Ezekiel 23 24

Ezekiel 23:24 kjv

And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.

Ezekiel 23:24 nkjv

And they shall come against you With chariots, wagons, and war-horses, With a horde of people. They shall array against you Buckler, shield, and helmet all around. 'I will delegate judgment to them, And they shall judge you according to their judgments.

Ezekiel 23:24 niv

They will come against you with weapons, chariots and wagons and with a throng of people; they will take up positions against you on every side with large and small shields and with helmets. I will turn you over to them for punishment, and they will punish you according to their standards.

Ezekiel 23:24 esv

And they shall come against you from the north with chariots and wagons and a host of peoples. They shall set themselves against you on every side with buckler, shield, and helmet; and I will commit the judgment to them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments.

Ezekiel 23:24 nlt

They will all come against you from the north with chariots, wagons, and a great army prepared for attack. They will take up positions on every side, surrounding you with men armed with shields and helmets. And I will hand you over to them for punishment so they can do with you as they please.

Ezekiel 23 verses

Ezekiel 23 24 Meaning

Ezekiel 23:24 describes the terrifying military assault coming against Oholibah (Jerusalem), an instrument of God's divine judgment. It details the formidable forces of her former lovers (the Babylonians and their allies) advancing with overwhelming military might—chariots, supply wagons, and countless wheels of war. This vast multi-ethnic army, equipped with bucklers, shields, and helmets, will surround and oppress her. The verse emphatically states that God Himself will orchestrate this "judgment," causing these nations to condemn and punish Jerusalem according to their own decrees and customs, which align with God's righteous verdict against her spiritual harlotry and idolatry.

Ezekiel 23 24 Context

Ezekiel chapter 23 continues the allegory introduced earlier in the book, likening Israel and Judah to two sisters, Oholah (Samaria, representing the Northern Kingdom) and Oholibah (Jerusalem, representing the Southern Kingdom of Judah). Both sisters prostituted themselves spiritually by engaging in idolatry and forming illicit political and religious alliances with foreign powers, rather than trusting in God.

Verse 24 is part of God's pronouncement of judgment specifically against Oholibah (Jerusalem) for her greater apostasy, learning nothing from her sister's fate. After describing her insatiable lust for various nations—Assyrians, Chaldeans, Egyptians—the prophecy shifts to describe how these very "lovers" would become her destroyers. The preceding verses (22-23) explain that God will stir up these nations against her. Verse 24 details the overwhelming military might and the divine mandate behind their invasion.

Historically, Ezekiel was a prophet in exile in Babylon during the siege and eventual destruction of Jerusalem (586 BC) by Nebuchadnezzar. The passage reflects the real-world political and military dynamics of the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC, where Judah desperately sought alliances with various empires to avoid the fate of the Northern Kingdom. This verse, therefore, directly addresses the impending, or ongoing, calamitous invasion by the Babylonian coalition, exposing the folly of trusting human power over divine faithfulness. It stands as a polemic against the contemporary belief that political alliances offered true security, instead demonstrating that they were a snare orchestrated by God for judgment.

