And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.

EZEKIEL 22:11KJV
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Ezekiel 22:11 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 22:11 mean?

Ezekiel 22:11 lists specific sexual sins that were happening among the people of Jerusalem: adultery with a neighbor’s wife, sexual defilement of a daughter-in-law, and incest with a sister. The verse shows how deeply the people had turned away from God’s laws and moral boundaries.

The prophet Ezekiel is speaking God’s message to the people of Jerusalem, describing the serious moral corruption found in the city. This verse is part of a larger section where Ezekiel details the many ways the people have broken God’s commandments, especially those concerning sexual conduct and family relationships. The verse highlights not just individual wrongdoing but a widespread breakdown of trust and respect within families and the community.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 22:11

  • "Abomination" (תּוֹעֵבָה, toʿevah): This word means something detestable or repulsive, especially in a moral or religious sense. Its use here shows the seriousness of these acts in God’s eyes.
  • "Lewdly" (זִמָּה, zimmah): This word often refers to planned or intentional sexual sin, not just a momentary lapse. It suggests that these actions were deliberate, not accidental.
  • "Defiled" (טָמֵא, tame): This word means to make something unclean, especially in a ritual or moral sense. It emphasizes that these acts polluted both the people and their relationships.
  • "Humbled" (עָנָה, anah): This word can mean to violate or mistreat, especially in a sexual context. It shows that the act was not just wrong but also degrading to the victim.

Why Ezekiel 22:11 matters

  • This verse clears up that the sins being described are not just personal failings but serious violations of both family trust and God’s law, affecting the whole community.
  • Ezekiel 22:11 emphasizes how far the people had strayed from the standards set in the Torah, especially the laws in Leviticus about sexual relationships.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by showing that these sins are part of a larger pattern of injustice and corruption that led to Jerusalem’s downfall.

Where else these words appear

“lewdly” Hebrew H2154 · used in 27 verses

  • Leviticus 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
  • Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
  • Ezekiel 23:21 Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.

“law” Hebrew H3618 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 11:31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
  • Ruth 2:22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
  • Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

“humbled” Hebrew H6031 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
  • Judges 16:5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
  • Psalms 105:18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

“sister” Hebrew H269 · used in 104 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • Leviticus 18:13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.
  • 2 Chronicles 22:11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest,(for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.