Ezekiel 6 13

Ezekiel 6:13 kjv

Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.

Ezekiel 6:13 nkjv

Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain are among their idols all around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, wherever they offered sweet incense to all their idols.

Ezekiel 6:13 niv

And they will know that I am the LORD, when their people lie slain among their idols around their altars, on every high hill and on all the mountaintops, under every spreading tree and every leafy oak?places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols.

Ezekiel 6:13 esv

And you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols.

Ezekiel 6:13 nlt

They will know that I am the LORD when their dead lie scattered among their idols and altars on every hill and mountain and under every green tree and every great shade tree ? the places where they offered sacrifices to their idols.

Ezekiel 6 verses

Ezekiel 6 13 meaning

Ezekiel 6:13 reveals the sovereign Lord God’s ultimate purpose in His judgment: to demonstrate His exclusive identity and power over all false gods. The horrific scene of the slaughtered idolaters, lying amidst their detestable idols at their polluted altars on every illicit place of worship (high hills, mountains, green trees, and thick oaks), will serve as a stark, undeniable, and experiential proof that Yahweh alone is God. The very locations where Israel provoked God through idolatry become the undeniable theaters of His retributive justice.

Ezekiel 6 13 Context

Ezekiel chapter 6 opens with God’s explicit word to Ezekiel, declaring impending judgment upon the "mountains of Israel." These geographical features, revered by pagan cults and corrupted by Israel for idolatry, symbolized the very heart of the nation’s spiritual rebellion. The prophecy is delivered to the exiles in Babylon, but its message targets those remaining in Judah who continued to engage in egregious idolatry despite previous warnings and partial judgments. The Lord details the widespread destruction of cultic sites, idols, and the idolaters themselves, leading to a landscape littered with corpses. The primary aim of this judgment, as reiterated multiple times in the chapter, is for Israel to "know that I am the Lord," a foundational revelation often lost during periods of apostasy. Historically, Israel had adopted many Canaanite practices, including worship on "high places," fertility cults, and even child sacrifice, directly violating the Mosaic covenant. Ezekiel's prophecy is a polemic against the syncretistic practices of Israel, highlighting the absolute futility of their idols and the inescapable reality of Yahweh's singular authority and power.

