Ezekiel 6 9

Ezekiel 6:9 kjv

And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

Ezekiel 6:9 nkjv

Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations.

Ezekiel 6:9 niv

Then in the nations where they have been carried captive, those who escape will remember me?how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their detestable practices.

Ezekiel 6:9 esv

then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations.

Ezekiel 6:9 nlt

Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins.

Ezekiel 6 verses

Ezekiel 6 9 meaning

Ezekiel 6:9 declares that the remnant of Israel, after enduring the discipline of exile among foreign nations, will experience a profound spiritual awakening. In their captivity, they will remember God, recognizing the sorrow and righteous judgment ("how I was crushed") that resulted from their spiritual harlotry – their disloyal hearts and eyes that relentlessly lusted after idols. This realization will lead them to a deep, visceral self-loathing for the wickedness and detestable practices they committed, prompting genuine repentance.

Ezekiel 6 9 Context

Ezekiel chapter 6 is a powerful prophetic declaration of impending judgment upon the land and people of Israel due to their pervasive and persistent idolatry. Addressing "the mountains of Israel," God systematically pronounces judgment against their high places, altars, and idol shrines where detestable practices flourished. The primary sin being condemned is their worship of "dung-gods" (gillulim), contrasting with God's desire for singular devotion. This judgment, described as an ultimate end, aims to force them to "know that I am the LORD" (Ezek 6:7, 10). Verse 9, however, pivots to God's redemptive purpose: while a vast number will perish, a remnant will escape the utter destruction. This remnant will experience the full consequence of their sin through exile. It is within this painful context of dispersion and hardship that a true spiritual transformation—marked by remembering God, understanding His grief, and self-loathing for sin—is prophesied to occur. The chapter thus illustrates both God's severe justice and His unwavering, long-term covenantal aim for His people's repentance and restoration.

Ezekiel 6 9 Word analysis

• Then those of you who escape (וְנִפְלְט֥וּ): The Hebrew vənippəleṭu means "and they will escape" or "those who are delivered/rescued." This refers to a remnant (שארית, she'erith, implied from v. 8), indicating God's mercy despite widespread judgment. It highlights divine preservation and election amidst severe discipline, a recurring theme in the prophets (e.g., Isa 10:21-22).
• will remember Me (זָכְר֣וּ אֹתִ֗י): Zākərû ’ōtî. To "remember" (זָכַר, zachar) in biblical thought is not merely intellectual recall, but involves active acknowledgment, heartfelt devotion, and turning towards the object remembered. For Israel, it implies recalling their covenant relationship with God and the divine laws they had forsaken (Deut 8:18; Pss 106:13).
• among the nations where they are carried captive (בַּגּוֹיִ֕ם אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבּ֖וּ שָׁ֑ם): Bannāğôyim ’ăšer-nišbû šām. The exile itself, a state of national humiliation and deprivation, becomes the setting for this remembrance. The suffering among the gentile nations serves as the painful catalyst for repentance, fulfilling earlier warnings of dispersion as punishment (Lev 26:33; Deut 28:64).
• how I was crushed (אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁבַּ֨רְתִּי): ’ăšer nišbartî. This phrase is pivotal. The Hebrew shabar (שׁבר) literally means "to break," "to shatter," or "to crush." In this divine passive voice, "I was crushed/broken," it conveys God's profound grief, indignation, or anger at His people's unfaithfulness. It speaks of the profound emotional pain inflicted upon God's heart by their betrayal, rather than any literal physical weakness. Some interpretations lean towards God's Spirit being broken/grieved, or even God breaking their stubbornness as part of judgment. It underscores God's personal involvement and deep impact their sin had on the covenant relationship.
• by their lewd hearts (מִלֵּבָם֙ הַזּוֹנֶ֔ה): millēbābām hazzōneh. "Heart" (לֵב, lev) is the inner core of a person – their will, intellect, and emotion. "Lewd" or "harlot" (zonah) signifies spiritual unfaithfulness, as Israel committed idolatry (prostitution) against her covenant Husband, God (Jer 3:6-9; Hos 2:5). It highlights that the root of their apostasy was an internal moral corruption, a willful turning away.
• which departed from Me (אֲשֶׁר־סָר֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י): ’ăšer sār mē‘ālāy. To "depart" or "turn aside" (sur) means to deviate from the straight path of God's commands and presence. This further emphasizes the willful nature of their apostasy and disloyalty to the covenant (Judg 2:17).
• and by their eyes which lusted after their idols (וּמֵֽעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם הַזֹּנ֑וֹת אַֽחֲרֵי֙ גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֔ם): ûmē‘ênêhem hazzōnôt ’aḥarê gillulêhem. "Eyes" (עֵין, ayin) represent external perception and desire, serving as a gateway to sin (Gen 3:6; Job 31:1; 1 John 2:16). Their "lusting" (zonah, again as harlotry) after idols (gillulim) indicates both active pursuit and moral corruption through what they desired. Ezekiel uses gillulim pejoratively for idols, literally meaning "dung pellets," conveying God's utter disgust and contempt for these false gods. This emphasizes that both internal will (heart) and external desire (eyes) were dedicated to sin.
• and they will loathe themselves (וְקֹוצְר֥וּ אֶת־פְּנֵיהֶֽם): wəqōtsərû ’et-pənêhem. The root qûts (קוּץ) means "to abhor," "to detest," or "to shrink in disgust." This expresses deep, internal revulsion at one's own past actions, not just regret for the consequences. It signifies genuine repentance, where the sinner identifies with and deplores the sin itself (Ezek 20:43; Job 42:6).
• for the evils which they committed in all their abominations (עַל־הָרָעוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֔וּ לְכֹ֖ל תּוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם): ‘al-hārā‘ôt ’ăšer ‘āśû ləḵol tô‘ăḇôtêhem. "Evils" (ra’ot) refers to their wicked deeds, while "abominations" (to‘evot) specifically denote actions and objects offensive and detestable to God, particularly idolatrous rituals and practices that morally defile (Ezek 5:11; Deut 18:9). This comprehensive indictment ties their self-loathing to the full scope and grievousness of their spiritual offenses.

