Ezekiel 22:29

Eze 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

Ver. 29. The people of the land have used oppression.] Or, Deceit. Eadem hodie fiunt: charitas refrixit; omnia iniuriis, calumniis, rapinis plena sunt.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Eze 22:29-31. The people of the land — The common people; have used oppression — Have wronged each other by acts of fraud and violence, and have greatly and cruelly oppressed each other. And have vexed the poor and needy — By these frauds and oppressions, instead of relieving them, which they ought to have done. Yea, they have oppressed the strangers wrongfully — Without any colour of justice or reason. This was contrary to an express prohibition of God’s law, frequently repeated and enforced upon them, from the consideration, that they themselves were strangers in Egypt. And I sought — God speaks after the manner of men; for a man among them — Any one among the princes, prophets, priests, or people; that should make up the hedge — That should repair the breach, and prevent further mischief; and stand in the gap before me — That might interpose between a sinful people and their offended God; deprecate God’s wrath, and entreat for mercy, that the land might not be destroyed; but I found none — All were corrupted, and went on in sin without repentance. This general complaint must be understood with some restriction, such as is commonly understood in unlimited expressions. For we read, Eze 9:4, that there were some that sighed and cried to God (by way of deprecating his wrath) for the abominations done in Jerusalem; and they undoubtedly exhorted the people to repentance and reformation. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them — Have given it full scope, that it might come upon them in a full stream; yet, whatever calamity God brings upon a sinful people, it is their own way that is therein recompensed upon their heads, and God punishes them not more, but much less, than their iniquity deserves.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The people--put last, after the mention of those in office. Corruption had spread downwards through the whole community.

wrongfully--that is, "without cause," gratuitously, without the stranger proselyte giving any just provocation; nay, he of all others being one who ought to have been won to the worship of Jehovah by kindness, instead of being alienated by oppression; especially as the Israelites were commanded to remember that they themselves had been "strangers in Egypt" (Exo 22:21; Exo 23:9).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 29. The people] All that have power or authority have abused it; vexed and oppressed the poor, the needy, and the stranger.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(29) The people of the land,—i.e., the common people, not belonging to any of the above classes. In regard to their general corruption see Ezekiel 18

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

29. people of the land] The phrase for the common people already, Jer_37:2, and common in Eze_7:27; Eze_12:19, &c. The “people of the land” is certainly subject here, cf. Eze_22:7, ch. Eze_18:12; Jer_23:34; Jer_26:7.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The people of the land have used oppression,.... The common people, the more powerful among them, such as were in greatest authority in cities and towns, in neighbourhoods and families, the richest among them; these oppressed the poor, and those that were under them, the servants of them, and tenants to them, and who were not able to defend themselves against them: the Septuagint and Syriac versions understand this of the prophets using the people of the land ill:

and exercised robbery; such who had not the power as others had, became thieves and robbers, went on the highway, and took men's money from them; broke up houses, and plundered them, and stole away their goods:

and have vexed the poor and needy; by their oppressions, rapines, and robberies, when they should rather have relieved them:

yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully; or, "without right or judgment" (k); in a very unjust manner, contrary to the due course of law, against all equity and justice; which the Israelites were warned and ordered not to do, in many passages of Scripture; and for this reason, because they had been strangers in Egypt.

(k) "absque judicio", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, "non in judicio", Cocceius.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The people of the land, the common people, have used oppression; greatly, continuedly, and cruelly oppressed one another, wronged each other by frauds and violence.

Exercised robbery; on every occasion turned downright thieves and robbers.

Have vexed, by these oppressions, the poor and needy: see Eze 18:7.

Wrongfully; without any colour of justice, reason, or so much as hearing him, as the phrase seems to import.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

29. The common people naturally follow the example of the princes and captains, priests and prophets.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

From the classes, the prophet turns to the masses. The people of the land, the common people, (2Ki_25:3, 2Ki_25:19) come under the same condemnation. Greed of gain, the oppression of the poor and the stranger, were seem everywhere.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

have oppressed ... and plundered

The understood words may be supplied. AT: "have oppressed people ... and plundered others" (See: Ellipsis)

extortion

This refers to when someone threatens or hurts another person in order to make them give him money.

the poor and needy

This refers to poor and needy people. AT: "those who are poor and needy" (See: Nominal Adjectives)

translationWords

people group

oppress

just

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.