Ezekiel 22:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Hebrew term translated as "outgas" by Simmachus and as "grape pomace" by Aquila refers to impurities left after purification. The term also means the waste byproducts of metal purification, indicating that fire symbolizes the imminent captivity or impending destruction of the city. This imagery is used to illustrate that pure silver must remain after being refined, as it is tainted by the mixture of copper, tin, iron, and lead. Copper, tin, and lead are melted by fire, while iron is softened and shaped using an anvil and hammer, adapting to the desires of the craftsman.

Hence, as silver, tainted by these metals, is placed in the crucible to eliminate the impurities, the Lord declares that He will gather you in Jerusalem and encircle you within the siege of Babylon, igniting a fire for your purification. The intense heat of the flame will be mirrored by famine and disease, and once I ignite you with the fire of my anger, I will also bring calm and limit the sorrow of your forsaking Me by delivering punishment. My purpose in this will be to ensure that, when My wrath is unleashed upon you, the culmination of your suffering leads you to recognize Me as the Lord, the ultimate judge and rewarder.

The concept of being refined appears frequently throughout scripture, notably in Malachi and Isaiah. Malachi states: "Behold, the Lord comes forth as a refiner's fire," and shall sift like silver and gold, cleansing the sons of Levi (Malachi 3:2-3). Isaiah proclaims that the Lord will cleanse the filth of Zion through the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning (Isaiah 4:4). The Psalms echo this thought when they request, "Test me, O Lord, and try me," followed by, "Thou shalt kindle my womb and my heart" (Psalm 26:2).

What applies to Jerusalem also reflects the state of souls created pure by God. Gold symbolizes wisdom and intellect, while silver represents eloquence and speech, allowing expression of thoughts. Scripture states, "The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace" (Psalm 12:6). Additionally, in the sixty-seventh Psalm, it is written about beauty and glory, emphasizing that the daughter of the king is adorned and brings forth the purity of a dove in gold (Psalm 44:14; 67:14). The one who rests in the bosom of the King receives the silvered wings of the dove and shines with golden luster in their heart's treasury.

In this context, it can be interpreted that for those trapped in sin and deserving of divine wrath, the heavens turn to bronze, and the earth becomes iron—particularly within the land of Egypt, from which the Lord delivered Israel as if from an iron furnace. The prophet Zechariah speaks of wickedness resting on a talent of lead (Zechariah 5), and in the song of the Exodus, it is stated, "They were sunk like lead in the mighty waters" (Exodus 15:10). They were overwhelmed by their burdens of sin, akin to saying, "A heavy burden is laid upon me" (Psalm 38:4).

Just as the counterfeit brass resembles gold, tin often mimics silver, and discerning between them is a challenge for the inexperienced. Often, the impurities of heretical wickedness contained within gold and silver are refined by the Holy Spirit's fire and the judgment of the Lord, leading to the retention of pure gold and silver, as lamented by the prophet: "I gave them silver and gold, but they made Baal out of them" (Hosea 2:8). This notion is echoed in the Psalms: "I have gone out with silver and gold, and there is no pain in their tribes" (Psalm 104:37). The ultimate goal of all discipline is that one may know that He is the Lord. The mention of the tin stone in Zechariah (Zech. 4) holds additional significance that has been detailed elsewhere.