In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.

EZEKIEL 24:13KJV
Know the Bible

Ezekiel 24:13 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 24:13 mean?

Ezekiel 24:13 says that Jerusalem’s wrongdoing is deeply rooted, and even though God tried to cleanse the people, they refused to change, so their impurity will remain until God’s anger has run its course. The verse shows that there is a limit to God’s patience when people stubbornly hold onto their wrongdoing.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem, using strong language to describe their moral corruption. The context is a warning: Jerusalem has not responded to God’s attempts to purify them, so now judgment is coming. The verse uses the image of filth that cannot be washed away, highlighting how persistent and serious their guilt has become.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 24:13

  • "Filthiness" (טֻמְאָה, tum’ah) refers to ritual or moral impurity. Here, it paints a vivid picture of deep-seated corruption that is not just surface-level.
  • "Lewdness" (זִמָּה, zimmah) often means wickedness or outrageous behavior, not just sexual sin but any kind of brazen wrongdoing. This word underlines the shamelessness of Jerusalem’s actions.
  • "Purged" (טָהֵר, taher) means to cleanse or make pure. The repetition in the verse (“I have purged you, and you were not purged”) stresses that God made real efforts to cleanse the people, but they resisted.
  • "Fury" (חֵמָה, chemah) is a strong word for anger or wrath, showing that God’s response is not mild but intense.
  • "Rest" (נוּחַ, nuach) means to settle down or come to an end. God’s fury will only stop once it has accomplished its purpose.

Why Ezekiel 24:13 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that God’s patience is endless—Ezekiel 24:13 shows that persistent refusal to change eventually leads to consequences.
  • The verse highlights that God’s efforts to bring about repentance are real and ongoing, but they require a response from people.
  • Ezekiel 24:13 connects to the wider message of the book, where God’s judgment on Jerusalem is described as both just and necessary because of the people’s stubbornness.

Where else these words appear

“lewdness” 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 22:11 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.

“filthiness” Hebrew H2932 · used in 31 verses

  • Leviticus 5:3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
  • Leviticus 16:19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
  • Ezra 6:21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,

“rest” Hebrew H5117 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
  • 2 Samuel 7:11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
  • Isaiah 7:2 And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.

“purged” Hebrew H2891 · used in 79 verses

  • Genesis 35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
  • Leviticus 14:31 Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD.
  • 2 Chronicles 30:18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one