Ezekiel 22:18

¹⁶ And when you have defiled yourself in the eyes of the nations, then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

¹⁷ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver.

¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because all of you have become dross, behold, I will gather you into Jerusalem.

²⁰ Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to melt with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, leave you there, and melt you.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver.
KJV: Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.
WEB: “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me. All of them are bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the middle of the furnace. They are the dross of silver.
ASV: Son of man, the house of Israel is become dross unto me: all of them are brass and tin and iron and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are the dross of silver.
DARBY: Son of man, the house of Israel is become dross to me: they are all copper, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace: they are become the dross of silver.
BLB: “Son of man, the house of Israel has become to Me as dross; they [are] all bronze, and tin, and iron, and lead in the midst of a furnace; they have become the dross of silver.

ÅB: Menneskesønn! Israels hus er blitt meg til slagg; de er alle sammen som kobber og tinn og jern og bly i en ovn; sølvslagg er de blitt.
OTB: "Menneskesønn, Israels hus har blitt slagg for meg; alle av dem er bronse, tinn, jern og bly igjen i ovnen. De er bare slagget av sølv.
B1930: Menneskesønn! Israels hus er blitt mig til slagg; de er alle sammen som kobber og tinn og jern og bly i en ovn; sølvslagg er de blitt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 119:119
All the wicked on earth You discard like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies.
Read in context
Isaiah 1:22
Your silver has become dross; your fine wine is diluted with water.
Read in context
Isaiah 48:10
See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Read in context
Jeremiah 6:28–30
All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.
Read in context
Proverbs 17:3
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
Read in context
Isaiah 48:4
For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.
Read in context
Ezekiel 22:20
Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to melt with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, leave you there, and melt you.
Read in context
Isaiah 1:25
I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.
Read in context