Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version In you are people who accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign LORD. New Living Translation There are hired murderers, loan racketeers, and extortioners everywhere. They never even think of me and my commands, says the Sovereign LORD. English Standard Version In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. Berean Standard Bible In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. King James Bible 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. New King James Version In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me,” says the Lord GOD. New American Standard Bible Among you they have taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest, you have injured your neighbors by oppression, and you have forgotten Me,” declares the Lord GOD. NASB 1995 “In you they have taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression, and you have forgotten Me,” declares the Lord GOD. NASB 1977 “In you they have taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression, and you have forgotten Me,” declares the Lord GOD. Legacy Standard Bible In you they have taken bribes for the purpose of shedding blood; you have taken interest and profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression, and you have forgotten Me,” declares Lord Yahweh. Amplified Bible In you they have accepted bribes to shed blood; you have taken [forbidden] interest and [a percentage of] profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression and extortion, and you have forgotten Me,” says the Lord GOD. Christian Standard Bible People who live in you accept bribes in order to shed blood. You take interest and profit on a loan and brutally extort your neighbors. You have forgotten me. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. Holman Christian Standard Bible People who live in you accept bribes in order to shed blood. You take interest and profit on a loan and brutally extort your neighbors. You have forgotten Me.” This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.” American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version Others of you accept money to murder someone. Your own people charge high interest when making a loan to other Israelites, and they get rich by cheating. Worst of all, you have forgotten me, the LORD God. English Revised Version In thee have they taken bribes to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by oppression, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD. GOD'S WORD® Translation Other people take bribes to murder people. You collect interest and make excessive profits. You make profits by mistreating your neighbors. You have forgotten me, declares the Almighty LORD. Good News Translation Some of your people murder for pay. Some charge interest on the loans they make to other Israelites and get rich by taking advantage of them. They have forgotten me." The Sovereign LORD has spoken. International Standard Version They take bribes among you to shed blood. You've taken usury and exacted interest. You've gained control over your neighbor through extortion. And you've forgotten me," declares the Lord GOD. NET Bible They take bribes within you to shed blood. You engage in usury and charge interest; you extort money from your neighbors. You have forgotten me, declares the sovereign LORD. New Heart English Bible In you have they taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me,' says the Lord GOD. Webster's Bible Translation In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken interest and increase, and thou hast greedily gained from thy neighbors by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIn you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. World English Bible In you have they taken bribes to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me,” says the Lord Yahweh. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThey have taken a bribe to shed blood in you, "" You have taken usury and increase, "" And cut off your neighbor by oppression, "" And you have forgotten Me, "" A declaration of Lord YHWH! Young's Literal Translation 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! Smith's Literal Translation They took a gift in thee to pour out blood; thou tookest usury and interest, and thou wilt plunder thy neighbors by violence, and thou didst forget me, says the Lord Jehovah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey have taken gifts in thee to shed blood: thou hast taken usury and increase, and hast covetously oppressed thy neighbours: and then hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. Catholic Public Domain Version They have accepted bribes among you to shed blood. You have received usury and superabundance, and in avarice you have oppressed your neighbors. And you have forgotten me, says the Lord God. New American Bible There are those in you who take bribes to shed blood. You exact interest and usury; you extort profit from your neighbor by violence. But me you have forgotten—oracle of the Lord GOD. New Revised Standard Version In you, they take bribes to shed blood; you take both advance interest and accrued interest, and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; and you have forgotten me, says the Lord GOD. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIn you have they taken bribes to shed blood; in you have they taken usury and exorbitant gains, and they have deceived their friends by extortion; and you have forgotten me, says the LORD God. