Ezekiel 14 15

Ezekiel 14:15 kjv

If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

Ezekiel 14:15 nkjv

"If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts,

Ezekiel 14:15 niv

"Or if I send wild beasts through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts,

Ezekiel 14:15 esv

"If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they ravage it, and it be made desolate, so that no one may pass through because of the beasts,

Ezekiel 14:15 nlt

"Or suppose I were to send wild animals to invade the country, kill the people, and make the land too desolate and dangerous to pass through.

Ezekiel 14 verses

Ezekiel 14 15 Meaning

Ezekiel 14:15 details one of God's severe judgments upon an unrepentant land: the unleashing of wild, predatory animals. This act leads to comprehensive devastation, making the land uninhabitable and travel impossible. It signifies divine displeasure and the complete breakdown of order and safety, directly orchestrated by God as a consequence of sustained idolatry.

Ezekiel 14 15 Context

Ezekiel 14 finds the prophet confronting elders from Judah who have come to inquire of the LORD, yet harbor idols in their hearts. God, through Ezekiel, makes it clear that He will answer them according to their idolatry, signifying inescapable judgment. He then lists four severe judgments – famine, wild beasts, the sword, and plague – as means to purify the land and ensure that "even if Noah, Daniel, and Job" (righteous men known for intercession and piety) were present, they would only save themselves by their righteousness, not the land or its inhabitants. Verse 15 specifically describes the second of these four "dreadful acts," where God actively sends wild animals to render the land desolate and impassable. This underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation and the certainty of His promised consequences for unrepentance. Historically, these messages were delivered to the exiles in Babylon, combating their false hopes for Jerusalem's safety and reiterating the severe judgment coming upon Judah for its persistent apostasy. The threat of wild beasts was a real and terrifying prospect in the ancient Near East, often following war and depopulation, disrupting agriculture, and making travel perilous.

Ezekiel 14 15 Word analysis

• If I cause: Hebrew: אָבִיר (ʾā·ḇîr, "I bring," "I send"). This initial phrase asserts God's direct, personal, and active agency in sending the wild beasts. It is not a natural disaster but a divine act. This highlights God's sovereignty over creation, even over its destructive aspects.
• wild beasts: Hebrew: חַיָּה רָעָה (ḥayyah raʿah, "evil beast" or "harmful beast"). This specifies predatory, untamed, and destructive animals, distinct from domesticated animals. The term often appears in the curses of the Mosaic Covenant (e.g., Lev 26:22), indicating a judgment for covenant disobedience. It represents a reversal of God's original creation order where humans had dominion.
• to pass through the land: Hebrew: עָבַר בָּאָרֶץ (ʿā·ḇar bā·ʾā·reṣ). "To pass through" signifies their unrestricted movement, overrunning and dominating the territory. "The land" refers specifically to the land of Israel, Judah, that is the subject of God's judgment.
• and they devastate it: Hebrew: וְשִׁכְּלַתָּהּ (wə·šik·kə·lat·tāh, from שָׁכַל shakhal "to bereave," "to make childless," "to destroy"). This is a powerful word indicating not just physical damage but also the killing and depopulation of the land. It implies the loss of life, specifically children, creating desolation and emptiness, and leading to societal collapse.
• so that it becomes a desolation: Hebrew: וְהָיְתָה שְׁמָמָה (wə·hā·yə·tāh šə·mā·māh, "and it shall be a desolation"). Shmāmāh is a strong prophetic term for utter barrenness, emptiness, and ruin. It refers to a land left without inhabitants or cultivation, often due to divine judgment.
• with no one passing through: Hebrew: מִבְּלִי עוֹבֵר (mib·bə·lî ʿō·wêr, "from without passer"). This emphasizes complete abandonment and the extreme danger. The roads, which should facilitate commerce and community, become unsafe, signaling the total breakdown of order and fear preventing any movement.
• because of the beasts: Hebrew: מִפְּנֵי הַחַיָּה (mip·pə·nê ha·ḥay·yāh, "because of the face/presence of the beasts"). This phrase directly identifies the cause of the land's uninhabitability. The pervasive threat of the wild animals is so great that it entirely deters human presence and activity, demonstrating the success of God's judgment.

• "If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land": This phrase directly states God's instrumental role in the judgment. It's not happenstance; God commands the very creatures He created to execute His will, reversing humanity's dominion over creation (Gen 1:28). This divine initiative shows the active nature of judgment, designed to bring a sinful nation to acknowledge God's sovereignty.
• "and they devastate it, so that it becomes a desolation": This sequence describes the progression and severe outcome of the judgment. The actions of the wild beasts lead to extreme depopulation and utter emptiness, transforming a once thriving land into a desolate wilderness. This consequence often reflects the spiritual barrenness of a people who have forsaken God.
• "with no one passing through because of the beasts": This part illustrates the profound societal impact. Fear dominates, and all normal activity ceases. It implies a total lack of safety and a complete disruption of economic and social life, sealing the land's fate as uninhabited and ruined.

Ezekiel 14 15 Bonus section

• This specific judgment by "wild beasts" echoes curses found in the Mosaic Covenant (Lev 26:22, Deut 32:24), confirming God's faithfulness to His covenant, both in blessing and judgment. The prophet highlights that God is fulfilling what was warned long ago.
• The concept of wild animals overrunning the land is a graphic illustration of lost shalom—a complete absence of peace, order, and well-being. It signifies that the covenant relationship, which promises protection, has been broken, exposing the people to chaos and danger.
• This verse forms part of God's "four severe judgments" (along with famine, sword, and plague) mentioned in Ezekiel (Ezek 5:17, 14:21). This series demonstrates God's comprehensive and inescapable means of bringing His will to pass upon a defiant land.

Ezekiel 14 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 14:15 powerfully illustrates God's judicial use of creation to enact judgment upon a people entrenched in idolatry. The unleashing of "wild beasts" is not a random affliction but a direct divine act, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty even over the destructive elements of nature. This judgment systematically reverses the divine order, as humanity, originally tasked with subduing creation, becomes terrorized and displaced by it. The outcome is not merely hardship, but total "desolation," a barrenness reflecting the spiritual emptiness caused by abandoning God. The land becomes impassable, signifying a profound loss of peace, security, and human community, a clear consequence of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. It serves as a stark reminder of God's justice and the severe consequences of defying His authority.