Ezekiel 22:5 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 22:5 mean?

Ezekiel 22:5 says that people both near and far will make fun of Jerusalem, because the city has become well-known for its disgrace and is deeply troubled. The verse points out that Jerusalem’s reputation has become so bad that others, even from distant places, will mock its downfall.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem. The city is being warned that its actions have led to such a bad reputation that outsiders everywhere will hear about its troubles and shame. This is part of a larger message where Ezekiel lists the sins of Jerusalem and the consequences that will follow.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 22:5

• The word for "mock" is קָלַל (qalal), which means to treat lightly or to make fun of. This shows that the reaction from others is not just disapproval, but open ridicule.
• "Infamous" uses two Hebrew words: טָמֵא (tame, meaning unclean or defiled) and שֵׁם (shem, meaning name or reputation). Together, they point to a reputation for moral or ritual uncleanness, not just being disliked.
• "Much vexed" comes from the word הָמוֹן (hamon), which means noise, tumult, or great disturbance. This suggests that Jerusalem is not just troubled, but in a state of loud, public chaos.

Why Ezekiel 22:5 matters

• This verse makes clear that Jerusalem’s problems are not hidden; its disgrace is public knowledge, affecting how others see God’s people.
• The verse emphasizes that the consequences of wrongdoing can reach far beyond a local setting, impacting reputation on a much larger scale.
• Ezekiel 22:5 connects to the wider passage by showing that the city’s sins have real, visible results—shame and mockery from the nations—fulfilling the warnings given earlier in the chapter.