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they have taken bribes among you, that they would shed blood, and they have taken interest among you, and they took too much from you, and they betrayed their friends in oppression, and they have forgotten me, says THE LORD OF LORDS OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken interest and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by oppression, and hast forgotten Me, saith the Lord GOD. Brenton Septuagint Translation In thee they have received gifts to shed blood; they have received in thee interest and usurious increase; and by oppression thou hast brought thy wickedness to the full, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Sins of Jerusalem…11One man commits an abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another wickedly defiles his daughter-in-law; and yet another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter. 12In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. 13Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst.… Cross References Jeremiah 22:17 “But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.” Micah 3:11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.” Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them. Amos 5:12 For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate. Zephaniah 3:3-4 Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning. / Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law. Proverbs 17:23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice. Exodus 23:8 Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous. Deuteronomy 16:19 Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Psalm 15:5 who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. Isaiah 33:15 He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil— Matthew 23:25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Luke 11:39 Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. James 5:4 Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Treasury of Scripture In you have they taken gifts to shed blood; you have taken usury and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten me, said the Lord GOD. taken gifts Exodus 23:7,8 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked… Deuteronomy 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. Deuteronomy 27:25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. thou hast Ezekiel 18:8,13 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, … Exodus 22:25,26 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury… Leviticus 25:35,36 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee… greedily Proverbs 1:19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Matthew 23:14,25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation… and hast Ezekiel 23:35 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms. Deuteronomy 32:18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. Psalm 106:21 They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; Jump to Previous Accept Blood Bribes Declares Excessive Extortion Force Forgotten Gain Gained Gifts Goods Great Greedily Increase Injured Interest Kept Mind Neighbors Neighbours Oppression Price Profits Rewards Shed Sovereign Unjust UsuryJump to Next Accept Blood Bribes Declares Excessive Extortion Force Forgotten Gain Gained Gifts Goods Great Greedily Increase Injured Interest Kept Mind Neighbors Neighbours Oppression Price Profits Rewards Shed Sovereign Unjust UsuryEzekiel 22 1. A catalogue of sins in Jerusalem, and the dispersion of the Jews in consequence17. God will burn them as dross in his furnace 23. The general corruption of prophets, priests, princes, and the people In you they take bribes to shed blood. This phrase highlights the corruption and injustice prevalent in Jerusalem. Bribery was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern societies, often leading to the perversion of justice. The shedding of blood indicates that these bribes were not just for minor offenses but involved life-and-death matters, possibly even murder. This reflects a society where the judicial system is compromised, echoing the warnings found in Exodus 23:8 and Deuteronomy 16:19 against taking bribes. The prophets frequently condemned such practices, as seen in Isaiah 1:23 and Micah 3:11, where leaders are criticized for their greed and corruption. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet during the Babylonian exile, tasked with delivering God's messages to the Israelites, often focusing on their sins and the need for repentance. 2. Israel The nation addressed in this passage, specifically the people of Jerusalem, who are being rebuked for their moral and spiritual corruption. 3. The Lord GOD The sovereign God of Israel, who is declaring judgment against the people for their sins and forgetfulness of Him. Teaching Points The Sin of CorruptionThe passage highlights the moral decay in society, where justice is perverted through bribery and exploitation. Believers are called to uphold integrity and justice in all dealings. The Dangers of Forgetting God Forgetting God leads to moral and spiritual decline. Regular worship, prayer, and study of Scripture are essential to keep God at the center of our lives. Financial Ethics The Bible consistently warns against unjust financial practices like usury and extortion. Christians are encouraged to practice fairness and generosity in financial matters. Consequences of Sin The passage serves as a reminder that sin has consequences, both individually and collectively. Repentance and turning back to God are necessary to restore righteousness. God's Sovereignty and Justice Despite human corruption, God remains sovereign and just. Trust in His ultimate justice and strive to align with His will. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 22:12?2. How does Ezekiel 22:12 highlight the consequences of greed and corruption today? 3. What actions in Ezekiel 22:12 are condemned, and why are they significant? 4. How can Ezekiel 22:12 guide us in practicing justice and righteousness? 5. Which other scriptures address the themes of extortion and dishonesty found here? 6. How can we ensure our actions align with God's standards in Ezekiel 22:12? 7. How does Ezekiel 22:12 reflect the moral decline of society in biblical times? 8. What historical context influenced the message in Ezekiel 22:12? 