Ezekiel 7 21

Ezekiel 7:21 kjv

And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.

Ezekiel 7:21 nkjv

I will give it as plunder Into the hands of strangers, And to the wicked of the earth as spoil; And they shall defile it.

Ezekiel 7:21 niv

I will give their wealth as plunder to foreigners and as loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile it.

Ezekiel 7:21 esv

And I will give it into the hands of foreigners for prey, and to the wicked of the earth for spoil, and they shall profane it.

Ezekiel 7:21 nlt

I will give it as plunder to foreigners,
to the most wicked of nations,
and they will defile it.

Ezekiel 7 verses

Ezekiel 7 21 meaning

Ezekiel 7:21 prophesies the impending judgment upon Jerusalem and Judah, specifically detailing the seizure and desecration of their valuable possessions, particularly the gold and silver previously used for idols and the adornment of the temple. The verse declares that God Himself will hand over these precious items, which had become objects of sin, to foreign invaders referred to as "strangers" and "the wicked of the earth." These invaders will treat the treasures as mere plunder, profaning what was once dedicated to God or misused in idolatry, underscoring the completeness of divine wrath and the removal of sacred protection.

Ezekiel 7 21 Context

Ezekiel 7 opens with a direct, urgent message from God declaring "An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land." This chapter intensifies the prophecies of judgment previously announced, focusing on the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the desolation of the land. It rejects any possibility of repentance changing the outcome, emphasizing that the judgment is a direct consequence of Israel's pervasive idolatry, injustice, and profanity. The "end" refers specifically to the Babylonian conquest and the exile. Verses 19-20 particularly set the stage for verse 21 by condemning the people for making "abominable images" and "detestable things" from their gold and silver, even transforming sacred temple treasures into instruments of pride and idolatry. Therefore, the transfer of these very items to foreign hands is not just punishment but a direct response to their defilement, ensuring they are utterly profaned by external forces, demonstrating God's relinquishment of their false security.

Ezekiel 7 21 Word analysis

• And I will give it: (Hebrew: v'natatihu - וְנָתַתִּ֥יהוּ). The emphatic "I will give" indicates divine agency. This is not an accident of war but a deliberate act of God. He is actively involved in the judgment, turning over His once-chosen people's treasures. The "it" refers back to the "beauty of their ornaments" (v.20), the gold and silver used for idolatry and the adornment of their temple, which they had profaned. This highlights God's sovereignty even over acts of war and plunder.

• into the hands: (Hebrew: b'yad - בְּיַד). Emphasizes the physical control and ownership that the invaders will exercise. It's a transfer of authority and possession ordained by God.

• of strangers: (Hebrew: zarim - זָרִ֑ים). This term literally means "foreigners," those outside the covenant community of Israel. In this context, it primarily refers to the Babylonian invaders. Polemically, it signifies that even non-Israelites, often considered "unclean" by Israelite law, will wield power over sacred or valuable Israelite possessions, reversing Israel's privileged status and purity laws. It's a complete humiliation.

• for a prey: (Hebrew: labaz - לָבַ֔ז). This refers to something seized quickly as plunder or spoil. It indicates the quick, predatory nature of the invaders taking their valuable possessions.

• and to the wicked: (Hebrew: v'lerishei - וּלְרִשְׁעֵ֣י). Implies moral corruption and lawlessness. These are not merely non-Israelites, but "wicked" ones, demonstrating the ultimate irony: Israel, God's supposedly holy people, are being judged by the morally corrupt for their own wickedness.

• of the earth: (Hebrew: ha'arets - הָאָ֑רֶץ). Could refer to the whole world, signifying foreign nations, or simply the wicked inhabiting the land of Judah, those who joined the invaders. Primarily understood as the "wicked nations" that God uses for judgment.

• for a spoil: (Hebrew: leshalal - לְשָׁלָ֔ל). Similar to "prey" (baz), but shalal often implies more generalized plunder and loot taken after a victory. It reinforces the completeness of the seizure of wealth, indicating total defeat and the thorough stripping of all valuable goods.

• and they shall pollute it: (Hebrew: v'hilleluhu - וְחִלְּלֽוּהָ). This is the climatic act. The verb hillel means to profane, desecrate, defile, make common. What was once sacred (temple vessels) or held symbolic value (personal adornments, idols crafted from sacred materials) will now be treated as common, unclean, and contemptible by the foreign conquerors. The profound irony is that Israel first spiritually "polluted" these items through idolatry (v.20); now, God ordains their physical "pollution" by the pagan invaders. This represents the ultimate removal of God's protective presence and the reversal of holiness, making it public disgrace for Israel.

Ezekiel 7 21 Bonus section

The act of God giving "it" into the hands of strangers carries profound theological implications. In ancient Near Eastern thought, a nation's gods were believed to protect its people and treasures. When enemies plundered sacred items or destroyed temples, it was often interpreted as the defeat of the national deity. However, Ezekiel here clarifies that it is YHWH Himself who delivers these treasures. This powerfully refutes any notion that Israel's God was too weak to protect them or that He was absent. Instead, He is sovereignly orchestrating the "giving over," deliberately using pagan nations as instruments of His judgment. This preempts the likely pagan interpretation of Babylon's success (i.e., that their gods were stronger) and firmly places the fall of Jerusalem within the framework of God's covenant lawsuit against His disobedient people. It demonstrates God's absolute moral authority, even when His name is temporarily profaned through the desecration of His people and their land, all to ultimately clear the way for a future, purer restoration.

Ezekiel 7 21 Commentary

Ezekiel 7:21 is a stark declaration of divine judgment where God actively hands over Israel's treasured possessions, particularly their gold and silver misused for idolatry, to foreign plunderers. It underscores that what they revered would become despised, highlighting a direct consequence for spiritual infidelity. The verse reveals God's sovereignty over the unfolding historical events, utilizing even "wicked" nations as instruments of His justice. The act of "polluting" these items signifies a profound desecration, a public defilement of objects the Israelites either held dear or made sacred, echoing their own prior defilement of divine holiness. It signals the complete removal of divine protection and the dismantling of any false security derived from material wealth or the mere presence of sacred artifacts, if they are accompanied by sin.