Ezekiel 5:5 kjv
Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
Ezekiel 5:5 nkjv
"Thus says the Lord GOD: 'This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her.
Ezekiel 5:5 niv
"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.
Ezekiel 5:5 esv
"Thus says the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.
Ezekiel 5:5 nlt
"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This is an illustration of what will happen to Jerusalem. I placed her at the center of the nations,
Ezekiel 5 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 5:5 | "This is Jerusalem. I have set her at the center of the nations, with countries all around her." | Ezekiel 5:5 |
| Psa 48:2 | "Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the north side; the city of the great King." | Zion's beauty and centrality |
| Isa 2:2 | "It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD Shall be established as the highest of the mountains, And shall be lifted above the hills; All nations shall flow to it." | Future centrality of Zion |
| Jer 3:17 | "At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the name of the LORD in Jerusalem..." | Jerusalem as throne |
| Zech 8:3 | "Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, And Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of Hosts, The Holy Mountain.’" | Jerusalem as Holy City |
| Rev 21:10-14 | Describes the New Jerusalem, emphasizing its central and glorious placement. | Heavenly city's placement |
| Deut 4:5-6 | God giving laws through Israel, making them examples to nations. | Israel as a witness nation |
| Psa 132:13-14 | The LORD has chosen Zion and desired it for His habitation. | God's chosen dwelling place |
| Micah 4:1-3 | Nations to flow to Mount Zion for instruction and peace. | Universal spiritual pilgrimage |
| Acts 2:5 | Pentecost, with devout Jews from every nation under heaven in Jerusalem. | Jerusalem as a focal point |
| Gal 3:28 | In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek. | Unity transcending nationality |
| Heb 12:22-24 | Coming to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. | Heavenly Jerusalem's reality |
| Psa 76:2 | "In Salem also is His tabernacle, And His dwelling place in Zion." | God's dwelling in Zion |
| Isa 14:32 | Who will answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion... | Zion founded by the LORD |
| Joel 3:17 | "So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain..." | God dwelling in Zion |
| Zech 14:10-11 | Jerusalem shall be inhabited and never again devoted to destruction. | Jerusalem's permanence |
| Luke 24:47 | Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning with Jerusalem. | Jerusalem as a starting point |
| Acts 1:8 | You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. | Jerusalem as mission base |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | Examples given for instruction, ending points of the ages. | Typological significance |
| Eph 2:11-22 | Gentiles are fellow heirs with Jews in Christ, making one new humanity. | Unity in the church |
| Col 1:27 | Christ in you, the hope of glory. | Christ's indwelling |
Ezekiel 5 verses
Ezekiel 5 5 Meaning
This verse declares Jerusalem's central and divine positioning among the nations. It signifies Jerusalem as God's capital, from which He has established His authority and judgment. The verse emphasizes that Jerusalem's location is not accidental but divinely ordained.
Ezekiel 5 5 Context
Ezekiel 5 is a chapter filled with graphic imagery and judgment directed at Jerusalem and its inhabitants. The prophet is instructed to enact a severe symbolic act of judgment. He is to take a razor and shave his head and beard, representing the complete destruction and scattering of the people. The hair is then divided into three parts: burned in the fire, struck with a sword, and scattered by the wind. This division symbolizes the different forms of judgment awaiting the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The verse in question acts as a foundational statement for this prophetic judgment, establishing Jerusalem's unique and central position before God pronounces the devastating consequences of their sin upon it.
Historically, this prophecy was delivered during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. The people of Judah had repeatedly turned away from God, embracing idolatry and injustice, despite repeated warnings from God through His prophets. God, being holy and just, could not overlook their rebellion, and severe judgment was inevitable. The imagery in this chapter vividly portrays the complete destruction and exile that was soon to befall the city and its people.
Ezekiel 5 5 Word Analysis
- “This” (זֹאת - zot): A demonstrative pronoun, emphatically pointing to Jerusalem.
- “is” (הִיא - hi): The third person feminine singular of the verb "to be."
- “Jerusalem” (יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם - yerūšālaim): The name of the city, significant as the religious and political capital of Israel. The plural form likely refers to its two hills or its inhabitants.
- “I” (אֲנִי - anî): God, the speaker, emphasizing His direct involvement and decree.
- “have set” (נָתַתִּי - nātattî): Perfect tense, indicating a past completed action, implying God's established order and design.
- “her”: Referring to Jerusalem.
- “in the midst” (בְּקֶרֶב - beqereḇ): Denotes a central, innermost, or surrounded position.
- “of the nations” (הַגּוֹיִם - haggôyim): Refers to the Gentile nations, emphasizing Jerusalem's unique global standing.
- “with countries” (בָּאָרֶץ - bā’āreṣ): This phrase, when taken with "around her," reinforces the idea of encircling lands and peoples. The word 'āreṣ can mean land or earth.
Word-group analysis:
- "I have set her in the midst of the nations": This is a statement of divine ordination. God sovereignly placed Jerusalem geographically and theologically at the center of the world as He viewed it. This centrality implies a special purpose and responsibility for Jerusalem, serving as the conduit of God's presence and will to the surrounding world.
Ezekiel 5 5 Bonus Section
The phrase "midst of the nations" (בְּקֶרֶב הַגּוֹיִם - beqereḇ haggôyim) suggests more than just geographical location; it points to Jerusalem as a spiritual and prophetic nexus. It was meant to be a light and witness to the surrounding peoples, demonstrating God's power and covenant faithfulness. When Jerusalem failed in this, God's judgment was enacted in a way that would also be observed by the nations, thereby establishing God's sovereignty over them as well. This concept echoes the New Testament theme of the Church becoming the "city set on a hill" and a "light to the world."
Ezekiel 5 5 Commentary
Ezekiel 5:5 highlights Jerusalem's divinely appointed position as the heart of God's plan for the world. It was the place where God's name was called, His tabernacle was pitched, and His presence dwelled. This unique status made Jerusalem the spiritual focal point for all nations. However, this privilege also brought a heightened accountability. Because Jerusalem was central to God's purpose, its rebellion and sin had far-reaching implications and necessitated a severe, public judgment to vindicate God's holiness before all peoples. The verse serves as a poignant reminder that God's election and purpose for a people or place come with profound responsibility and consequence.