9. How does Ezekiel 22:12 challenge modern views on justice and corruption? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 22? 11. Does the mention of Tarshish and other distant lands in Ezekiel 27 align with known ancient geography and historical records? 12. What do the tree's leaves symbolize for nations' healing? 13. Why is there no mention of any other civilizations, such as Babylon or Egypt, being judged in the same manner as described in Ezekiel 22:15, despite historical records of their own atrocities? 14. Who was the biblical prophet Micah? What Does Ezekiel 22:12 Mean In you they take bribes to shed blood“ In you they take bribes to shed blood ” (Ezekiel 22:12a). • God is exposing a culture where justice is for sale. Bribes override truth, leading to innocent lives being destroyed—literally “shed blood.” • Exodus 23:8 warns, “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.” When leaders ignore this, life itself is cheapened (Isaiah 1:23). • Deuteronomy 27:25 places bribery on the same level as idolatry: “Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” The curse is not symbolic; God upholds it. • The principle still cuts close: whenever influence or money is used to pervert justice—whether in a courtroom, a boardroom, or a family dispute—God sees it as blood-guilt (Proverbs 17:23). You engage in usury “You engage in usury ” (Ezekiel 22:12b). • Usury is lending to fellow Israelites at interest, something the Law forbade (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-37). • The practice exploits someone in a vulnerable moment—exactly the opposite of neighbor-love commanded in Leviticus 19:18. • Nehemiah 5:7 shows righteous leadership: Nehemiah demands that the nobles stop charging interest and restore what they took. God expects the same courage from us. take excess interest “ take excess interest ” (Ezekiel 22:12c). • The phrase intensifies the charge. Even where some lending interest was permissible to foreigners (Deuteronomy 23:19-20), “excess” crosses a clear line into greed. • Psalm 15:5 says the one who “does not lend his money at usury” will never be shaken; by contrast, Ezekiel’s audience is about to be shaken by exile (Ezekiel 18:13). • Modern parallels: predatory loans, exploitative fees, and any financial practice that preys on desperation. God’s standard never changes. and extort your neighbors “ and extort your neighbors ” (Ezekiel 22:12d). • Extortion is coercion—using power to seize what belongs to another. Micah 2:1-2 paints the picture: plotting at night, seizing fields by day. • Amos 4:1 rebukes those who “oppress the poor and crush the needy.” Ezekiel echoes that same heartbeat for justice. • Notice the downward spiral: bribery, usury, excessive interest, now outright extortion. When God is forgotten, sin escalates. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD “ But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD ” (Ezekiel 22:12e). • This is the root issue. Every social sin listed above flows from forgetting the LORD (Deuteronomy 8:11-14). • Jeremiah 2:32 laments, “Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.” Forgetting is not mental lapse; it is willful disregard evidenced by disobedience. • Hosea 4:6 ties it together: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… you have forgotten the law of your God.” Spiritual amnesia always breeds societal collapse. summary Ezekiel 22:12 traces a chain reaction: forgetting God leads to corruption, exploitation, and bloodshed. Bribery twists justice, usury and excess interest prey on need, and extortion robs outright. The LORD names each sin, proving His perfect knowledge and His refusal to overlook injustice. Remembering Him—honoring His character and commands—is the only antidote, then and now. Hebrew In youבָ֖ךְ (ḇāḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular Strong's Hebrew they take לָֽקְחוּ־ (lā·qə·ḥū-) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3947: To take bribes שֹׁ֥חַד (šō·ḥaḏ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7810: A present, bribe to לְמַ֣עַן (lə·ma·‘an) Conjunction Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent shed שְׁפָךְ־ (šə·p̄āḵ-) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out blood. דָּ֑ם (dām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed You engage לָקַ֗חַתְּ (lā·qa·ḥat) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 3947: To take in usury, נֶ֧שֶׁךְ (ne·šeḵ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5392: Interest on a, debt take וַתְּבַצְּעִ֤י (wat·tə·ḇaṣ·ṣə·‘î) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 1214: To cut off, break off, gain by violence excess interest, וְתַרְבִּ֣ית (wə·ṯar·bîṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8636: Multiplication, percentage, bonus in addition to principal and extort בַּעֹ֔שֶׁק (ba·‘ō·šeq) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6233: Injury, fraud, distress, unjust gain your neighbors. רֵעַ֙יִךְ֙ (rê·‘a·yiḵ) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow But Me וְאֹתִ֣י (wə·’ō·ṯî) Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singular Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case you have forgotten, שָׁכַ֔חַתְּ (šā·ḵa·ḥat) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention declares נְאֻ֖ם (nə·’um) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5002: An oracle the Lord אֲדֹנָ֥י (’ă·ḏō·nāy) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 136: The Lord GOD. יְהוִֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH Links Ezekiel 22:12 NIVEzekiel 22:12 NLT Ezekiel 22:12 ESV Ezekiel 22:12 NASB Ezekiel 22:12 KJV Ezekiel 22:12 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 22:12 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 22:12 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 22:12 French Bible Ezekiel 22:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 22:12 In you have they taken bribes (Ezek. 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