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Selected Verse: Ezekiel 7:23 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Eze 7:23	Strong Concordance	Make [06213] a chain [07569]: for the land [0776] is full [04390] of bloody [01818] crimes [04941], and the city [05892] is full [04390] of violence [02555].
	King James	Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
chain--symbol of the captivity (compare Jer 27:2). As they enchained the land with violence, so shall they be chained themselves. It was customary to lead away captives in a row with a chain passed from the neck of one to the other. Therefore translate as the Hebrew requires, "the chain," namely, that usually employed on such occasions. CALVIN explains it, that the Jews should be dragged, whether they would or no, before God's tribunal to be tried as culprits in chains. The next words favor this: "bloody crimes," rather, "judgment of bloods," that is, with blood sheddings deserving the extreme judicial penalty. Compare Jer 51:9 : "Her judgment reacheth unto heaven."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

chain--symbol of the captivity (compare Jer 27:2). As they enchained the land with violence, so shall they be chained themselves. It was customary to lead away captives in a row with a chain passed from the neck of one to the other. Therefore translate as the Hebrew requires, "the chain," namely, that usually employed on such occasions. CALVIN explains it, that the Jews should be dragged, whether they would or no, before God's tribunal to be tried as culprits in chains. The next words favor this: "bloody crimes," rather, "judgment of bloods," that is, with blood sheddings deserving the extreme judicial penalty. Compare Jer 51:9 : "Her judgment reacheth unto heaven."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Make a chain - Forge the chain, the chain of imprisonment determined for them.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Fourth Strophe Still worse is coming, namely, the captivity of the people, and overthrow of the kingdom. - Eze 7:23. Make the chain, for the land is full of capital crime, and the city full of outrage. Eze 7:24. I shall bring evil ones of the nations, that they may take possession of their houses; and I shall put an end to the pride of the strong, that their sanctuaries may be defiled. Eze 7:25. Ruin has come; they seek salvation, but there is none. Eze 7:26. Destruction upon destruction cometh, and report upon report ariseth; they seek visions from prophets, but the law will vanish away from the priest, and counsel from the elders. Eze 7:27. The king will mourn, and the prince will clothe himself in horror, and the hands of the common people will tremble. I will deal with them according to their way, and according to their judgments will I judge them, that they may learn that I am Jehovah. - Those who have escaped death by sword or famine at the conquest of Jerusalem have captivity and exile awaiting them. This is the meaning of the command to make the chain, i.e., the fetters needed to lead the people into exile. This punishment is necessary, because the land is full of mishpat dâmim, judgment of blood. This cannot mean, there is a judgment upon the shedding of blood, i.e., upon murder, which is conducted by Jehovah, as Hvernick supposes. Such a thought is irreconcilable with מלאה, and with the parallel מלאה חמס. משׁפּט דּמים is to be explained after the same manner as משׁפּט מות (a matter for sentence of death, a capital crime) in Deu 19:6, Deu 19:21 -22, as signifying a matter for sentence of bloodshed, i.e., a crime of blood, or capital crime, as the Chaldee has already rendered it. Because the land is filled with capital crime, the city (Jerusalem) with violence, the Lord will bring רעי, evil ones of the heathen, i.e., the worst of the heathen, to put an end to the pride of the Israelites. גּאון עזּים is not "pride of the insolents;" for עזּים does not stand for עזּי פנים (Deu 28:50, etc.). The expression is rather to be explained from גּאון עז, pride of strength, in Eze 24:21; Eze 30:6, Eze 30:18 (cf. Lev 26:19), and embraces everything on which a man (or a nation) bases his power and rests his confidence. The Israelites are called עזּים, because they thought themselves strong, or, according to Eze 24:21, based their strength upon the possession of the temple and the holy land. This is indicated by ונחלוּ which follows. נחל, Niphal of חלל and מקדשׁיהם, not a participle Piel, from מקדּשׁ, with the Dagesh dropped, but an unusual form, from מקדּשׁ for מקדּשׁיהם (vid., Ew. 215a). - The ἁπ λεγ. חהצנצט;, with the tone drawn back on account of the tone-syllable which follows (cf. Ges. 29, 3. 6), signifies excidium, destruction (according to the Rabbins), from קפד, to shrink or roll up (Isa 38:12). בּא is a prophetic perfect. In Eze 7:25 the ruin of the kingdom is declared to be certain, and in Eze 7:26 and Eze 7:27 the occurrence of it is more minutely depicted. Stroke upon stroke does the ruin come; and it is intensified by reports, alarming accounts, which crowd together and increase the terror, and also by the desperation of the spiritual and temporal leaders of the nation - the prophets, priests, and elders - whom God deprives of revelation, knowledge, and counsel; so that all ranks (king and princes and the common people) sink into mourning, alarm, and horror. That it is to no purpose that visions or prophecies are sought from the prophets (Eze 7:26), is evident from the antithetical statement concerning the priests and elders which immediately follows. The three statements serve as complements of one another. They seek for predictions from prophets, but the prophets receive no vision, no revelation. They seek instruction from priests, but instruction is withdrawn from the priests; and so forth. T̄ōrâh signifies instruction out of the law, which the priests were to give to the people (Mal 2:7). In Eze 7:27, the three classes into which the people were divided are mentioned - viz. king, prince (i.e., tribe-princes and heads of families), and, in contradistinction to both, עם הארץ, the common people, the people of the land, in distinction from the civil rulers, as in Kg2 21:24; Kg2 23:30. מדּרכּם, literally from their way, their mode of action, will I do to them: i.e., my action will be derived from theirs, and regulated accordingly. אותם for אתּם, as in Eze 3:22, etc. (See the comm. on Eze 16:59.)

