say to her
The "her" refers to the land of Israel, personified as a woman. This personification is common in prophetic literature, where nations or cities are often depicted as women. It underscores the intimate relationship between God and His people, akin to a marriage covenant, which Israel has broken through idolatry and sin.

In the day of indignation
This phrase refers to a time of divine judgment. The "day of indignation" is a period when God's wrath is poured out due to the persistent sin and rebellion of the people. It is a theme found throughout the prophetic books, where the "day of the Lord" is depicted as a time of both judgment and eventual restoration.

you are a land that has not been cleansed
The lack of cleansing indicates spiritual and moral impurity. In the context of Israel, this refers to the nation's failure to repent and turn back to God. The imagery of cleansing is significant in the Old Testament, where ritual purity was essential for worship and relationship with God. This unclean state is contrasted with the future hope of cleansing and renewal found in prophecies like Ezekiel 36:25-27.

upon which no rain has fallen
Rain is often a symbol of God's blessing and favor in the Bible. The absence of rain signifies divine displeasure and judgment. In the agricultural society of ancient Israel, rain was crucial for survival, and its absence would lead to drought and famine. This imagery connects to the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28:23-24, where disobedience results in a lack of rain. The withholding of rain also serves as a metaphor for spiritual dryness and the absence of God's presence.

Ezekiel is repeatedly called “son of man,” signaling both his humanity and his prophetic appointment. This address keeps the spotlight on God as the ultimate Speaker, just as in Ezekiel 2:1 and 3:4 where the prophet is commissioned to relay divine words without alteration. By using this title again, the Lord reminds Ezekiel—and us—that the message is not personal opinion but God’s authoritative revelation, echoing Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that He should lie.”

The “her” is the land—Jerusalem and the broader territory of Judah—personified as a woman who must hear a hard truth. Scripture often speaks to cities or nations this way (Isaiah 1:21; Hosea 2:2) to highlight covenant relationship. The command “say” underscores the prophet’s duty to speak plainly, much like Jeremiah 1:7–8, rather than soften God’s warning. Failure to relay the message faithfully would make Ezekiel accountable (Ezekiel 3:18).

This phrase fixes the timing: a season when God’s righteous anger is poured out. Comparable language appears in Ezekiel 7:7–8 and Zephaniah 1:15, pointing to the Babylonian invasion as an outworking of divine judgment. Key reminders:

• God’s wrath is never capricious; it answers persistent rebellion (2 Chronicles 36:15–16).

• “Day” underscores certainty—judgment is on God’s calendar (Acts 17:31).

• Indignation is temporary and purposeful, intended to lead to repentance (Isaiah 26:20–21).

The picture is of ceremonial and moral filth remaining unwashed. Despite temple rituals, hearts stayed polluted (Isaiah 1:16; Jeremiah 6:29–30). Notice:

• Genuine cleansing is internal, fulfilled ultimately in Ezekiel 36:25–27.

• The absence of cleansing shows broken covenant fellowship (Leviticus 26:14–16).

• Sin left unchecked defiles not only people but the ground itself (Numbers 35:33–34).

Rain in Scripture is a covenant blessing (Deuteronomy 11:14). Its withholding signals divine displeasure:

• Elijah declared drought in 1 Kings 17:1 as a judgment on idolatry.

• Amos 4:7 notes God “withheld the rain” to prompt repentance.

• Drought is a preview of exile’s devastation—crops fail, trade collapses, hope dries up.

The land’s parched condition mirrors spiritual drought; living water is unavailable when hearts reject the Source (Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:10).

Ezekiel 22:24 confronts Judah with a triple indictment: God’s prophet must speak; God’s indignation is present; and the land, still filthy and bone-dry, bears visible proof of the nation’s sin. The verse exposes external religion without inward cleansing and underscores that withheld rain is not mere climate but covenant warning. Yet embedded in the rebuke is hope: when cleansing comes and hearts return, the Lord will again send refreshing showers—both physical and spiritual—just as He promises in Ezekiel 36:25–27 and Joel 2:23.

Parallel Commentaries ...