Ezekiel 6 13 Word analysis

• And you shall know (וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗ם - viy·da'·tem): This Hebrew term, yada', signifies a deep, experiential, and intimate knowing, not merely intellectual assent. It means to grasp something profoundly through experience, in this case, the devastating reality of God's power. It implies recognition and acknowledgement born from an undeniable demonstration.
• that I am the Lord (כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה - kiy 'ani Yahweh): This is a crucial self-revelation formula throughout the Old Testament. Yahweh (יְהוָה) is God's covenant name, signifying His eternal, self-existent, and faithful nature. The phrase asserts His singular sovereignty, uniqueness, and control over all creation and history, directly contrasting with the powerless idols.
• when their slain men (בַּחֲלָלָ֔ם - ba·ḥa·la·lam): Halal refers to someone pierced or profaned, often implying a violent or bloody death, usually in battle. Here, it refers to those killed in God's judgment, specifically those involved in idolatry. Their "profaned" or "slain" status reflects both the manner of their death and the defilement they brought upon themselves and the land through their sin.
• shall be among their idols (לִפְנֵי֙ גִּלּ֣וּלֵיהֶ֔ם - lip̄·ney gil·lu·ley·hem): To be "among" or "before" their idols suggests their corpses will be left desecrating the very objects they worshiped, illustrating the ultimate impotence of these gods. The Hebrew term gillulim (גִּלּוּלִים) is a pejorative and derisive word for idols, literally meaning "dung pellets" or "feces," emphasizing their absolute worthlessness and offensive nature in God's sight.
• round about their altars (סְבִיב֤וֹת מִזְבְּחֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ - s-vî·vōṯ miz·bᵉ·ḥō·ṯê·hem): Signifies the comprehensive judgment encompassing all sites of pagan worship. "Altars" (מִזְבְּחוֹת - mizbechot) were the focal points of sacrifice, whether legitimate or idolatrous. Here, it highlights the irony of those who made sacrifices being themselves sacrificed on or near their own altars.
• upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains (עַ֣ל כָּל־גִּבְעָ֗ה רָמָה֙ וְאֶל־כָּל־רָאשֵׁ֣י הֶהָרִ֔ים - ‘al kol-giyḇaah ra·mah w-el kol-ra’šê he·hā·rîm): These were archetypal sites for Canaanite and Israelite syncretistic worship, believed to bring worshipers closer to deities. These natural, elevated places were seen as powerful spiritual loci by pagans. God’s judgment targets these very symbolic locations.
• and under every green tree, and under every thick oak (וְתַ֣חַת כָּל־עֵ֤ץ רַֽעֲנָן֙ וְתַ֣חַת כָּל־אֵלָ֣ה עֲבֻכָ֔ה - wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ kol-ʿêṣ ra‘·na·nān wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ kol-’ê·lāh ‘ă·ḇuk·kāh): "Green tree" (עֵץ רַעֲנָן - 'etz ra'anan) and "thick oak" (אֵלָה עֲבֻכָה - elah avukkah) were also prominent pagan worship sites, associated with fertility cults and seen as sacred groves. Their lushness was ironically linked to the "sweet savor" offerings, further emphasizing the pervasiveness of the idolatry across natural landscapes.
• the place where they did offer sweet savour (מְקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתְנֽוּ־שָׁ֔ם רֵ֥יחַ נִיח֖וֹחַ - mə·qōm ’ă·šer nāṯ·nū-šām rê·aḥ nî·ḥō·aḥ): The term "sweet savour" (רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ - reyach nichoach) typically refers to an acceptable and pleasing aroma rising from sacrifices offered to Yahweh (e.g., in Noah's sacrifice, Gen 8:21, or various Levitical offerings). Its application here to idolatrous offerings is highly ironic and sarcastic. It underscores that what was intended for true worship was perversely offered to lifeless idols, incurring divine wrath rather than favor.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And you shall know that I am the Lord": This is the divine declaration of self-revelation through judgment. The experiential knowledge of God's sovereign identity is the ultimate outcome of His judicial acts, highlighting the redemptive aspect even within the judgment.
• "when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars": This powerful imagery depicts utter defilement and futility. The places of illicit worship, where false hopes were invested, become mass graves, revealing the absolute powerlessness of the idols to save their worshipers or prevent desecration.
• "upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak": This extensive list emphatically points to the widespread nature of Israel's idolatry, demonstrating its pervasiveness across the entire landscape. It symbolizes total corruption of the land and a complete breach of the covenant, leaving no corner untouched by apostasy.
• "the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols": The bitter irony of using "sweet savour" to describe offerings to gillulim ("dung pellets") accentuates the deep offense and mockery involved in Israel's syncretistic worship. It contrasts sharply with God’s own prescribed worship, showing how they perverted sacred language and practice for abomination.

Ezekiel 6 13 Bonus section

The repetitive phrase "you shall know that I am the Lord" found eight times in Ezekiel 6, and over 60 times throughout the book, acts as a theological refrain. It reveals the core purpose behind God's acts of judgment and restoration. The phrase serves as a divine education, transforming merely intellectual acquaintance with God into an experiential conviction of His absolute sovereignty. This knowing is not just for the exiles or those left in Jerusalem but also for the surrounding nations, showcasing Yahweh's glory universally. Furthermore, the systematic cataloging of pagan worship sites in this verse—high hill, mountain tops, green trees, thick oaks—presents an inventory of everything that diverted Israel's worship from the true God. This total defilement of the land demanded a comprehensive and visible purge to restore a right understanding of God's holiness and exclusive claim on His people.

Ezekiel 6 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 6:13 succinctly captures the Lord's judicial response to Israel's rampant idolatry, delivering a powerful lesson through the devastating consequences of sin. The verse highlights an inescapable divine truth: the revelation of Yahweh's unique identity as the one true God is paramount, even if it comes through harsh judgment. The graphic depiction of the slain worshipers interred among their detestable idols at their polluted shrines underscores the absolute impotence of false gods and the utter futility of seeking solace or blessing from them. God systematically targets every type of location associated with pagan worship—the high places, mountain tops, green trees, and thick oaks—to demonstrate His total supremacy over the land and its defilers. The use of "sweet savour" in describing idolatrous offerings is a scathing indictment, ridiculing their perversion of sacred rites. This judgment serves as a purifying act, clearing the land of its defilement and ensuring that those who survive will undeniably comprehend the singular majesty of the God of Israel. Ultimately, it’s a promise that through tribulation, God will be recognized for who He truly is.