God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 22:30
30“ ‘I looked for someone among you who could build walls or stand in front of me by the gaps in the walls to defend the land and keep it from being destroyed. But I couldn’t find anyone.
Ezekiel 22:30 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
- New International Version (NIV)“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
Context of Ezekiel 22:30
28Your prophets cover up these things by seeing false visions and by prophesying lies. They say, “This is what the Almighty Lord says.” Yet, the Lord hasn’t spoken. 29The common people oppress and rob others. They do wrong to humble people and to poor people. They oppress foreigners for no reason. “ ‘I looked for someone among you who could build walls or stand in front of me by the gaps in the walls to defend the land and keep it from being destroyed. But I couldn’t find anyone. 31So I will pour out my anger on you, and with my fiery anger I will consume you. This is because of all the things you have done,’ declares the Almighty Lord.”
Read all of Ezekiel 22Ezekiel 22:30 word by word
וָאֲבַקֵּ֣שׁ מֵהֶ֡ם אִ֣ישׁ גֹּֽדֵר־גָּדֵר֩ וְעֹמֵ֨ד בַּפֶּ֧רֶץ לְפָנַ֛י בְּעַ֥ד הָאָ֖רֶץ לְבִלְתִּ֣י שַׁחֲתָ֑הּ וְלֹ֖א מָצָֽאתִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And I soughtבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- for a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- among them, that should make upגָּדַרgâdar · to wall up/offH1443
- the hedgeגָּדֵרgâdêr · wallH1447
- and standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- in the gapפֶּ֫רֶץperets · breachH6556
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- me for the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- that I should not destroyשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
- it: but I foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
Cross-references for Ezekiel 22:30
- Isaiah 59:16He sees that there’s no one to help. He’s astounded that there’s no one to intercede. So with his own power he wins a victory. His righteousness supports him.
- Isaiah 63:5I looked, but there was no help. I was astounded that there was no ⌞outside⌟ support. So with my own power I won a victory. My anger supported me.
- Jeremiah 5:1Walk around the streets of Jerusalem. Look around, and think about these things. Search the city squares. See if you can find anyone who does what is right and seeks the truth. Then I will forgive Jerusalem.
- Ezekiel 13:5They haven’t repaired the gaps in the wall or rebuilt the wall for the nation of Israel. So Israel will not be protected in battle on the day of the Lord.
- Genesis 18:28what if there are 45 innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of 5 fewer people?” The Lord answered, “I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.”
- Exodus 32:10Now leave me alone. I’m so angry with them I am going to destroy them. Then I’ll make you into a great nation.”
- Psalms 106:23God said he was going to destroy them, but Moses, his chosen one, stood in his way to prevent him from exterminating them.
- Jeremiah 15:1Then the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel were standing in front of me, I would not feel sorry for these people. Send them away from me, and let them go.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 22:30
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 30I sought for a man - I saw that there was a grievous breach made in the moral state and feeling of the people, and I sought for a man that would stand in the gap; that would faithfully exhort, reprove and counsel with all long-suffering and doctrine. But none was to be found!Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23-31Verses 23-31 The sixth word of judgment. The special sins of princes, priests, and people. Ezekiel 22:26 Violated - Better as in margin; to offer “violence” to the Law is to misinterpret it. It was the special office of the priests to keep up the distinction between “holy” and “unholy,” “clean” and “unclean” Leviticus 10:10. Ezekiel 22:28 See the marginal reference note. Ezekiel 22:30 The land might be said to perish for the lack of such interpositions as…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-31Verses 23-31 All orders and degrees of men had helped to fill the measure of the nation's guilt. The people that had any power abused it, and even the buyers and sellers find some way to oppress one another. It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained. Let all who fear God, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 30-31Because of the sins of these former community leaders, the Lord looked for someone to rebuild the wall and act as a true prophet (see Ezekiel 13:5). This person would intercede for the people, like Moses did after they sinned with the golden calf (Exodus 32). The Lord found no one to turn away his wrath. So he would pour out his fury on the people completely (compare Ezekiel 11:21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3030. the hedge--the wall (see on Eze 13:5); image for leading the people to repentance. the gap--the breach (Psa 106:23); image for interceding between the people and God (Ge 20:7; Ex 32:11; Nu 16:48). I found none--(Jr 5:1)--not that literally there was not a righteous man in the city. For Jeremiah, Baruch, &c., were still there; but Jeremiah had been forbidden to pray for the people (Jr 11:14), as being doomed to wrath. None now, of the godly, knowing…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 22:30
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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