Question 1

What does Ezekiel 22:11 mean?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 22:11

Accepted Answer

"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.

Question 3

Why Ezekiel 22:11 matters

Accepted Answer

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.

Ezekiel 22:11 (KJV)