Ezekiel 15 7

Ezekiel 15:7 kjv

And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

Ezekiel 15:7 nkjv

and I will set My face against them. They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them.

Ezekiel 15:7 niv

I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 15:7 esv

And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

Ezekiel 15:7 nlt

And I will see to it that if they escape from one fire, they will fall into another. When I turn against them, you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 15 verses

Ezekiel 15 7 Meaning

Ezekiel 15:7 declares God's resolute and active opposition against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, symbolized as a useless vine. Having already experienced partial judgments, likened to branches being salvaged from one fire, they are destined for complete destruction by another, final "fire." This irreversible judgment serves to manifest God's undeniable sovereignty and justice, ensuring that both Israel and surrounding nations will truly "know that I am the LORD." The verse underscores their inherent worthlessness due to unfaithfulness, justifying their utter annihilation as an unfruitful vine.

Ezekiel 15 7 Context

Ezekiel chapter 15 presents a stark and highly unfavorable metaphor for Jerusalem/Judah: a worthless vine. Unlike earlier prophetic images where Israel is a cherished vineyard (Isa 5, Ps 80), here it is simply the "wood of the vine." This imagery immediately establishes their reduced status and inherent lack of worth beyond any utility. Vine wood, known to be soft, crooked, and useless for construction, is suitable only as fuel, and even as fuel, it burns quickly and inefficiently. The context of Ezekiel's prophecy is the Babylonian exile, prior to Jerusalem's final destruction in 586 BC. The verse builds on the preceding verses' emphasis on the vine's worthlessness, even before it is partly burned. It communicates that previous calamities or the act of cutting the vine (perhaps earlier deportations or sieges) did not purge their corruption or render them useful, but merely set the stage for total consumption. It directly challenges the false security of those who believed their status as God's chosen people or the presence of the Temple guaranteed immunity from full judgment.

Ezekiel 15 7 Word analysis

• And I will set my face against them.

  • "And I will set my face": (וְנָתַתִּ֥י פָנַ֖י v'natattiy panay) This is a powerful anthropomorphism and an idiomatic expression across the Hebrew Bible, signifying God's direct, resolute, and unwavering opposition. It moves beyond passive observation to active, personal, and decisive engagement in judgment. Its antithesis is God turning His face to someone for blessing (Num 6:25). When against, it implies an irreversible determination for wrath and destruction, a complete focus of divine displeasure.
  • "against them": (בָּהֶ֑ם bahem) Refers explicitly to the inhabitants of Jerusalem/Judah, who are depicted as the unfruitful vine in the preceding verses. The pronoun signifies the direct and inescapable target of divine judgment.

• They shall go out from the fire, and the fire shall consume them.

  • "They shall go out from the fire": (מֵהָאֵשׁ יָצָ֥אוּ m'ha'esh yetze'u) Suggests they have already been subjected to a previous phase of judgment or affliction, symbolized by fire (e.g., initial sieges, earlier deportations, or periods of hardship). Yet, surviving that partial burning did not purify or preserve them, but rather exposed their enduring worthlessness. This initial "fire" does not save them but primes them for further judgment.
  • "and the fire shall consume them": (וְהָאֵשׁ תְּאׇכְלֵ֑ם v'ha'esh t'oklem) This signifies the ultimate, complete, and unsparing destruction. The same element (fire) that they supposedly "went out from" is the very force that will now fully devour them. This points to the absolute nature of the coming judgment, leaving nothing behind of worth. Akal (אָכַל - consume, eat) underscores the completeness of this fiery judgment, leaving no survivors who retain identity or purpose.

• And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

  • "And you shall know that I am the LORD": (וִידַעְתֶּ֥ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה v'yda'tem kiy-aniy YHWH) This is a recurring "recognition formula" throughout Ezekiel. It's not a mere intellectual acknowledgment, but a deep, experiential, and often painful realization of God's unique identity, sovereignty, power, and justice. This knowing will come through the events of judgment. It highlights God's ultimate purpose in revealing His character through these severe actions, to both His people and the watching nations.
  • "when I set my face against them": (בְּשׂוּם פָּנַ֥י בָּהֶֽם b'shum panay bahem) This phrase functions as an inclusio with the opening statement, repeating the pivotal action of God's determined opposition. This repetition emphasizes that God's resolute will and action are the precise means by which His nature as LORD (YHWH) will be undeniably revealed through judgment. The initial declaration finds its culmination and explanatory power in this final reiteration, tying the "knowing" directly to God's act of setting His face.

Ezekiel 15 7 Bonus section

The concept of "fire" in this verse holds a dual symbolic weight. While primarily signifying destructive judgment, it also carries the connotation of a test or refinement in some biblical contexts (Zech 13:9, 1 Pet 1:7). However, within Ezekiel 15, the narrative of the worthless vine ensures the fire is purely for destruction; it clarifies that for Judah in their present state, no refinement or valuable outcome is possible, only utter consumption due to their complete corruption and spiritual unfruitfulness. The deliberate repetition of "set My face against them" acts as a rhetorical device called an inclusio, framing the central message of judgment and making God's direct and unwavering intent unmistakable, thus reinforcing the certainty and source of the destruction and the resulting knowledge of His identity. This verse starkly contrasts the benevolent shepherd of Israel imagery, instead presenting a consuming judge who rejects a people for having produced nothing worthy.

Ezekiel 15 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 15:7 presents God's unwavering resolve to judge unfaithful Judah, vividly portrayed as a vine of no value beyond being fuel for fire. This divine opposition, expressed as God setting His face "against them," signifies a direct and personal intervention of judgment. Even if parts of this "vine" had survived previous trials ("gone out from the fire"), this does not signify salvation or purification, but rather highlights their continued uselessness, preparing them for complete incineration by the very fire they barely escaped. The purpose of this ultimate destruction is to validate God's sovereignty; the people, through the pain of judgment, and the surrounding nations, through observation, will be forced to acknowledge that He is the LORD, the covenant-keeping, righteous, and supreme God. This chapter serves as a stark warning against spiritual unfruitfulness and false security, demonstrating that privileges (like being God's chosen vine) incur greater responsibility and lead to more severe consequences when neglected.