Ezekiel 23 24 Word analysis

• And they shall come against thee: Signifies the active and aggressive intent of the attacking nations. The Hebrew, ve'ba'u 'alekh, conveys a deliberate movement directed at Oholibah.
• with chariots (רֶכֶב, rekhev): Hebrew for a war vehicle, symbolizing speed, mobility, and military power. This denotes the advanced, swift element of the enemy army, capable of overwhelming the defense. Often a key component of powerful ancient armies.
• wagons (עֲגָלוֹת, agalât): Refers to heavy transport carts, indicating not just an assault force, but an entire invading host complete with logistics for prolonged warfare or carrying plunder. This implies the total commitment and full resources of the attacking armies.
• and wheels (גַּלְגַּל, galgal): This term, also meaning "rolling things" or even "whirlwind" in some contexts, when coupled with chariots and wagons, amplifies the sense of an overwhelming, massive, and ceaseless movement. It might even suggest the general multitude of wheeled equipment, further emphasizing the size and relentless nature of the military force. The specific enumeration highlights the advanced military technology and logistical strength.
• and with an assembly of people (קָהָל עַמִּים, qahal ‘amim): Literally, a "congregation/assembly of peoples." This highlights the multi-national character of the Babylonian army, which included various subject nations and allies. It underscores the vast number of combatants and implies a universal condemnation.
• which shall set against thee buckler (מָגֵן, magen) and shield (צִנָּה, tsinnah) and helmet (קוֹבַע, qov‘a) round about (סָבִיב, saviv): These terms specify protective military gear. The buckler (small, light shield) and shield (large, heavy shield) together depict full defensive readiness and heavy infantry. The helmet for head protection indicates a fully equipped and professional fighting force. "Round about" emphasizes a complete encirclement, showing that there will be no escape. The enemies are not an unorganized mob, but a disciplined, well-prepared army.
• and I will set judgment before them (וְנָתַתִּי מִשְׁפָּט לִפְנֵיהֶם, v'natati mishpat lifneihem): A pivotal declaration of divine sovereignty. "I will give/put judgment" signifies God's direct orchestration. He is not merely observing but actively placing the framework of judgment. Mishpat here means legal process, verdict, or divine decree. This shows the judgment is ultimately from God.
• and they shall judge thee (וְשָׁפְטוּךְ, v'shaftuk): Refers to the nations actively passing sentence and executing the punishment. This portrays the attackers as executioners, performing a legal function under divine mandate.
• according to their judgments (בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶם, b'mishpeteihem): This is a critical nuance. It suggests a confluence of human and divine will. The enemies will judge Oholibah by their legal customs or barbaric practices, which might include cruel methods of dealing with "adulteresses" or defeated foes. However, their actions, though seemingly their own, will precisely fulfill God's righteous mishpat (justice) against Jerusalem's sins. This is retributive justice, where the form of punishment mirrors the crime or the character of the judge.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels": This phrase paints a picture of an utterly overwhelming and technologically advanced military invasion. It signifies total war, not a minor skirmish, with emphasis on swiftness, massive logistical support, and a complete siege apparatus.
• "and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about": This depicts the sheer numerical force and disciplined nature of the invading army. It highlights the enemy's readiness, full armament, and their intention to completely surround and besiege Oholibah, ensuring no escape.
• "and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments": This key segment underlines God's ultimate sovereignty. He is the prime mover behind the human instruments. The nations act, but God ordains. "According to their judgments" points to a horrific irony: the "justice" of brutal, idolatrous nations will become the vehicle for God's righteous retribution, mirroring Jerusalem's own sinful ways and associations.

Ezekiel 23 24 Bonus section

The highly graphic and intense language in Ezekiel 23, including the description of the military assault in verse 24, is characteristic of Ezekiel's prophetic style, which often uses vivid imagery to convey the severity of God's wrath and the profound nature of Israel's spiritual sin. The detailed mention of specific military equipment serves not just for verisimilitude but also to convey the inescapable and total nature of the destruction. Furthermore, the notion of God "setting judgment" and nations judging "according to their judgments" previews a theme seen later in eschatological prophecies, where gentile nations, often unwittingly, play a role in fulfilling divine purposes and judgments on a global scale (e.g., in Revelation concerning "Babylon the Great"). The focus on external nations as agents of divine will serves as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty over all creation, even over the actions of pagan empires.

Ezekiel 23 24 Commentary

Ezekiel 23:24 is a stark declaration of God's ineluctable judgment against Jerusalem's spiritual apostasy. The verse transforms what would otherwise be a mere military forecast into a profound theological statement. The detailed enumeration of chariots, wagons, and wheels not only depicts a terrifyingly potent and vast army but also underscores the complete inadequacy of Jerusalem's defenses and her false sense of security in human alliances. The presence of bucklers, shields, and helmets speaks to a disciplined and fully equipped force, suggesting that the invaders are not an anarchic mob but instruments of a higher order.

Crucially, the declaration "and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments" highlights the divine orchestrator behind the human conflict. God is not a passive observer but the active mover of history. He delivers Jerusalem into the hands of her former "lovers," empowering them to become her executioners. The phrase "according to their judgments" is particularly poignant, as it suggests a twofold layer of justice: the invaders will administer their own ruthless, culturally accepted forms of punishment (perhaps even mirroring how they treated others who "betrayed" them), yet these actions will perfectly align with God's righteous condemnation of Jerusalem's spiritual harlotry. This illustrates God's perfect justice, often manifesting as lex talionis – retribution where the punishment fits the crime, delivered by the very means one chose to transgress. It’s a sobering reminder that turning from God invites not just consequences, but a form of justice that reflects one's own sin.