Ezekiel 22:29

Poverty and the vulnerable Justice

²⁷ Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

²⁸ Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken.

The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice.

³⁰ I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one.

³¹ So I have poured out My indignation upon them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their ways down upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”

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: The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice.
KJV: The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
WEB: The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Yes, they have troubled the poor and needy, and have oppressed the foreigner wrongfully.
ASV: The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery; yea, they have vexed the poor and needy, and have oppressed the sojourner wrongfully.
DARBY: The people of the land use oppression and practise robbery; and they vex the poor and needy, and oppress the stranger wrongfully.
BLB: The people of the land [with] oppression have oppressed, and [with] robbery have robbed, and the poor and the needy they have mistreated; and the sojourner they oppress without justice.

ÅB: Folket i landet gjør voldsverk og raner og røver, og den elendige og fattige undertrykker de, og mot den fremmede gjør de voldsverk uten lov og rett.
OTB: Landets folk driver med utpressing og begår ran; de undertrykker de fattige og trengende og mishandler den fremmede, og nekter dem rettferdighet.
B1930: Folket i landet gjør voldsverk og raner og røver, og den elendige og fattige undertrykker de, og mot den fremmede gjør de voldsverk uten lov og rett.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ezekiel 22:7
Father and mother are treated with contempt. Within your walls the foreign resident is exploited, the fatherless and the widow are oppressed.
Read in context
Exodus 23:9
Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Read in context
Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.
Read in context
Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
Read in context
Exodus 22:21
You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Read in context
Psalms 94:6
They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
Read in context
Leviticus 19:33
When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him.
Read in context
Amos 3:10
“For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”
Read in context