Ezekiel 11 13

Ezekiel 11:13 kjv

And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

Ezekiel 11:13 nkjv

Now it happened, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell on my face and cried with a loud voice, and said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will You make a complete end of the remnant of Israel?"

Ezekiel 11:13 niv

Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, "Alas, Sovereign LORD! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?"

Ezekiel 11:13 esv

And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?"

Ezekiel 11:13 nlt

While I was still prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah suddenly died. Then I fell face down on the ground and cried out, "O Sovereign LORD, are you going to kill everyone in Israel?"

Ezekiel 11 verses

Ezekiel 11 13 Meaning

Ezekiel 11:13 records the immediate fulfillment of God's judgment pronounced through Ezekiel, as one of the corrupt leaders, Pelatiah, dies instantly in Jerusalem while Ezekiel is in a vision hundreds of miles away in Babylon. Witnessing this profound act of divine power, Ezekiel, deeply distraught, prostrates himself and cries out to the Lord God, lamenting the seemingly complete destruction of the remnant of Israel. His plea expresses a desperate appeal to God's mercy amidst the devastating execution of His justice.

Ezekiel 11 13 Context

Ezekiel 11:13 is a pivotal moment within a larger prophetic vision in Ezekiel 11. The chapter begins with Ezekiel being transported in spirit to Jerusalem, specifically to the East Gate, where he observes 25 leading men, including Pelatiah, devising wicked counsel and challenging God's authority, believing themselves safe within Jerusalem (Eze 11:1-3). God declares through Ezekiel that these leaders are like "flesh in the pot" and the city is a "cauldron," but not in a protective sense; rather, it signifies their imminent destruction within the city. Judgment is decreed upon them for their violence and idolatry (Eze 11:4-12). In this verse, as Ezekiel delivers God's prophetic word concerning these individuals, the sudden, actual death of Pelatiah vividly confirms the certainty and immediacy of God's judgment upon the wicked leaders. This dramatic event prompts Ezekiel's impassioned cry, revealing his deep concern for the future of all remaining Israelites. Historically, this vision occurred during the Babylonian exile (circa 593 BC), preceding the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, when the city's inhabitants harbored false hope of divine protection despite numerous warnings. Pelatiah's death served as a stark sign against these self-deceiving beliefs, directly countering any contemporary notion of immunity.

Ezekiel 11 13 Word analysis

• Now it came about as I prophesied: The Hebrew wāyehi kə-dabrî (וַיְהִי כְּדַבְּרִי) signifies an immediate, direct consequence of the prophetic word. It underscores the prophet's authority as God's messenger and the efficacious nature of divine utterance. God's word, spoken through His servant, brings about literal events.
• Pelatiah: The Hebrew Pəlaṭyah (פְּלַטְיָה), meaning "Yah has delivered" or "Yah has escaped." The name stands in stark contrast to his sudden death, ironically highlighting that deliverance from God's judgment was not his portion. His being singled out emphasizes the specific, targeted nature of God's justice on individual, prominent leaders.
• the son of Benaiah: His father's name, Bənāyāh (בְּנָיָה), means "Yah has built" or "built by Yah." The familial identification roots the judgment in the known social structure and reinforces the irony of his fate.
• died: The Hebrew wāyāmot (וַיָּמֹת) is a stark, concise declaration. It emphasizes the finality and the immediacy of the divine action. This death, occurring far away in Jerusalem, confirms Ezekiel's vision is a direct revelation of a real-world event, demonstrating God's omnipresence and omnipotence.
• Then I fell on my face: The Hebrew wāʾeppōl ʿal-pānay (וָאֶפֹּל עַל-פָּנַי) describes a posture of profound reverence, humility, awe, submission, and often desperate intercession. It reflects Ezekiel's intense emotional and spiritual response to witnessing God's awesome power and severe judgment.
• and cried out with a loud voice: The Hebrew wāʾezʿaq qôl gādôl (וָאֶזְעַק קוֹל גָּדוֹל) denotes a vehement, public cry of anguish and appeal. This was not a silent, internal prayer but an outward expression of his distress and desperate plea for mercy for his people.
• Alas: The Hebrew ʾăhāh (אֲהָהּ) is an interjection expressing grief, sorrow, alarm, or dismay, often preceding an urgent lament or appeal to God. It signals intense emotional distress.
• Lord God!: The Hebrew ʾăḏōnāy YHWH (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה) is a compound divine title. ʾăḏōnāy ("my Lord") expresses Ezekiel's submission and humble address to a sovereign ruler. YHWH (the personal covenant name, often transliterated as Yahweh or represented by LORD) invokes God's covenant faithfulness and immutable character even amidst judgment. This combination reveals profound reverence and reliance on God's nature.
• Will You bring to a complete end: The Hebrew hă-ʾattāh killeh (הַאַתָּה כַּלָּה) uses the intensive Hiphil form of the verb kālâ (כָּלָה), meaning "to complete," "to consume," "to bring to an end," or "to utterly destroy." Ezekiel's question expresses his fear of total annihilation, reflecting the severity of the judgment and the magnitude of the perceived threat to Israel's existence.
• the remnant of Israel: The Hebrew šəʾērît Yiśrāʾēl (שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל) refers to "what remains," "survivors." At this point, the term applies to all who still remain in Judah and Jerusalem, who had not yet been exiled. Ezekiel's plea is for these remaining individuals, highlighting the crucial biblical theme of a preserved remnant for God's redemptive purposes.

