of this judgment lies in the specific accusations: 'adulteresses' and 'women who shed blood.' This wasn't a one-size-fits-all punishment.
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Understand the original words
tsaddiq · Hebrew Adjective
In Scripture, righteousness denotes conformity to the character and will of God. A righteous person is one who is in a right relationship with God and, as a result, acts with justice and integrity according to His law.
shaphat · Hebrew Verb
The act of determining guilt or innocence based on God's law. In the Bible, God is the ultimate Judge, and human judgment is expected to reflect His holy standards of justice.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
A legal decree or verdict handed down by an authority. It signifies the authoritative expression of law applied to a specific case, often carrying the weight of God’s judicial decree.
Adonai Yahweh · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title for God, typically combining 'Adonai' (Lord/Master) and 'Yahweh' (The LORD), emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, authority, and covenant relationship with His people.
zeva'ah · Hebrew Noun
Something or someone that evokes intense fear or awe; in a biblical context, it often refers to the manifestation of God’s judgment that leaves observers paralyzed with dread.
The judgment described for Jerusalem and Samaria reflects the severe punishments of adultery and murder under Mosaic Law, illustrating God's fierce opposition to their spiritual and political betrayals, carried out by the Babylonian powers as instruments of His wrath.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The northern kingdom of Israel, represented by 'Aholah' (Samaria), falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
As punishment for rebellion, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of Judah's elite, including Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians, and the remaining population is exiled, marking the end of the Davidic monarchy for a time. This event is the direct context for Ezekiel's prophecy of judgment.
c. 580 BC
Ezekiel's Prophecies of Judgment
During the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel delivers powerful prophecies, including the allegory of Aholah and Aholibah, condemning the sins of Judah and Samaria.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Babylonian Empire, which had judged Judah, is conquered by Cyrus the Great of Persia, leading to a shift in regional powers.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the beginning of the return period.
This passage outlines the prescribed punishment for adultery in ancient Israel: death by stoning. Ezekiel 23:45 echoes this, stating the adulterous nations will be judged 'after the manner of adulteresses,' implying a severe, divinely sanctioned penalty for their spiritual unfaithfulness.
Deuteronomy 22:22-24Here, specific instructions are given for the stoning of both a man and a woman found guilty of adultery. This Levitical law provides the legal framework for the 'sentence of adulteresses' mentioned in Ezekiel 23:45, highlighting the gravity of the sin.
Jeremiah 3:8-9Similar to Ezekiel's metaphor of unfaithful wives, Jeremiah also describes Israel's spiritual adultery and God's response. This passage shows the consistent prophetic theme of adultery as a metaphor for forsaking God for idols.
John 8:3-11The story of the woman caught in adultery, where Jesus challenges her accusers, provides a stark contrast to the judgment described in Ezekiel. While Ezekiel depicts judgment by 'righteous men' for a nation's sin, Jesus shows mercy and calls for righteousness from all.
Romans 6:23This verse plainly states that 'the wages of sin is death.' Ezekiel 23:45 is a vivid illustration of this truth, showing that the sins of adultery and bloodshed (spiritual and literal) carry a definitive, deadly consequence, with 'righteous men' acting as instruments of that judgment.
ellicottEzekiel 23:45: "And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands."
(45) The righteous men. —That is, men to whom the judgment of righteousness is committed.
clarkeEzekiel 23:45: "And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands."
And the righteous men - אנשים צדיקים anashim tsaddikim. The Chaldeans, thus called because they are appointed by God to execute judgment on these criminals.
What's striking here is that the "righteous men" judging them aren't necessarily from Israel, but likely the very foreign powers executing God's wrath. This highlights that even those outside God's covenant can be instruments of His justice against sin, fulfilling His pronouncements through unexpected means.
The prophet Ezekiel has just finished a long, graphic parable comparing the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah to the sins of two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah. God declares through Ezekiel that because of their persistent idolatry and violence, they will face severe judgment. This verse describes the execution of that judgment, where the "righteous men" are instruments of God's wrath, bringing upon the unfaithful people the punishment due to both adulteresses and murderers.
The prophet Ezekiel has just finished a long, graphic parable comparing the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah to the sins of two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah. God declares through Ezekiel that because of their persistent idolatry and violence, they will face severe judgment. This verse describes the execution of that judgment, where the "righteous men" are instruments of God's wrath, bringing upon the unfaithful people the punishment due to both adulteresses and murderers.
"But righteous men shall pass judgment on them with the sentence of adulteresses, and with the sentence of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.” For thus says the Lord GOD: “Bring up a vast host…" — What's striking here is that the "righteous men" judging them aren't necessarily from Israel, but likely the very foreign powers executing God's wrath. This highlights that even those outside God's c…
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Last reviewed October 2026
