Ezekiel 39 14

Ezekiel 39:14 kjv

And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.

Ezekiel 39:14 nkjv

"They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search.

Ezekiel 39:14 niv

People will be continually employed in cleansing the land. They will spread out across the land and, along with others, they will bury any bodies that are lying on the ground. "?'After the seven months they will carry out a more detailed search.

Ezekiel 39:14 esv

They will set apart men to travel through the land regularly and bury those travelers remaining on the face of the land, so as to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make their search.

Ezekiel 39:14 nlt

"After seven months, teams of men will be appointed to search the land for skeletons to bury, so the land will be made clean again.

Ezekiel 39 verses

Ezekiel 39 14 meaning

Ezekiel 39:14 speaks of a crucial follow-up action after God's overwhelming victory over Gog and his armies. To maintain the sanctity of the land of Israel, a special group of men will be continually appointed and sent throughout the country. Their dedicated task is to seek out and bury the numerous enemy corpses that remain scattered across the surface. This massive burial project is not merely an act of sanitation, but a profound work of cleansing and purification, restoring the defiled land to its sacred state.

Ezekiel 39 14 Context

Ezekiel 39:14 is situated within a broader prophetic section (chapters 38-39) describing a climactic future invasion of Israel by Gog of Magog and his vast coalition, followed by God's definitive, miraculous intervention. This invasion is permitted by God to showcase His power and holiness, vindicating His name before all nations and Israel. The preceding verses detail the utter destruction of Gog's army on the mountains of Israel (39:1-8) and the subsequent plunder of their weapons by Israel (39:9-10). The verse itself follows God's decree for the massive burial of the invaders in a designated valley, to cleanse the land. Verse 14 initiates the description of the long-term, systematic process required for complete purification, extending beyond the main burial to ensure no remnant of defilement remains. This aligns with Ezekiel's overarching theme of God's restoration of Israel and the establishment of a holy people in a holy land, as a pure dwelling for the Divine presence.

Ezekiel 39 14 Word analysis

• וְאִישׁ (wĕʾîš) – "And men": Refers to a group of individuals specifically chosen and designated for this critical task. The Hebrew implies a specific selection process.
• בָּֽרְרוּ֩ (bārārū) – "they will select / set apart": From the root בָּרַר (barar), meaning "to cleanse, purify, sift, choose, select." This highlights that these men are not randomly chosen, but specially appointed and set apart for the sacred work of cleansing the land. This word ties directly to the goal of purification.
• תָמִ֨יד (tāmîḏ) – "continually / constantly": Emphasizes the ongoing, relentless nature of the work. This task will require persistent effort over a prolonged period, suggesting the magnitude of the defilement.
• עֹבְרִ֣ים (ʿōvrîm) – "passing through / going through": A participle, denoting continuous action. These men will actively traverse the entire land, seeking out and addressing every source of defilement. It indicates a systematic search.
• בָּאָרֶץ֮ (bāʾāreṣ) – "in the land": Specifies the geographical scope. The entire land of Israel requires cleansing, indicating the vastness of the defilement from the invading armies.
• לְקַבֵּר֮ (lĕqabbēr) – "to bury": The primary objective of their mission. This direct action of burying is essential for removing the source of uncleanness.
• אֶת־הַחֹנְקִים֙ (ʾet-haḥōnəqîm) – "the choking ones / those who remain / obstructions": While debated, commonly understood as the numerous corpses of the invaders that "choke" or burden the land, remaining unburied from the initial mass interment. These are the scattered, hard-to-find remnants.
• אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ (ʾet-pənê hāʾāreṣ) – "on the face of the land": Refers to the surface or expanse of the land, reinforcing that no part of the territory is exempt from this thorough search and purification.
• לְטַהֲרָֽהּ (lĕṭaharāh) – "to cleanse it / to purify it": From the root טָהַר (tahar), meaning "to be clean, pure, purified." This is the ultimate purpose of the entire endeavor. It goes beyond mere physical disposal; it's a ritual and theological act to restore the land's purity in the eyes of God, making it suitable for His presence.

Word Group Analysis:

• "And men they will select continually passing through in the land": This phrase establishes a specialized, dedicated, and persistent corps responsible for a monumental purification project. It signifies God's insistence on a proactive human role in maintaining holiness, even after divine intervention. The term 'select' (בָּרַר) intrinsically links this task to a process of discernment and careful handling.
• "to bury the choking ones on the face of the land": Identifies the specific physical task. The term "choking ones" graphically conveys the oppressive presence of defilement from the vast number of unburied corpses, which prevent the land from being "clear." It's not just a few bodies, but a landscape choked with remains.
• "to cleanse it": This final, pivotal phrase states the ultimate spiritual and ritual objective. The burial is a means to an end – the ṭāhar (purification) of the land. It underscores that God's plan involves not just judgment but also a subsequent, painstaking restoration of holiness, where no impurity is tolerated in His dwelling place. This act reaffirms God's covenant with the land and His people.

Ezekiel 39 14 Bonus section

The extensive and diligent work described in Ezekiel 39:14 and subsequent verses (v.15-16), particularly the seven-month period, implies a catastrophic death toll that defies normal burial practices. This timescale resonates with the scale of divine judgment against Gog and emphasizes that God's intervention is not only decisive in battle but also comprehensive in restoring His created order. The land's purification is paramount because Israel, as God's chosen people, resides there, and God's presence, manifested in the coming temple and glorious age, demands ultimate holiness and removal of all defilement, spiritual or ritual. The specific detail of finding and marking even a single bone in v.15 showcases the unparalleled precision of this post-judgment purification effort, underscoring that absolute purity is the desired outcome. This also provides a practical outworking of the general Old Testament principles found in laws about dead bodies and land defilement (e.g., Num 19; Deu 21:23), applying them on a scale unimaginable in daily life.

Ezekiel 39 14 Commentary

Ezekiel 39:14 illustrates God's uncompromising demand for purity, not just for His people, but for the land upon which they dwell, especially following a grand act of divine judgment. After the epic defeat of Gog's forces, the land of Israel would be massively defiled by countless corpses, rendering it ritually unclean. While the primary burial is immense (v.11-13), this verse emphasizes the meticulous, ongoing work required to root out every last source of defilement.

The appointment of "men selected continually" for this task highlights several crucial points. First, it signifies the profound theological importance of purification; it's not a casual cleanup but a sacred duty. These men act almost as extensions of priestly functions, engaging in work to restore ritual purity. Second, the long duration (implied by "continually" and specified as seven months in v.12 and 15) indicates the scale of defilement and God's absolute thoroughness. No hidden bone or fragment can remain unaddressed, as even the slightest trace of dead flesh contaminates according to Old Testament law. Finally, the need for human participation, even after divine intervention, reflects the partnership God often establishes with His people in accomplishing His will. They are to be active stewards of the holy land. This cleansing ensures that the land remains a fit habitation for God's restored people and for His eventual presence among them. The act prefigures the deeper spiritual cleansing God desires for hearts and lives.