Words-group analysis

• "Now it came about as I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died": This entire phrase highlights the authenticity and power of prophetic word. God acts immediately and decisively according to what His prophet declares. The specificity of naming Pelatiah underscores that God's judgment is personal, just, and precise, not a random act.
• "Then I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, 'Alas, Lord God!'": This depicts a profound moment of emotional and spiritual crisis for Ezekiel. His physical prostration and audible lament demonstrate both reverence for God's power and deep anguish over the implications of such severe judgment on his people, identifying him as an intercessor as much as a messenger.
• "Will You bring to a complete end the remnant of Israel?": This is the heart of Ezekiel's plea. It is a question born of theological crisis, appealing to God's covenant promises concerning Israel's continued existence. He is wrestling with the extent of divine wrath and implicitly pleading for mercy and the preservation of at least some of His chosen people.

Ezekiel 11 13 Bonus section

The immediate and specific death of Pelatiah functions as a powerful sign both for Ezekiel and, by extension, for the exiles in Babylon and those still in Jerusalem. For Ezekiel, it confirmed the divine source and absolute authority of his visions, distinguishing them from mere dreams or hallucinations. For those still in Jerusalem, had they heard of it, it would have been a potent challenge to their false sense of security, revealing that their corrupt leadership would not shield them from God's hand. The question of the "remnant" is crucial, as this very chapter, following Ezekiel's intercession, shifts to God's promise concerning a future remnant who will be gathered and given new hearts (Eze 11:16-20). This highlights the tension and interplay between God's immediate judgment and His overarching, long-term covenant plan of salvation for a preserved people. Ezekiel's intercession here foreshadows the divine heart that desires not the death of the wicked, but that they would turn and live.

Ezekiel 11 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 11:13 serves as a chilling testament to the terrifying reality of divine judgment. As Ezekiel, in his vision, utters God's words of condemnation against Jerusalem's corrupt leaders, one of them, Pelatiah, drops dead instantly, hundreds of miles away. This direct, verifiable fulfillment underscores the veracity of Ezekiel's prophetic office and God's sovereign control over life and death, even across great distances. Witnessing this overwhelming display of justice, Ezekiel is utterly overwhelmed, collapsing in a posture of desperate humility. His impassioned cry, "Alas, Lord God! Will You bring to a complete end the remnant of Israel?", reveals a deep-seated anguish and intercessory heart. He appeals to God's covenant character ("Lord God"), fearing utter annihilation for the remaining people, yet implicitly pleading for the preservation of a remnant—a recurring theme in prophetic literature. The verse encapsulates the prophet's dual burden: delivering God's harsh truth while simultaneously yearning for His mercy upon a sinful people. It’s a profound moment showing God's uncompromising justice meeting human lament and a glimmer of hope for preservation.