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Fourth Strophe

Still worse is coming, namely, the captivity of the people, and overthrow of the kingdom. - Eze 7:23. Make the chain, for the land is full of capital crime, and the city full of outrage. Eze 7:24. I shall bring evil ones of the nations, that they may take possession of their houses; and I shall put an end to the pride of the strong, that their sanctuaries may be defiled. Eze 7:25. Ruin has come; they seek salvation, but there is none. Eze 7:26. Destruction upon destruction cometh, and report upon report ariseth; they seek visions from prophets, but the law will vanish away from the priest, and counsel from the elders. Eze 7:27. The king will mourn, and the prince will clothe himself in horror, and the hands of the common people will tremble. I will deal with them according to their way, and according to their judgments will I judge them, that they may learn that I am Jehovah. - Those who have escaped death by sword or famine at the conquest of Jerusalem have captivity and exile awaiting them. This is the meaning of the command to make the chain, i.e., the fetters needed to lead the people into exile. This punishment is necessary, because the land is full of mishpat dâmim, judgment of blood. This cannot mean, there is a judgment upon the shedding of blood, i.e., upon murder, which is conducted by Jehovah, as Hvernick supposes. Such a thought is irreconcilable with מלאה, and with the parallel מלאה חמס. משׁפּט דּמים is to be explained after the same manner as משׁפּט מות (a matter for sentence of death, a capital crime) in Deu 19:6, Deu 19:21 -22, as signifying a matter for sentence of bloodshed, i.e., a crime of blood, or capital crime, as the Chaldee has already rendered it. Because the land is filled with capital crime, the city (Jerusalem) with violence, the Lord will bring רעי, evil ones of the heathen, i.e., the worst of the heathen, to put an end to the pride of the Israelites. גּאון עזּים is not "pride of the insolents;" for עזּים does not stand for עזּי פנים (Deu 28:50, etc.). The expression is rather to be explained from גּאון עז, pride of strength, in Eze 24:21; Eze 30:6, Eze 30:18 (cf. Lev 26:19), and embraces everything on which a man (or a nation) bases his power and rests his confidence. The Israelites are called עזּים, because they thought themselves strong, or, according to Eze 24:21, based their strength upon the possession of the temple and the holy land. This is indicated by ונחלוּ which follows. נחל, Niphal of חלל and מקדשׁיהם, not a participle Piel, from מקדּשׁ, with the Dagesh dropped, but an unusual form, from מקדּשׁ for מקדּשׁיהם (vid., Ew. 215a). - The ἁπ λεγ. חהצנצט;, with the tone drawn back on account of the tone-syllable which follows (cf. Ges. 29, 3. 6), signifies excidium, destruction (according to the Rabbins), from קפד, to shrink or roll up (Isa 38:12). בּא is a prophetic perfect. In Eze 7:25 the ruin of the kingdom is declared to be certain, and in Eze 7:26 and Eze 7:27 the occurrence of it is more minutely depicted. Stroke upon stroke does the ruin come; and it is intensified by reports, alarming accounts, which crowd together and increase the terror, and also by the desperation of the spiritual and temporal leaders of the nation - the prophets, priests, and elders - whom God deprives of revelation, knowledge, and counsel; so that all ranks (king and princes and the common people) sink into mourning, alarm, and horror. That it is to no purpose that visions or prophecies are sought from the prophets (Eze 7:26), is evident from the antithetical statement concerning the priests and elders which immediately follows. The three statements serve as complements of one another. They seek for predictions from prophets, but the prophets receive no vision, no revelation. They seek instruction from priests, but instruction is withdrawn from the priests; and so forth. T̄ōrâh signifies instruction out of the law, which the priests were to give to the people (Mal 2:7). In Eze 7:27, the three classes into which the people were divided are mentioned - viz. king, prince (i.e., tribe-princes and heads of families), and, in contradistinction to both, עם הארץ, the common people, the people of the land, in distinction from the civil rulers, as in Kg2 21:24; Kg2 23:30. מדּרכּם, literally from their way, their mode of action, will I do to them: i.e., my action will be derived from theirs, and regulated accordingly. אותם for אתּם, as in Eze 3:22, etc. (See the comm. on Eze 16:59.)

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
A chain - To bind the captives.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Make a chain - Point out the captivity; show them that it shall come, and show them the reason: "Because the land is full of bloody crimes," etc.

