Ezekiel 7 7

Ezekiel 7:7 kjv

The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.

Ezekiel 7:7 nkjv

Doom has come to you, you who dwell in the land; The time has come, A day of trouble is near, And not of rejoicing in the mountains.

Ezekiel 7:7 niv

Doom has come upon you, upon you who dwell in the land. The time has come! The day is near! There is panic, not joy, on the mountains.

Ezekiel 7:7 esv

Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come; the day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting on the mountains.

Ezekiel 7:7 nlt

O people of Israel, the day of your destruction is dawning.
The time has come; the day of trouble is near.
Shouts of anguish will be heard on the mountains,
not shouts of joy.

Ezekiel 7 verses

Ezekiel 7 7 meaning

Ezekiel 7:7 declares the arrival of an inevitable, divinely appointed judgment upon the inhabitants of Judah. It signals the imminent "morning" not of hope or relief, but of calamitous destruction and desolation. The verse asserts that "the time" for this judgment has come, and "the day" of panic and upheaval is near, profoundly contrasting any expectation of joy or celebration with an outpouring of tumult and wailing across the land. It announces the end of security and false peace, heralding an era of divine reckoning.

Ezekiel 7 7 Context

Ezekiel chapter 7 is a vivid and urgent prophecy against the entire land of Israel (Judah). It acts as an intensifying declaration of "the end" that has been proclaimed in earlier chapters. The immediate context of verse 7 is part of a series of abrupt and forceful announcements, starting with "The end has come! The end has come upon the four corners of the land!" (7:2). The prophecy leaves no room for doubt or escape, signaling an unavoidable divine judgment on all its inhabitants, their land, their property, and even their religious structures.

Historically, this prophecy was delivered during the early stages of the Babylonian exile, most likely shortly before or during the final siege and destruction of Jerusalem (588-586 BCE). Many people in Judah and Jerusalem, particularly the false prophets, were propagating messages of peace, security, and imminent restoration, largely based on a misinterpretation of God's covenant promises and a failure to recognize the severity of their sins. Ezekiel's prophecy starkly counters these false assurances, declaring that the time for repentance has passed and the appointed moment for judgment has arrived, bringing chaos and lamentation instead of deliverance and joy.

Ezekiel 7 7 Word analysis

• The morning (צָפְרָה - tsophrah): This is a powerful and intentionally ambiguous term. While tsophrah literally means "morning" or "dawn," suggesting new beginnings, in this specific prophetic context, it functions as a dire metaphor. Here, it signifies the "dawn of doom," "the fateful morning," or "the calamitous awakening." This word choice is deeply polemical, subverting the typical biblical motif of morning bringing light, joy, and new hope (e.g., Ps 30:5) into a harbinger of absolute darkness and destruction. It underscores the severity of God's judgment, as even the time for potential salvation has now transitioned into the time of inevitable punishment, making what should be a new beginning, an ending.

• has come (קָרְבָה - qar'vah): Derived from the root qrb (to draw near), this verb emphasizes immediacy and inevitability. The judgment is not merely approaching but has definitively "arrived" or "drawn near" to its full consummation. Its feminine singular form refers to tsophrah, confirming that "the morning" of doom is already a present reality, not just a future threat.

• upon you: A direct address to the collective "you," indicating that the judgment is personal and unavoidable for every inhabitant of the land.

• you who dwell in the land: This phrase specifies the target: the residents of Judah and Jerusalem, particularly those who might have felt secure in their homeland, perhaps trusting in its fortifications or their perceived covenantal immunity, despite their pervasive idolatry and injustice. It targets those living in a false sense of security.

• the time (הָעֵת - ha'et): The definite article "the" preceding "time" signifies a specific, appointed, and divinely determined moment. It is not an arbitrary moment, but "the" destined time in God's perfect plan for reckoning, indicating His absolute sovereignty over history.

• has come (בָאָה - ba'ah): Another verb meaning "to come" or "to arrive," reinforcing the certainty and completion of the appointed time. This repetition with qar'vah strengthens the emphasis on arrival, suggesting that delay is impossible.

• the day (הַיּוֹם - hayyom): Refers to "the Day of the Lord" (or a specific manifestation of it), a prominent prophetic theme denoting God's direct intervention in history to judge sin and establish His justice. Like ha'et, the definite article highlights its unique and determined nature.

• is near (קָרוֹב - qarov): An adjective reinforcing the concept of proximity, similar to qar'vah. The accumulation of terms denoting imminence (qar'vah, ba'ah, qarov) creates a sense of profound urgency and inescapability.

• the day of tumult (יוֹם הַהֲמוֹן - yom ha'halamon): Halamon refers to a confused noise, an uproar, or a great multitude's tumultuous commotion. In this context, it speaks of the chaos, panic, disarray, and cries of distress associated with a military invasion and overwhelming destruction. It signifies not an orderly event but utter pandemonium.

• and not of joyful shouting (וְלֹא תְרוּעַת - w'lo' teru'at): This is a crucial negative contrast. Teru'ah (shouting/blast) typically refers to a shout of joy, triumph, praise, or even the celebratory blast of a trumpet during festivals (e.g., Ps 89:15; Lev 23:24). The prophet explicitly states that this is not such a sound. Instead, it underscores the complete reversal of fortune – any celebratory expectation is dashed, replaced by the shouts of terror, the clamor of war, or the wails of lamentation.

• on the mountains: Mountains were often considered places of strength, refuge, worship (for both true God and idols), or where God's messengers would proclaim news. Traditionally, the messengers of good news might proclaim "on the mountains" (Isa 52:7). Here, however, even these high places, often associated with spiritual activities or security, will not hear sounds of joy or safety but will instead echo with the screams of panic and devastation.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "The morning has come... the time has come... the day is near": This powerful triplicate emphasizes the absolute certainty, immediacy, and divine appointment of the judgment. The varied phrases all converge on the single message of inevitability, dispelling any illusion of delay or escape. This linguistic emphasis creates a crescendo of impending doom.
  • "The day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting on the mountains": This sharp juxtaposition epitomizes the theme of reversed expectations. What might have been anticipated as a time of national celebration or a moment for divine intervention leading to deliverance, will instead be characterized by complete upheaval and the bitter sounds of despair echoing from every vantage point.

Ezekiel 7 7 Bonus section

The repetitive structure and strong parallelisms in Ezekiel 7, particularly the "three-fold announcement" of immediacy in verse 7, are classic prophetic literary devices used to convey the utter certainty and urgency of the message. This kind of intense rhetorical build-up is intended to shatter any lingering complacency among the original audience.

Furthermore, this verse serves as a crucial component of Ezekiel's wider message concerning the nature of God: His unwavering justice, His perfect timing (even for harsh judgments), and His complete sovereignty over history. It contrasts deeply with the self-delusion prevalent among many Judeans who believed God would always protect Jerusalem regardless of their actions, failing to grasp the covenantal conditionality of His promises.

Ezekiel 7 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 7:7 stands as a stark pronouncement of God's imminent and inescapable judgment upon Judah. The repeated declarations of "coming" and "nearness" remove any ambiguity, stressing that the window for repentance has closed, and the divine decree is being enacted. The imagery of "the morning" being transformed from a symbol of hope into one of absolute doom highlights the radical nature of this judgment, where the familiar signs of renewal are inverted to signify desolation. The contrast between "tumult" and "not joyful shouting" serves as a severe indictment of the people's false security and a complete overturning of their expectations. It underscores that the land, their security, and their joy will be shattered by the appointed wrath of God. The judgment is not merely external, but internal—a panic that overtakes the people.