Ezekiel 6 5

Ezekiel 6:5 kjv

And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.

Ezekiel 6:5 nkjv

And I will lay the corpses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones all around your altars.

Ezekiel 6:5 niv

I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.

Ezekiel 6:5 esv

And I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.

Ezekiel 6:5 nlt

I will lay your corpses in front of your idols and scatter your bones around your altars.

Ezekiel 6 verses

Ezekiel 6 5 meaning

Ezekiel 6:5 proclaims God's decisive judgment against the idolatrous Israelites, stating that He will leave their dead bodies unburied before their idols, and their bones will be scattered extensively around their false altars. This act signifies profound desecration and humiliation, a direct confrontation and nullification of their pagan worship, demonstrating the absolute impotence of their idols to protect them in their time of judgment.

Ezekiel 6 5 Context

Ezekiel 6 opens with God instructing the prophet to turn his face towards the "mountains of Israel" and prophesy against them. These mountains represent the entire land of Israel, which had become saturated with idol worship, particularly on "high places," hills, and under every green tree (Ezek 6:3-4). The judgment declared in chapter 6 is primarily directed at this widespread idolatry, emphasizing desolation. Verse 5 intensifies this judgment, describing the abhorrent act of leaving the dead bodies of the Israelites unburied and scattering their bones around the very altars where they had sought to appease their false gods. In ancient Near Eastern culture, proper burial was extremely important, a mark of dignity and respect. To be left unburied or to have one's bones scattered was the ultimate insult, signaling divine curse and utter defeat, rendering the person nameless and without memory in their ancestral land. This act is a powerful polemic against the efficacy of the idols; their devotees lie dead and dishonored precisely at the places of their supposed power, proving the idols utterly worthless and impotent.

Ezekiel 6 5 Word analysis

• And I will lay (וְנָתַתִּ֤י, v'natati): From the verb nathan, "to give," "to place," or "to lay." The use of the first-person singular emphasizes God's direct agency and intentionality in bringing about this judgment. It is not a natural disaster, but a divine decree.

• the dead bodies (אֶת־פִּגְרֵי֙, et-pigrey): Peger (פֶּגֶר) specifically refers to decaying carcasses or unburied corpses, distinct from other words for dead people. It carries connotations of revulsion, dishonor, and the extreme fate of not receiving proper burial rites. It denotes something foul and offensive.

• of the children of Israel (בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, b'ney Yisrael): Identifies the direct recipients of this judgment as the covenant people, highlighting the severity of their betrayal through idolatry. They are punished despite, or rather because of, their privileged status.

• before their idols (נֶ֖גֶד גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֑ם, neged gilluleihem): Neged means "in front of" or "facing." Gillulim (גִּלּוּלִים) is Ezekiel's characteristic derogatory term for idols, literally meaning "dung pellets," "filthy things," or "stools." This term expresses God's utter contempt. Placing the bodies "before" their idols directly mocks the idols' supposed power and presence, exposing their impotence.

• and your bones (וְזָרִיתִי֙ אֶת־עַצְמוֹתֵיכֶ֔ם, v'zariti et-atzmoteichem): Atzmot (עַצְמוֹת) refers to skeletal remains. This imagery suggests a later stage of decay or the violent exhumation of remains. "Your" (second-person plural suffix) directly addresses the present, living generation, warning them of the coming fate.

• will I scatter (וְזָרִיתִי֙, v'zariti): From the verb zarah, "to scatter," "to disperse." It implies a violent, widespread, and indiscriminate dispersal. It intensifies the disrespect and dishonor, making sure no single spot can serve as a resting place or memorial.

• all around (סָבִ֖יב סְבִ֥יב, saviv saviv): The emphatic repetition of saviv ("around" or "surrounding") highlights the comprehensive nature of the scattering. It indicates a complete desecration of the entire sacred space dedicated to the idols. No part of the idol shrine or altar will escape this defilement.

• your altars (לְמִזְבְּחוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃, l'mizb'choteichem): Mizb'chot (מִזְבְּחוֹת) refers to altars, specifically the numerous altars the Israelites had built for pagan worship (note the plural). These places, intended by the idolaters to be holy and powerful, become the very sites of their ultimate desecration and shame.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And I will lay the dead bodies of the children of Israel before their idols": This phrase directly links the judgment to the specific sin of idolatry. God is not merely bringing death, but actively causing the most abhorrent outcome for the idolaters precisely at the location of their rebellion. It’s a divine demonstration of the idols' inability to protect their devotees.
  • "and your bones will I scatter all around your altars": This second clause intensifies the imagery of desecration, suggesting a more thorough and lasting dishonor. The scattering of bones implies utter destruction of the body and prevents any proper burial, a powerful curse in ancient Israelite thought, making their supposed holy places completely defiled.

Ezekiel 6 5 Bonus section

This verse reflects God's profound abhorrence for idolatry, which is portrayed as an ultimate affront to His exclusive sovereignty. The specific imagery of unburied corpses and scattered bones served not only as a severe judgment but also as a pedagogical tool for the surviving exiles. It graphically illustrated the consequence of spiritual unfaithfulness and aimed to dismantle any lingering affection for the false gods that had led to their destruction. This judgment echoes the concept that sin defiles the land (Num 35:33) and requires purging, emphasizing God's holiness and His demand for exclusive worship, which remains a central theme throughout Scripture for believers.

Ezekiel 6 5 Commentary

Ezekiel 6:5 delivers a potent prophecy of judgment that is both punitive and deeply symbolic. God's declaration to cast unburied Israelite corpses before their "dung-gods" and to scatter their bones around their pagan altars is a direct assault on the core of their idolatrous practice. In the ancient world, an honorable burial was crucial, guaranteeing respect in this life and the next. The lack of burial, often seen as a divine curse, meant utter disgrace and prevented the soul's rest. By allowing their bodies to decay and their bones to scatter at their idolatrous shrines, God visually exposes the utter impotence of these false deities. The very altars meant to honor the idols become places of horrific desecration, polluted by death, revealing the idols' inability to protect their worshipers and the worthlessness of their religious sites. This judgment serves as a profound object lesson in divine justice: Israel's defilement of God's holy land with idols is reciprocated by God's defilement of their pagan sanctuaries with their own dishonored dead. This demonstrates God's zealous jealousy for His honor and His uncompromising stance against sin.