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⁹ We would have healed [07495] Babylon [0894], but she is not healed [07495]: forsake [05800] her, and let us go [03212] every one [0376] into his own country [0776]: for her judgment [04941] reacheth [05060] unto heaven [08064], and is lifted up [05375] even to the skies [07834].

² Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] to me; Make [06213] thee bonds [04147] and yokes [04133], and put [05414] them upon thy neck [06677],

⁵⁹ For thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; I will even deal [06213] with thee as thou hast done [06213], which hast despised [0959] the oath [0423] in breaking [06565] the covenant [01285].

²² And the hand [03027] of the LORD [03068] was there upon me; and he said [0559] unto me, Arise [06965], go forth [03318] into the plain [01237], and I will there talk [01696] with thee.

³⁰ And his servants [05650] carried him in a chariot [07392] dead [04191] from Megiddo [04023], and brought [0935] him to Jerusalem [03389], and buried [06912] him in his own sepulchre [06900]. And the people [05971] of the land [0776] took [03947] Jehoahaz [03059] the son [01121] of Josiah [02977], and anointed [04886] him, and made him king [04427] in his father's [01] stead.

²⁴ And the people [05971] of the land [0776] slew [05221] all them that had conspired [07194] against king [04428] Amon [0526]; and the people [05971] of the land [0776] made Josiah [02977] his son [01121] king [04427] in his stead.

²⁷ The king [04428] shall mourn [056], and the prince [05387] shall be clothed [03847] with desolation [08077], and the hands [03027] of the people [05971] of the land [0776] shall be troubled [0926]: I will do [06213] unto them after their way [01870], and according to their deserts [04941] will I judge [08199] them; and they shall know [03045] that I am the LORD [03068].

⁷ For the priest's [03548] lips [08193] should keep [08104] knowledge [01847], and they should seek [01245] the law [08451] at his mouth [06310]: for he is the messenger [04397] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].

²⁶ Mischief [01943] shall come [0935] upon mischief [01943], and rumour [08052] shall be upon rumour [08052]; then shall they seek [01245] a vision [02377] of the prophet [05030]; but the law [08451] shall perish [06] from the priest [03548], and counsel [06098] from the ancients [02205].

²⁵ Destruction [07089] cometh [0935]; and they shall seek [01245] peace [07965], and there shall be none.

¹² Mine age [01755] is departed [05265], and is removed [01540] from me as a shepherd's [07473] tent [0168]: I have cut off [07088] like a weaver [0707] my life [02416]: he will cut me off [01214] with pining sickness [01803]: from day [03117] even to night [03915] wilt thou make an end [07999] of me.

²¹ Speak [0559] unto the house [01004] of Israel [03478], Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; Behold, I will profane [02490] my sanctuary [04720], the excellency [01347] of your strength [05797], the desire [04261] of your eyes [05869], and that which your soul [05315] pitieth [04263]; and your sons [01121] and your daughters [01323] whom ye have left [05800] shall fall [05307] by the sword [02719].

¹⁹ And I will break [07665] the pride [01347] of your power [05797]; and I will make [05414] your heaven [08064] as iron [01270], and your earth [0776] as brass [05154]:

¹⁸ At Tehaphnehes [08471] also the day [03117] shall be darkened [02821] [02820], when I shall break [07665] there the yokes [04133] of Egypt [04714]: and the pomp [01347] of her strength [05797] shall cease [07673] in her [01931]: as for her, a cloud [06051] shall cover [03680] her, and her daughters [01323] shall go [03212] into captivity [07628].

⁶ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; They also that uphold [05564] Egypt [04714] shall fall [05307]; and the pride [01347] of her power [05797] shall come down [03381]: from the tower [04024] of Syene [05482] shall they fall [05307] in it by the sword [02719], saith [05002] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069].

⁵⁰ A nation [01471] of fierce [05794] countenance [06440], which shall not regard [05375] the person [06440] of the old [02205], nor shew favour [02603] to the young [05288]:

²¹ And thine eye [05869] shall not pity [02347]; but life [05315] shall go for life [05315], eye [05869] for eye [05869], tooth [08127] for tooth [08127], hand [03027] for hand [03027], foot [07272] for foot [07272].

⁶ Lest the avenger [01350] of the blood [01818] pursue [07291] the slayer [0310] [07523], while [03588] his heart [03824] is hot [03179], and overtake [05381] him, because the way [01870] is long [07235], and slay [05221] him [05315]; whereas he was not worthy [04941] of death [04194], inasmuch as [03588] he hated [08130] him not in time [08543] past [08032].

²⁵ Destruction [07089] cometh [0935]; and they shall seek [01245] peace [07965], and there shall be none.

²⁴ Wherefore I will bring [0935] the worst [07451] of the heathen [01471], and they shall possess [03423] their houses [01004]: I will also make the pomp [01347] of the strong [05794] to cease [07673]; and their holy places [06942] shall be defiled [02490] [05157].

²³ Make [06213] a chain [07569]: for the land [0776] is full [04390] of bloody [01818] crimes [04941], and the city [05892] is full [04390] of violence [02555].