Ezekiel 9:4 kjv
And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ezekiel 9:4 nkjv
and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it."
Ezekiel 9:4 niv
and said to him, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."
Ezekiel 9:4 esv
And the LORD said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it."
Ezekiel 9:4 nlt
He said to him, "Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city."
Ezekiel 9 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 9:4 | "and the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." | Ezekiel 9:4 (original text) |
| Exodus 12:7 | "And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the lintel, both upon the houses, wherein they shall eat it." | Protection by blood marking |
| Revelation 7:3 | "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." | Divine sealing for protection |
| Revelation 14:1 | "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." | Those with God's name sealed |
| Ezekiel 3:17-21 | "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me." | God's commission to Ezekiel |
| Jeremiah 15:1-4 | "Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth." | Foretelling Jerusalem's destruction |
| Luke 21:14-16 | "Offer it not of your own; for I am determined that the hand of the king of Assyria shall be on my head." | Jesus' words on tribulation |
| 2 Corinthians 1:22 | "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." | Believers sealed by the Spirit |
| Revelation 9:4 | "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." | Judgement not harming the sealed |
| Proverbs 3:7-8 | "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." | Walking in God's ways brings blessing |
| Romans 12:15 | "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." | Empathy and shared grief |
| Isaiah 53:11 | "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." | Christ bearing our iniquities |
| Psalm 119:53 | "Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law." | Lamenting the wicked's actions |
| Jeremiah 50:4-5 | "In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God." | Israel seeking the Lord in sorrow |
| Revelation 21:4 | "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." | Future restoration and comfort |
| 1 Peter 3:20 | "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." | Few saved through judgment |
| Philippians 3:10 | "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" | Sharing in Christ's suffering |
| Matthew 5:4 | "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." | Beatitude on mourning |
| Zechariah 12:10 | "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." | Mourning for the pierced one |
| Ephesians 4:30 | "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." | Not grieving the Holy Spirit |
| Romans 8:16-17 | "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." | Suffering with Christ |
Ezekiel 9 verses
Ezekiel 9 4 Meaning
This verse describes a divine instruction given to a scribe to mark those who mourn and lament over the abominations committed in Jerusalem. This mark signifies preservation from the coming judgment and destruction. It’s a mark of God’s selective judgment, distinguishing the righteous from the wicked.
Ezekiel 9 4 Context
This chapter occurs within the larger vision given to Ezekiel, emphasizing God's impending judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem for their persistent idolatry and wickedness. In the preceding chapters, Ezekiel details the various forms of defilement within the temple and the city. This specific instruction to mark the faithful comes just before the divine judgment, symbolized by the six men with slaughter weapons. The judgment targets those in Jerusalem, highlighting the destruction that is to befall the city. The prophecy reflects a period of severe tribulation and exile for the Israelites due to their covenant violations. The marking signifies a distinction between those who genuinely lament the sin within the community and those who participated in or were indifferent to it.
Ezekiel 9 4 Word Analysis
- וַֽיהִ (wa-yi·hi): "and it came to pass" or "and he said." A common introductory phrase in Hebrew narrative.
- לְאֵהָ(lə-ē-hâ): "unto him." Refers to the one who appeared as God in the preceding vision (Ezekiel 9:2).
- צֵא בְּתוֹ(tsê) bə-tô-k) עִיר יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וּמֶבֹק ה(wa-mê-bō·q hî)": "Go through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark..." The Hebrew
tsê(go) is a command.tôḵmeans "within" or "through the midst of." - בְּצֹחוֹ(bə-tso-ḥô·ṯ) תֵּמָ(ṯê) הָאֲנָשִׁים הַנֶּאנְקִ(han-nə-') וְהַמַּבְּרִ(wa-ham-ma·’ă·rî)`: "...upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry."
tsoḥôṯ(foreheads): The forehead signifies public recognition, identity, and the seat of thought and expression.hannəqîm(that sigh): Hebrewnāḥ(sigh) indicates deep sorrow and distress. It suggests an inner pain and mourning.ham-ma·’ă·rîm(that cry): Hebrewba·ra·q(cry out) suggests outward vocalization of grief and anguish, a public expression of their distress.
- עַל כָּל תֹּעֵ(ʿal-kâl ṯō·) בֹות הַנּעָשֹׂוֹת בְּת*וֹ קִרְ(bə-ṯô-qə·rə·hã): "...for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof."
tô‘ēbōṯ(abominations): Refers to detestable things, particularly idolatry and ritual impurity in God's sight. This is a key term in Ezekiel relating to the causes of judgment.ha-nə‘ā·šōṯ(that are done): Indicates the active perpetration of these sinful acts.bə·ṯô·qə·rə·hā(in the midst thereof): Emphasizes the pervasive nature of the sin within the city.
Ezekiel 9 4 Bonus Section
The act of marking on the forehead signifies divine ownership and protection, akin to the blood sprinkled on the doorposts during the Passover. The Hebrew word used for "sigh" (nāḥ) suggests a quiet, internal distress, while "cry" (ba·ra·q) points to an outward expression of grief. This contrast shows that both internal sorrow and outward lamentation over sin are recognized by God. This foreshadowing of a spared remnant and divine protection is a recurring theme, pointing towards the ultimate security of those who belong to Christ, who are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Ezekiel 9 4 Commentary
The command to mark the faithful highlights God's tender mercy amidst His righteous judgment. The mark is a divine designation, setting apart those whose hearts are grieved by the sin surrounding them. This is not a superficial sadness, but a deep anguish that drives them to outward lamentation. They are marked not for their own merit but because their repentance and sorrow align them with God’s displeasure towards sin. This spiritual discernment and genuine mourning are presented as criteria for preservation. This foreshadows the ultimate preservation of believers through spiritual crises and the eternal salvation secured by Christ, who also mourned for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-42).