Ezekiel 9 1

Ezekiel 9:1 kjv

He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

Ezekiel 9:1 nkjv

Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, "Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a deadly weapon in his hand."

Ezekiel 9:1 niv

Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, "Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand."

Ezekiel 9:1 esv

Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, "Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand."

Ezekiel 9:1 nlt

Then the LORD thundered, "Bring on the men appointed to punish the city! Tell them to bring their weapons with them!"

Ezekiel 9 verses

Ezekiel 9 1 Meaning

Ezekiel 9:1 records a profound moment of divine initiation of judgment against Jerusalem. The prophet hears the very voice of God, authoritative and urgent, summoning heavenly executioners. These agents are tasked with overseeing the "city," Jerusalem, implying an imminent and localized punishment. Each agent is armed with a "deadly weapon," signifying their direct role in executing God's wrath and bringing destruction. The verse sets the stage for a dramatic visual of separation and divine retribution, directly linking God's observed abominations in the previous chapter to His impending intervention.

Ezekiel 9 1 Context

Ezekiel chapter 9 directly follows a terrifying vision presented in chapter 8, where the prophet is taken in a vision to Jerusalem. There, he witnesses shocking abominations practiced within the Temple grounds by the elders of Israel and women, including idolatry, sun worship, and devotion to false gods. These acts represent the ultimate rebellion against God, defiling His holy dwelling place. The vision serves to justify the severe judgment about to be executed upon the city. Ezekiel 9:1, therefore, marks the dramatic transition from the divine pronouncement of guilt to the divine command for judgment's swift execution. Historically, this prophecy occurs during the Babylonian exile (circa 593-592 BC), just a few years before the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. At this time, many Judeans clung to a false sense of security, believing God would never allow His city and Temple to be destroyed. Ezekiel's prophecy, depicting God Himself orchestrating the destruction, powerfully dismantles that false hope, illustrating that Jerusalem's fall is a righteous divine act, not merely a military conquest.

Ezekiel 9 1 Word analysis

• Then He cried (וַיִּקְרָא - wayyiqrā’): "He" refers to God. This opening signifies God's direct, personal initiative and active involvement in the unfolding judgment. The verb implies a loud, authoritative, and formal summons, setting a serious tone.
• in my hearing (בְאָזְנָ֑י - be'oznay): Emphasizes that Ezekiel directly heard and witnessed this divine command. His role is not merely a recorder, but an ear-witness to God's intent, adding weight and veracity to the prophecy.
• with a loud voice (קוֹל גָּד֜וֹל - qôl gāḏôl): A "great voice" in Hebrew, denoting volume, solemnity, urgency, and undeniable authority. It's often used for divine pronouncements or significant events in biblical narrative, ensuring attention and underscoring the gravity of the impending action.
• saying (לֵאמֹ֑ר - lē'mōr): A standard Hebrew idiomatic phrase that introduces direct speech or a command, acting as a prompt for the quoted divine instruction.
• "Let those who have charge over the city draw near," (קָרְב֤וּ פְקֻדֹּ֣ות הָעִיר֙ - qārevû pĕquddôṯ hā‘îr):
  • draw near (קָרְב֤וּ - qārevû): An imperative verb, commanding immediate movement and attention. It's a summons to an urgent task.
  • those who have charge (פְקֻדֹּ֣ות - pĕquddôṯ - from pĕqûddāh): This term means "appointed ones," "supervisors," or "visitors for punishment." Here, it points to a specialized, appointed group, often understood as heavenly beings or angels acting as God's divine executioners. They are not merely observing but are "charged" with a specific function.
  • over the city (הָעִיר֙ - hā‘îr): Specifically refers to Jerusalem, the city where God's name dwelt, but which had become corrupt. The judgment is targeted and localized to this specific, rebellious metropolis.
• "each with a deadly weapon in his hand." (אִישׁ־כְּלֵ֥י מַשְׁחִיתוֹ֮ בְּיָדֹוֹ וְכִשְׁתֵרַ֖יֹ – ’îš kəlê mašḥîṯô bĕyāḏô - based on English translation. The literal Masoretic is more 'îš wəkhēlāyw bĕyāḏô meaning "each man with his implements/weapons in his hand". The interpretive addition of "deadly" accurately conveys the context of these weapons for destruction.):
  • each (אִישׁ - ’îš): Individuates each of these appointed agents, indicating that each is fully equipped and prepared.
  • deadly weapon (כְּלֵ֥י מַשְׁחִיתוֹ - kəlê mašḥîṯô): Literally, "implements of destruction/corrupting/ruining." This highlights the explicit purpose of their mission. These are not merely tools, but instruments specifically for lethal judgment. The Hebrew term for "weapon" (kəlî) implies any instrument, but the addition of "deadly" or "of destruction" from context and interpretative tradition clarifies their function.
  • in his hand (בְּיָדֹוֹ - bĕyāḏô): Signifies readiness for immediate action and their active deployment. The weapon is held, ready to strike, emphasizing the imminence and preparedness of the judgment.

Ezekiel 9 1 Bonus section

The portrayal of these "men" (though likely angels) as agents of judgment parallels other biblical instances where heavenly beings are involved in carrying out divine wrath, such as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19) or the slaying of Assyrian soldiers (2 Kgs 19:35). The distinct equipping of each agent with a weapon signals not merely symbolic action, but a literal, physical manifestation of God's severe judgment. The divine call initiating this action reveals that all such historical calamities are ultimately under God's ultimate orchestrating hand, making them acts of His righteous providence rather than arbitrary events. This specific scene directly contrasts the false peace preached by many false prophets in Jerusalem at the time, demonstrating God's direct opposition to their presumptions of invulnerability.

Ezekiel 9 1 Commentary

Ezekiel 9:1 presents God's unreserved command to commence judgment against a sin-filled Jerusalem. It follows God's demonstration of the pervasive idolatry within the temple precincts (Ezek 8), illustrating that divine justice is a direct response to human rebellion. The "loud voice" of God underscores the urgency, certainty, and solemn authority behind this pronouncement. The summoned "men in charge of the city" are commonly understood as heavenly beings, angels of wrath, or a special angelic force assigned to execute God's decree. Their individual possession of a "deadly weapon" denotes that this judgment is personal, direct, and specifically designed for destruction. It's a precise act of God's justice, not a random calamity. This vision establishes God as actively involved in historical events, punishing sin and demonstrating His holy nature and absolute sovereignty even over His chosen people. The scene is a divine mandate for an unavoidable, decisive judgment, ensuring no confusion that it is God, not merely an enemy nation, bringing calamity upon Jerusalem. It also foreshadows a crucial distinction within the coming judgment – who will be spared and who will not.