Ezekiel 22:12
In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God.
Study Note
Study Note
Ezekiel 22's 'indictment of Jerusalem as a bloody city' catalogs the social-economic crimes of the city alongside its idolatry, employing language drawn from Leviticus 25's jubilee legislation to describe violations of community economic ethics. The triad 'gifts to shed blood, usury, and extortion' precisely targets practices that Deuteronomy and the Holiness Code explicitly prohibit, identifying Jerusalem's guilt as Torah violation at the structural level of the city's economy. The climactic accusation 'thou hast forgotten me' (shekachteni) frames the entire economic catalog as a theological failure — social exploitation is the expression and symptom of covenant amnesia. Amos 8:4–6 offers a parallel prophetic economic critique, suggesting a sustained prophetic tradition connecting monotheistic fidelity and economic justice.
Other Translations
In thee have they taken bribes to shed blood; thou hast taken interest and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by oppression, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord Jehovah.
A bribe they have taken in thee to shed blood, Usury and increase thou hast taken, And cuttest off thy neighbour by oppression, And Me thou hast forgotten, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah!
In you they have taken rewards as the price of blood; you have taken interest and great profits, and you have taken away your neighbours' goods by force, and have not kept me in mind, says the Lord.
Cross References
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look …
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the …
A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted …
Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, …
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye …
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be …
And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; …
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, …