Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.

EZEKIEL 14:22KJV
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Ezekiel 14:22 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 14:22 mean?

Ezekiel 14:22 says that after judgment comes upon Jerusalem, a small group of survivors—both sons and daughters—will be left and brought out, and when others see how these survivors live and what they do, they will find some comfort about the disaster that happened. The verse promises that not everyone will be destroyed; a remnant will remain, and their lives will help others understand and process the tragedy.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the exiles in Babylon, explaining what will happen after Jerusalem faces severe punishment for its unfaithfulness. The mention of a "remnant" means that, despite the destruction, God will allow some people to survive. These survivors will serve as living proof of God's justice and mercy, and their actions will help others come to terms with the suffering Jerusalem endured.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 14:22

  • "Remnant" (פְּלֵיטָה, pĕlētāh): This word means a group that escapes or survives disaster. Its use here highlights that God’s judgment is not total; some people are spared as a sign of hope and continuity.
  • "Comforted" (נָחַם, nācham): This word often means to be consoled or to find relief from grief. The verse suggests that seeing the remnant’s way of life will help others process their sorrow over Jerusalem’s fate.
  • "Way" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek) and "doings" (עֲלִילָה, ʿalilah): These words refer to the survivors’ behavior and actions. The focus is on how the remnant lives after the disaster, which will be meaningful for those observing them.

Why Ezekiel 14:22 matters

  • Ezekiel 14:22 clarifies that God’s judgment is not the end of the story; there is still hope for restoration through those who survive.
  • The verse emphasizes that the survivors’ lives and actions have a purpose—they help others understand God’s justice and find comfort, rather than being left in despair.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme in Ezekiel that God preserves a faithful remnant, even in times of severe judgment, showing both justice and mercy.