Ezekiel 5 9

Ezekiel 5:9 kjv

And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.

Ezekiel 5:9 nkjv

And I will do among you what I have never done, and the like of which I will never do again, because of all your abominations.

Ezekiel 5:9 niv

Because of all your detestable idols, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again.

Ezekiel 5:9 esv

And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again.

Ezekiel 5:9 nlt

Because of your detestable idols, I will punish you like I have never punished anyone before or ever will again.

Ezekiel 5 verses

Ezekiel 5 9 Meaning

This verse describes a severe and comprehensive judgment upon Jerusalem and Israel due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry. The judgment is characterized by devastating consequences, with a third of the population falling to plague or famine, another third being destroyed by the sword, and the remaining third scattered to all the winds. God declares his intention to unleash his full wrath, indicating that his anger will be appeased only after this total devastation.

Ezekiel 5 9 Context

Ezekiel chapter 5 is part of a larger prophetic message delivered during the Babylonian exile of Judah. The prophet Ezekiel, exiled with his people, uses vivid and symbolic actions to convey God's impending judgment upon Jerusalem and the people of Judah who remained. This chapter follows a prophecy (chapter 4) where Ezekiel enacts the siege of Jerusalem using symbolic methods. Verse 9 encapsulates the catastrophic results of the siege and judgment that God is bringing upon the unrepentant nation. The historical context is the period leading up to and during the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The people's continued sin, particularly idolatry and defiance of God's laws, had sealed their fate. The message is polemical against the nation's persistent apostasy and the false sense of security they may have held.

Ezekiel 5 9 Word Analysis

• "And": A conjunctive particle indicating continuation and consequence.
• "it": Refers to the action described in the preceding verse concerning the sword.
• "shall": Expresses a definite future action or divine decree.
• "be": Indicates a state of being or existence.
• "a": Indefinite article.
• "desolation":
  • Hebrew: (Shomemah - שְׁמָמָה - she-maw-maw)
  • Meaning: Wasteland, emptiness, barrenness, horror.
  • Significance: Evokes a picture of a city and land rendered utterly empty and uninhabitable due to God's judgment. It reflects a state of complete ruin and destruction.
• "and": Conjunction.
• "an": Indefinite article.
• "object":
  • Hebrew: (Qelevah - קְלָלָה - qel-aw-law) - often translated as "curse" or "reproach."
  • Meaning: A source of shame, contempt, or disgrace.
  • Significance: Highlights the public humiliation and infamy that Jerusalem will suffer as a consequence of its sin.
• "of": Preposition indicating possession or relation.
• "reproach":
  • Hebrew: (Cherpah - חֶרְפָּה - kher-paw)
  • Meaning: Insult, mockery, disgrace, ignominy.
  • Significance: Reinforces the idea of public shame and mockery from surrounding nations, who will point to Judah's fate as proof of their God's inability to protect them or their covenant failure.
• "among":
  • Hebrew: (Solalav - סְלָלָו - so-law-law) - often translated as "all the ways" or "all the winds."
  • Meaning: Widely dispersed, in every direction.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the complete scattering of the people, stripped of their identity and homeland.
• "all": Adjective indicating entirety.
• "the": Definite article.
• "nations":
  • Hebrew: (Goyim - גּוֹיִם - go-yeem)
  • Meaning: Nations, peoples.
  • Significance: Refers to the Gentile nations surrounding and interacting with Israel, who will witness and comment on their downfall.
• "round":
  • Hebrew: (Sivviv - סְבִיב - sev-eev) - Here "about" or "on all sides."
  • Meaning: In the vicinity of, surrounding.
  • Significance: Further emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the judgment that encircles and overwhelms them.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "a desolation and an object of reproach": This phrase vividly portrays the outcome of God's judgment. "Desolation" (Shomemah) speaks to physical ruin, making the land and city uninhabitable. "Object of reproach" (Qelevah/Cherpah) highlights the public shame and disgrace that will fall upon the people. Together, they signify not only destruction but also the loss of honor and standing before other nations. This dual consequence serves as a stark warning and demonstration of God's justice against sin.
• "among all the nations round about": This phrase indicates the wide extent of their dispersion and shame. Being scattered "among all the nations" means they will no longer have a cohesive national identity or a place to call their own. Being "round about" emphasizes that they will be surrounded by these nations, exposed to their observations, judgments, and mockery, making their shame pervasive.

Ezekiel 5 9 Bonus Section

The concept of becoming a "desolation and a reproach" is a recurring theme in the Old Testament prophetic literature when addressing the consequences of national sin and disobedience. It emphasizes that God's judgment extends beyond mere destruction to include a lasting negative reputation among the surrounding peoples. This humiliation is a significant aspect of divine discipline, intended to shame the sinner into recognizing the severity of their sin and God's power. The scattering of the people to "all the winds" is also a critical element, symbolizing the complete loss of national coherence, governance, and place, reinforcing the completeness of their downfall. This verse, therefore, encapsulates the tragic culmination of covenant unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel 5 9 Commentary

Verse 9 pronounces a grave consequence for Jerusalem's unfaithfulness: it will become a desolation and a disgrace among all nations. This is not merely destruction, but also public humiliation. The scattering of a third of the people, as stated earlier in the chapter, leads directly to this condition. The surrounding nations will witness this fate and mockingly attribute it to their gods' power or Israel's inherent weakness, failing to recognize God's righteous judgment. This serves as a powerful testament to the reality of divine accountability for covenant breaches, particularly the idolatry and injustice that characterized Judah's spiritual state. The prophetic message underscores that God's covenant involved blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The ultimate desolation and reproach faced by Jerusalem serve as a severe but necessary lesson regarding the sanctity of God's name and the seriousness of His covenant commands.