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Ezekiel 22: Someone to Stand in the Gap

God told Ezekiel to judge Jerusalem and cause her to know all her abominations. The city had shed blood and made idols. Her leaders used their power to harm others. People despised their parents, oppressed the foreigner, and wronged the fatherless and the widow. They despised God's holy things, profaned his Sabbaths, took bribes, and forgot God. God said the house of Israel had become like dross, the waste left when silver is refined, and he would gather them into Jerusalem as into a furnace. Every group had failed: the prophets covered sin with whitewash and false visions, the priests made no difference between holy and common, the princes were like wolves seeking dishonest gain, and the people of the land oppressed the poor and needy. God said, I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

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Bible:

Read Ezekiel 22

World English Bible · 31 verses

  1. 1 Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 “You, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 You shall say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A city that sheds blood within herself, that her time may come, and that makes idols against herself to defile her!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 You have become guilty in your blood that you have shed, and are defiled in your idols which you have made! You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mocking to all the countries.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 “‘“Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone according to his power, have been in you to shed blood.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 In you have they treated father and mother with contempt. Among you they have oppressed the foreigner. In you they have wronged the fatherless and the widow.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 You have despised my holy things, and have profaned my Sabbaths.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood. In you they have eaten on the mountains. They have committed lewdness among you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 In you have they uncovered their fathers’ nakedness. In you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 One has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife, and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. Another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 13 “‘“Behold, therefore I have struck my hand at your dishonest gain which you have made, and at the blood which has been shed within you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I will deal with you? I, Yahweh, have spoken it, and will do it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, and disperse you through the countries. I will purge your filthiness out of you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 You will be profaned in yourself in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  17. 17 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  18. 18 “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me. All of them are bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the middle of the furnace. They are the dross of silver.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  19. 19 Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the middle of Jerusalem.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  20. 20 As they gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the middle of the furnace, to blow the fire on it, to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will lay you there and melt you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  21. 21 Yes, I will gather you, and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you will be melted in the middle of it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  22. 22 As silver is melted in the middle of the furnace, so you will be melted in the middle of it; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have poured out my wrath on you.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  23. 23 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  24. 24 “Son of man, tell her, ‘You are a land that is not cleansed nor rained on in the day of indignation.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  25. 25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and precious things. They have made many widows within it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  26. 26 Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths. So I am profaned among them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  27. 27 Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  28. 28 Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord Yahweh says,’ when Yahweh has not spoken.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  29. 29 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  30. 30 “I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  31. 31 Therefore I have poured out my indignation on them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have brought their own way on their heads,” says the Lord Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Ezekiel 22 · Preschool

Stand in the Gap

Name Date

Color the person standing in the gap in the wall. God looks for people who care!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

Ezekiel 22:30 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God looked for someone who would stand up for what is right and pray for the people. A gap is a hole in a wall. God wants people who will help fill the gap by caring and praying for others. Let's ask God to help us stand up for what is right.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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