“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose corrosion is in it, and whose corrosion has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "scum" in the pot isn't just dirt; it's described with a word used only here and translated as "rust," suggesting the wickedness has deeply corroded the city itself. This implies a judgment not just on the people's actions, but on Jerusalem's very being, to be removed piece by piece until nothing remains, leaving no room for distinction or favorit
“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose corrosion is in it, and whose corrosion has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God’s prophet Ezekiel is using a vivid, gritty metaphor of a cooking pot to describe Jerusalem's impending doom. The "scum" or "rust" represents the deep-seated wickedness and bloodshed within the city, which has not been purged away. This isn't just a figurative punishment; God declares a harsh judgment, stating that the city and its inhabitants will be removed piece by piece, with no distinction or sparing, signifying a total and indiscriminate destruction and exile.
The city isn't just stained by sin; it's fundamentally corroded. What does this deep-seated corruption mean for God's people?
The imagery here is stark. The 'scum' or 'rust' isn't just a surface issue; it's a deep corrosion within the metal of the pot, which represents Jerusalem.
When judgment falls, will there be any exceptions? This verse speaks of a dismantling so complete, no one is spared.
The command to 'take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice' is chilling. It paints a picture of utter devastation and indiscriminate judgment.
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Understand the original words
hoy · Hebrew Interjection
In a biblical context, this is an expression of deep sorrow or a prophetic pronouncement of impending judgment and disaster upon those who have rebelled against God.
damim ‘iyr · Hebrew Noun phrase
Referring to a city stained with the guilt of murder, violence, and injustice. It signifies a place where innocent life has been taken, crying out to God for justice.
chel'ah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the oxidation or rust that forms on metal; in a metaphorical sense, it represents the moral decay, persistent sin, and spiritual impurity that clings to a person or society and cannot be easily removed.
The imagery of Jerusalem as a corroded pot signifies not just the sinfulness of its people, but the pervasive, ingrained nature of their wickedness that defied all attempts at purification, making total destruction inevitable and indiscriminate.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Captivity of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many inhabitants and resettling the area with foreigners. This event served as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of rebellion against God and foreign powers.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, after defeating the Egyptians at Carchemish, besieged Jerusalem and deported a group of prominent citizens, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marked the beginning of Judah's Babylonian exile.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt against Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar exiled King Jehoiachin, his family, and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This event directly preceded Ezekiel's prophetic ministry and the context of his message.
589 BC - 582 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem for an extended period, culminating in the city's complete destruction and the final deportation of its remaining population. This event fulfilled the dire prophecies of judgment.
c. 582 BC
Final Deportation from Judah
After the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar carried out a final deportation, leaving very few behind in the land, thus completing the desolation of Judah and the exile.
This passage shares the theme of judgment and defilement, highlighting the Valley of Slaughter where Jerusalem's wickedness, particularly its bloodshed, will lead to a desecration of the land itself.
2 Kings 25:10This verse directly describes the outcome of Jerusalem's destruction by the Babylonians, echoing Ezekiel's imagery of the city being emptied 'piece by piece' as its inhabitants were taken captive or killed.
Nahum 3:1The prophet Nahum pronounces a 'woe' upon the 'bloody city' of Nineveh, mirroring Ezekiel's condemnation of Jerusalem as a 'bloody city' due to its violence and injustice.
Luke 21:20-24Jesus speaks of a future judgment upon Jerusalem, describing it as surrounded by armies and experiencing a devastating destruction that aligns with the complete and indiscriminate ruin depicted in Ezekiel's prophecy.
Leviticus 17:13This Mosaic Law command to 'cover the blood with dust' provides a stark contrast to Jerusalem's shedding of blood openly and impudently, emphasizing the city's profound disregard for life and the divine command.
ellicottEzekiel 24:6: "Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it."
(6-14) These verses contain the application of the parable in two distinct parts ( Ezekiel 24:6-14 ), but in such wise that the literal and the figurative continually run together. A new feature, that of the rust on the cauldron, is also introduced. A somewhat similar figure may be found in Isaiah…
bensonEzekiel 24:6: "Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it."
Ezekiel 24:6-8 . Wherefore thus saith the Lord — Here begins an explication of the preceding symbolical representation; Wo to the bloody city — Jerusalem, which is this pot; whose scum is therein — Whose filthiness, or wickedness, is not purged out of it. Bring it out piece by piece — One piece af…
The "scum" in the pot isn't just dirt; it's described with a word used only here and translated as "rust," suggesting the wickedness has deeply corroded the city itself. This implies a judgment not just on the people's actions, but on Jerusalem's very being, to be removed piece by piece until nothing remains, leaving no room for distinction or favorit
God’s prophet Ezekiel is using a vivid, gritty metaphor of a cooking pot to describe Jerusalem's impending doom. The "scum" or "rust" represents the deep-seated wickedness and bloodshed within the city, which has not been purged away. This isn't just a figurative punishment; God declares a harsh judgment, stating that the city and its inhabitants will be removed piece by piece, with no distinction or sparing, signifying a total and indiscriminate destruction and exile.
God’s prophet Ezekiel is using a vivid, gritty metaphor of a cooking pot to describe Jerusalem's impending doom. The "scum" or "rust" represents the deep-seated wickedness and bloodshed within the city, which has not been purged away. This isn't just a figurative punishment; God declares a harsh judgment, stating that the city and its inhabitants will be removed piece by piece, with no distinction or sparing, signifying a total and indiscriminate destruction and exile.
"“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose corrosion is in it, and whose corrosion has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice." — The "scum" in the pot isn't just dirt; it's described with a word used only here and translated as "rust," suggesting the wickedness has deeply corroded the city itself. This implies a judgment not j…
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Last reviewed October 2026