Ezekiel 12:16 kjv
But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 12:16 nkjv
But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 12:16 niv
But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 12:16 esv
But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 12:16 nlt
But I will spare a few of them from death by war, famine, or disease, so they can confess all their detestable sins to their captors. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 12 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 12:16 | and those of them that escape shall escape, and they shall be | Ezekiel 12:15 |
| Eze 12:16 | on the mountains, like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, | Ezekiel 6:9, Psalm 77:3 |
| Eze 12:16 | every one for his iniquity. | Leviticus 26:39, Jeremiah 30:15 |
| Eze 12:16 | that they may know that I have turned My face from the house of | Isaiah 64:7, Lamentations 3:41 |
| Eze 12:16 | Israel. | Jeremiah 2:10-11, Hosea 4:6 |
| Eze 14:11 | that the house of Israel may go no more astray from Me, | Ezekiel 43:10, Jeremiah 3:14-15 |
| Eze 14:11 | nor defile themselves anymore with all their transgressions; | Ezekiel 14:7, 11 |
| Eze 14:11 | but that they may be My people, and I may be their God,” says | Deuteronomy 29:12-13, Jeremiah 30:22 |
| Eze 14:11 | the Lord GOD. | Isaiah 45:5-6 |
| Eze 20:40-41 | for in My holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, | Isaiah 2:2, Micah 4:1 |
| Eze 20:41 | says the Lord GOD, there will I accept them, and there will I | Ezekiel 39:27, Jeremiah 33:16 |
| Eze 20:41 | require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your offerings, | Numbers 15:19-21, Romans 11:16 |
| Eze 20:41 | with all your holy things. | 2 Chronicles 31:14, Malachi 1:7 |
| Lev 26:39 | And those of you that are left shall remember Me among the | Jeremiah 31:19, Ezekiel 36:31 |
| Lev 26:39 | nations to which they shall be carried captive, and shall | Psalm 106:43 |
| Lev 26:39 | loathe themselves for the iniquities they have committed, | Ezekiel 4:17, Luke 17:3-4 |
| Lev 26:39 | because of all their evil doings. | Ezekiel 6:9 |
| Jer 31:19 | Surely after I turned away I repented; and after I was | Jeremiah 3:21-22 |
| Jer 31:19 | instructed, I struck myself upon the thigh; I was ashamed, | Jeremiah 31:18, Psalm 32:3 |
| Jer 31:19 | yes, even confounded, because I bore the reproach of my youth. | Jeremiah 2:2 |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. | Hosea 5:4, Isaiah 5:13 |
| Hos 4:6 | Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you; | Hosea 10:6, Galatians 6:7 |
| Hos 4:6 | so you shall not be priest to Me. | 1 Samuel 2:30, Numbers 18:7 |
| Zech 13:6 | And one shall say to him, What are these wounds in your | Revelation 3:19 |
| Zech 13:6 | midst? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was | Psalm 51:17 |
| Zech 13:6 | stricken in the house of my friends. | Proverbs 18:24, Zechariah 11:4 |
| Zech 13:6 | a double iniquity; | Isaiah 40:2, Jeremiah 16:18 |
| Zech 13:7 | Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, against the man that is My | Psalm 23:1, Zechariah 11:17 |
| Zech 13:7 | fellow, says the LORD of hosts. Smite the shepherd, and the | Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27 |
| Zech 13:7 | sheep shall be scattered; | Mark 14:27 |
| Zech 13:7 | and I will turn My hand upon the little ones. | Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 18:10 |
| Acts 4:12 | Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other | John 14:6, Acts 17:31 |
| Acts 4:12 | name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. | John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:5 |
| Rom 11:16 | For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy: and if | 1 Corinthians 15:20, Romans 1:16 |
| Rom 11:16 | the root is holy, so are the branches. | Romans 11:17-18, Jeremiah 11:16 |
| Rev 21:3 | And I heard a great voice from heaven saying, Behold, the | Revelation 7:15, John 1:14 |
| Rev 21:3 | tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, | Exodus 29:45, Leviticus 26:11-12 |
| Rev 21:3 | and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with | Zechariah 8:8, Jeremiah 31:33 |
| Rev 21:3 | them, and be their God. | John 17:21-24 |
Ezekiel 12 verses
Ezekiel 12 16 Meaning
This verse describes a remnant of the people of Israel who will be exiled but will survive, recognizing the truth of God's judgment through their eventual escape and return. They will acknowledge the work of God in their midst and confess His name.
