Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations all around you and in the sight of all who pass by.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about desolation; it's about public shame. God declares Jerusalem will not only be empty but will become a spectacle of scorn, a warning to all who witness its ruins. This intense public humiliation, where passersby will mock and deride, is highlighted as a particularly cutting part of the judgment.
Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations all around you and in the sight of all who pass by.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God has just declared through Ezekiel that Jerusalem, set as a jewel among nations, has become fouler than them by following their detestable practices. This verse describes the consequence: the land will be made desolate and cursed, becoming a spectacle of shame for all surrounding peoples to mock and point at, just as seen in the book of Lamentations. This public humiliation is a direct result of their chosen path of rebellion against God.
God's judgment isn't just about destruction; it's about a profound public shame. What does it mean for a nation, or even a life, to become an object of scorn?
The prophecy in Ezekiel 5:14 paints a picture of total devastation.
A Land Laid Waste
God declares He will make the land "waste." This means more than just destruction; it signifies emptiness. Without people to cultivate it, the land would lie fallow, becoming barren and unfruitful. This was a direct consequence of their sin – they had neglected and defiled God's land, and now it would be empty of the life they had ignored.
A Spectacle of Reproach
This desolation wouldn't happen in secret. Ezekiel is told Jerusalem and its people will become "a reproach among the nations." Imagine travelers passing by, seeing a once-flourishing city and land reduced to ruins. They would mock, taunt, and use it as a curse, wishing similar devastation upon others. This public shame amplified the severity of the judgment, showing the full extent of their fallen state.
Why would God make the judgment so public, turning His people into a spectacle for their enemies? What is the purpose of such profound shame?
God's judgment on Jerusalem served a dual purpose: punishment for sin and a stark, public warning.
Visible Consequences
By making Jerusalem "waste" and a "reproach," God ensured the consequences of their rebellion were undeniable. The surrounding nations, who had witnessed Israel's pride and prosperity, would now see their downfall. This wasn't hidden punishment; it was a public demonstration of God's power and His hatred for sin.
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A Lesson for All
As Henry suggests, this judgment was a potent reminder: "Who is able to stand in God's sight when he is angry?" The fate of Jerusalem was meant to impress upon onlookers – and future generations – the seriousness of disobeying God. The taunts of the nations became a twisted form of proclamation, broadcasting the reality that loyalty to God brings blessing, while rebellion brings utter ruin. This public display was a divinely ordained lesson for all who would observe.
Understand the original words
chorebah · Hebrew Noun
A state of being laid waste or ruined, often applied to a city or land that has been judged for sin.
cherpah · Hebrew Noun
The state of being an object of shame, disgrace, or public scorn, often occurring when God withdraws His favor from a rebellious people.
Ezekiel's prophecy describes Jerusalem becoming a desolation and a spectacle of shame among the nations, directly reflecting the horrific reality following its destruction by Babylon. This judgment echoed the devastating experience of the exile and the taunts recorded in Lamentations.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Judah and deports many of its people, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of Judah's decline and foreshadows the greater destruction to come.
c. 597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a period of rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel is among this group, witnessing firsthand the devastation and exile.
c. 587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylonian forces conquer Jerusalem, destroy the city and the Temple, and deport the remaining population. This catastrophic event fulfills God's judgment against Judah for its persistent sin and idolatry.
Post-586 BC
Desolation and Exile
The land of Judah is left largely uninhabited and desolate, becoming a stark warning. The deported Judeans endure hardship and mockery in Babylon, serving as a 'reproach' among the nations.
c. 500 BC
Lamentations Written
The book of Lamentations, likely composed after the fall of Jerusalem, powerfully expresses the grief and shame of the nation. It vividly describes Jerusalem as a spectacle of ruin, with people taunting and mocking its fate.
This passage directly echoes Ezekiel 5:14, describing onlookers clapping their hands and wagging their heads in scorn at Jerusalem's destruction, highlighting the profound shame and reproach that comes from God's judgment.
Jeremiah 29:18Jeremiah prophesied that the exiles would become a curse and a reproach among all nations to which they were scattered, mirroring the desolation and shame Ezekiel describes for Jerusalem itself.
Deuteronomy 28:37This passage from Deuteronomy outlines the curses for disobedience, explicitly stating that Israel would become a proverb, a byword, and a reproach among all the nations where the Lord would drive them.
Psalm 102:8The psalmist describes being constantly reviled and feeling like a reproach to his enemies, reflecting the deep personal shame and isolation that can accompany suffering, a feeling amplified in Ezekiel's prophecy of national shame.
pooleEzekiel 5:14: "Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by."
Judgments should empty the land of men that might till and manure it, and so your fruitful land shall be turned and continued a waste and desolate land. A reproach, Jeremiah 24:9 29:18,22 ; a reproach or curse; men should taunt at them, and, in wishing the worst they can, wish their enemies like the Jews. So it was Lamentations 2:15,16 .
henryEzekiel 5:5-17: "Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her."
5:5-17 The sentence passed upon Jerusalem is very dreadful, the manner of expression makes it still more so. Who is able to stand in God's sight when he is angry? Those who live and die impenitent, will perish for ever unpitied; there is a day coming when the Lord will not spare. Let not persons or churches, who change the Lord's statutes, expect to esc…
This verse isn't just about desolation; it's about public shame. God declares Jerusalem will not only be empty but will become a spectacle of scorn, a warning to all who witness its ruins. This intense public humiliation, where passersby will mock and deride, is highlighted as a particularly cutting part of the judgment.
God has just declared through Ezekiel that Jerusalem, set as a jewel among nations, has become fouler than them by following their detestable practices. This verse describes the consequence: the land will be made desolate and cursed, becoming a spectacle of shame for all surrounding peoples to mock and point at, just as seen in the book of Lamentations. This public humiliation is a direct result of their chosen path of rebellion against God.
God has just declared through Ezekiel that Jerusalem, set as a jewel among nations, has become fouler than them by following their detestable practices. This verse describes the consequence: the land will be made desolate and cursed, becoming a spectacle of shame for all surrounding peoples to mock and point at, just as seen in the book of Lamentations. This public humiliation is a direct result of their chosen path of rebellion against God.
"Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations all around you and in the sight of all who pass by." — This verse isn't just about desolation; it's about public shame. God declares Jerusalem will not only be empty but will become a spectacle of scorn, a warning to all who witness its ruins. This inten…
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Last reviewed October 2026