Ezekiel 6 9 Bonus section

• The concept of God being "crushed" (nishbarti) is rare and significant. It reveals a highly relational God who experiences profound emotion in response to His covenant people's infidelity, not a distant or unfeeling deity. It resonates with other passages where God is grieved (Gen 6:6; Pss 78:40; Isa 63:10) or acts with jealousy (Exod 20:5).
• Ezekiel's consistent use of gillulim ("dung pellets" or "logs") for idols throughout his prophecy, including in this verse, powerfully conveys God's utter disgust for their objects of worship. It's a derogatory polemic, undermining any perceived power or dignity of these false deities by associating them with excrement and worthless matter.
• This prophecy about the remnant's repentance in exile finds its fulfillment in part through the post-exilic community who returned from Babylon with a renewed commitment to monotheism, fundamentally curing Israel of its idolatry problem. It also sets the stage for broader eschatological prophecies of Israel's ultimate spiritual restoration in chapters like Ezekiel 36.

Ezekiel 6 9 Commentary

Ezekiel 6:9 outlines God's redemptive intention behind His severe judgment. The remnant, spared from annihilation, will find themselves dispersed in exile. This state of profound loss and alienation will become a crucible for transformation. Through their suffering, they will finally "remember" the Lord, meaning a true, heartfelt acknowledgment of their covenant God and their gross departure from Him. Critically, this remembrance will include a deep understanding of how their actions impacted God: the striking phrase "how I was crushed" conveys God's profound grief, hurt, or righteous indignation at their spiritual betrayal. This imagery powerfully underscores the personal cost of their sin to God Himself.

Their unfaithfulness originated from a "harlot heart," symbolizing spiritual promiscuity and devotion to false gods. This inner corruption was externalized through their "eyes which lusted after their idols"—emphasizing both the internal desire and external pursuit of detestable pagan practices. The bitter fruit of their apostasy, revealed in the harshness of exile, will finally cause them to "loathe themselves." This intense self-revulsion is a crucial hallmark of true repentance, far beyond mere regret for punishment. It signals a turning away from the very nature of their sin, leading towards a restored relationship with a holy God. This verse therefore posits that God's judgment is not solely punitive but a surgical act designed to bring about a remnant's genuine confession and turning back to Him.