Ezekiel 12 16 Context
Ezekiel chapter 12 presents God's judgment against Israel for their rebellion and sin, symbolized through Ezekiel's prophetic actions of exile. Verse 16 follows the description of a partial remnant escaping, emphasizing their shame and remembrance of sin. This points to a future hope where some who were scattered would recognize God's hand in their suffering and confession. The broader context of Ezekiel is the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, serving as a severe consequence for national apostasy. The prophet's task was to convey God's unwavering justice against sin but also to offer a glimmer of hope for restoration.
Ezekiel 12 16 Word Analysis
וְהַפְּלֵיטָה (və·ha·pə·lê·ṭāh): "and the escape" or "the remnant that escapes." This word emphasizes survival, not just from immediate danger but a survival that carries a deeper significance. It’s not just a random escape, but one that God orchestrates for a purpose.
בֶּהָרִים (bə·hê·rîm): "in the mountains." This setting often signifies refuge but also a place of vulnerability and isolation. The mountains could be the remote places of refuge during times of trouble, much like seeking shelter in the wilderness.
כְּיוֹנַת־הָעֲמָקִים (kə·yō·wa·naṯ-hā·ʿă·mā·qîm): "like doves of the valleys." Doves were often seen as gentle and vulnerable creatures. Their being in the "valleys" (low, often exposed places) and "mourning" highlights their fear, distress, and vulnerability, a stark contrast to the security of their homeland. It reflects a profound sense of loss and shame.
הוֹלְכִים (hō·lə·ḵîm): "going" or "walking." This indicates a journey or a state of movement, underscoring their dispersed condition and the process of lamentation.
אִישׁ־בְּעֲוֹנוֹ (ʾîš·bə·ʿā·wō·nōw): "each in his iniquity" or "each for his iniquity." This phrase is crucial. It signifies that their suffering and scattering are directly linked to their individual sins and rebellion. The experience becomes a deeply personal reckoning.
עַל־בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל (ʿal·bêṯ-yiś·rā·ʾêl): "upon the house of Israel." This refers to the nation as a whole, emphasizing that even those who escape bear the collective consequences of national sin, and their personal iniquity contributes to the collective downfall.
שֶׁבֶר (še·ḇeṟ): "breach" or "breaking." While not directly in verse 16, the concept of "breach" from previous verses speaks to the fracturing of the covenant and national security due to sin. The escaped remnant will reflect on this.
בִּצְרִיחִי (biṣ·rî·ḥî): "in My breaches" or "in my brokenness." This is the unique Hebrew phrase "on their breach," signifying the consequence or effect of God's judgment being seen in their suffering and captivity. They will see the effect of God's action in their current distress.
Groups of Words: "mourning, every one for his iniquity" signifies personal responsibility within collective punishment. "Like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning" paints a vivid picture of pervasive sorrow and vulnerability experienced by the scattered people.
Ezekiel 12 16 Bonus Section
The imagery of "doves of the valleys" strongly echoes the vulnerability and distress of the psalmist in Psalm 77:3, where David describes his distress: "In the night I have remembered my name; I have continued my meditation, and my spirit was greatly troubled." This connection highlights the emotional and spiritual state of those who have faced God's disciplinary action. The idea that the escaped will "mourn, every one for his iniquity" is deeply rooted in the Old Testament principle of personal responsibility for sin, as seen in Leviticus 26:39 and Deuteronomy 29:18-20. This verse foreshadows the ultimate reconciliation promised in the New Covenant, where God will dwell with His people and forgive their iniquities completely, a theme beautifully articulated in Revelation 21:3-4.
Ezekiel 12 16 Commentary
This verse provides a significant prophetic insight into the future of Israel. The scattered remnant, experiencing exile and hardship, will not remain oblivious. They will bear the personal burden of their iniquity, recognizing that their suffering is a direct consequence of their transgressions against God. Their "mourning" and vulnerable state, like doves in the valleys, illustrate a genuine remorse. This period of affliction is not merely punitive; it is redemptive, leading them to an acknowledgment of God's hand in their lives. They will understand that God has intentionally turned His face from them due to their sin, but this turn will eventually lead to their return. The prophetic utterance in this verse serves as a testament to God's justice and His ultimate faithfulness to His people, even amidst severe judgment. This is a foundational promise for Israel's eventual restoration and covenant renewal.