Ezekiel 9 8

Ezekiel 9:8 kjv

And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

Ezekiel 9:8 nkjv

So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?"

Ezekiel 9:8 niv

While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown, crying out, "Alas, Sovereign LORD! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"

Ezekiel 9:8 esv

And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"

Ezekiel 9:8 nlt

While they were out killing, I was all alone. I fell face down on the ground and cried out, "O Sovereign LORD! Will your fury against Jerusalem wipe out everyone left in Israel?"

Ezekiel 9 verses

Ezekiel 9 8 Meaning

Ezekiel 9:8 depicts the prophet Ezekiel's profound distress and intercessory prayer during a prophetic vision of divine judgment upon Jerusalem. Overwhelmed by the widespread slaughter carried out by heavenly executioners, he perceives himself as the sole remaining witness. Falling prostrate, a posture of extreme humility and supplication, he cries out to the Sovereign God, questioning if the fierce outpouring of divine wrath will annihilate even the 'remnant' of Israel, thus leaving no hope for God's covenant people. His cry expresses both the terror of God's just judgment and a desperate plea for mercy and the preservation of a future.

Ezekiel 9 8 Context

Ezekiel chapter 9 unfolds a terrifying vision of divine judgment on Jerusalem. In the preceding verses (1-7), Ezekiel sees six men appointed as executioners, each carrying a deadly weapon, accompanied by a seventh man dressed in linen with a writing case. This linen-clad man is instructed to mark with a "Taw" (a cross-like sign) the foreheads of those who sigh and lament over the abominations committed in Jerusalem. Immediately following this marking, the six executioners are commanded to utterly destroy all others, old and young, men and women and children, beginning with the elders who worship idols in the temple, without showing pity or compassion. The execution starts at the sanctuary. Verse 8 captures Ezekiel's stunned, horrified reaction to this horrifying divine decree and its immediate execution within his vision, as he perceives himself as the only one left to witness it.

Historically, this vision reflects the real-world events of Jerusalem's impending destruction by Babylon, culminating in the siege of 586 BC and the eventual exile of its inhabitants. The people of Judah had persisted in idolatry, social injustice, and covenant breaking, despite repeated prophetic warnings, prompting God's just judgment. Ezekiel himself was among the exiles in Babylon, receiving these visions by the Chebar Canal, signifying that even outside Jerusalem, the prophets were deeply concerned about the fate of the holy city and its people.

Ezekiel 9 8 Word analysis

• While they were striking down: (בְּהַכָּתָם - b'hakatam). This Hebrew word implies continuous, active action. It highlights the ongoing and widespread nature of the judgment by the six executioners.
• and I was left alone: (וָאֲנִי נִשְׁאָר - wa'ani nish'ar). Emphasizes Ezekiel's singular and isolated position. He felt he was the last remaining survivor in the immediate scene, intensifying his sense of alarm and dread at the extent of the destruction. It underlines his unique prophetic perspective as a witness.
• I fell on my face: (וָאֶפֹּל עַל-פָּנָי - wa'epol al-panai). This posture signifies deep reverence, humility, overwhelming fear, or intense supplication. It's a natural reaction to being in God's powerful presence or witnessing severe divine acts. It also conveys utter despair and prostration before God's majesty and judgment.
• and cried out: (וָאֶזְעַק - wa'ez'aq). Indicates a strong, desperate, and urgent vocal plea or lament. This was not a quiet prayer but a passionate, agonizing shout of distress.
• 'Ah, Lord GOD!': (אֲהָהּ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה - Ahah Adonai YHVH). "Ahah" (אֲהָהּ) is an interjection expressing distress, lament, or shock, similar to "Alas!" or "Oh, no!". "Adonai YHVH" combines "Lord" (Adonai - denoting master/sovereignty) with "GOD" (YHVH, the covenant name of God). It acknowledges God's supreme authority and personal relationship while still pleading.
• Will you destroy: (הֲמַשְׁחִית - hamashchit). A rhetorical question expressing extreme dismay and desperate concern. It queries the completeness of the destruction, implying a plea for it not to be absolute.
• all the remnant of Israel: (אֵת כָּל-שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל - et kol-she'erit Yisra'el). "Remnant" (שְׁאֵרִית - she'erit) is a critical theological concept: those left over after judgment. Ezekiel fears that even the faithful who might have received the mark, or the exiled portion of Israel, will be completely wiped out. This question reflects deep anxiety for God's covenant promises and the survival of His people.
• in pouring out your wrath: (בְּשָׁפְכְּךָ אֶת-חֲמָתְךָ - b'shafchaka et-chamateka). "Pouring out" suggests an unrestrained, full, and abundant expression of divine judgment. "Wrath" (חֲמָתְךָ - chamateka) refers to fierce, burning indignation and anger. It denotes the complete unleashing of God's just recompense.
• on Jerusalem?: (עַל-יְרוּשָׁלִָם - al-Yerushalayim). The once holy and chosen city is now the object and focal point of God's most severe wrath due to its egregious defilement.

Words-group analysis:

• "While they were striking down, and I was left alone": This pairing emphasizes Ezekiel's sole, terrifying experience of witnessing mass slaughter, setting the scene for his urgent lament. His perceived isolation deepens the emotional impact of the unfolding judgment.
• "I fell on my face and cried out": These actions collectively demonstrate Ezekiel's immediate and extreme reaction to the vision. The physical posture combined with a loud cry reveals total submission, deep despair, and intense intercession.
• "'Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel'": This crucial part highlights the essence of Ezekiel's plea. It combines a cry of lament ("Ah") with an appeal to God's sovereign authority and covenant name ("Lord GOD"), followed by the core concern: the fate of the "remnant," which signifies the hope for Israel's future. The interrogative conveys a desperate search for limits to divine judgment.
• "in pouring out your wrath on Jerusalem?": This phrase clarifies the immediate cause of distress – the unrestrained and comprehensive nature of God's fierce anger specifically targeted at Jerusalem. It links the perceived total destruction to the deserved divine punishment.

Ezekiel 9 8 Bonus section

The theological concept of the "remnant" (שְׁאֵרִית - she'erit) is fundamental in both Old and New Testaments. In this verse, Ezekiel fears the complete annihilation of this remnant. However, God's response in verse 9 of the same chapter emphasizes the absolute necessity and justice of the full outpouring of wrath because of Jerusalem's irreversible idolatry and violence. This shows the tension between God's absolute justice and the prophet's earnest intercession for mercy. While Ezekiel's plea appears initially rejected for Jerusalem's present inhabitants, the wider prophetic message of Ezekiel and other prophets always affirms the long-term preservation of a faithful remnant as part of God's unbreakable covenant promises, which would ultimately be fulfilled in Christ and the New Covenant people of God. Ezekiel's experience foreshadows the suffering of those who stand with God while His judgment unfolds against the unrepentant. The intensity of Ezekiel's intercession underscores the severe reality of God's righteous anger when His people utterly forsake Him.

Ezekiel 9 8 Commentary

Ezekiel 9:8 serves as a poignant moment of intercession, mirroring prophetic roles seen in Moses, Abraham, and Jeremiah. As Ezekiel witnesses the brutal divine judgment, his personal identification with his people's fate drives him to desperate prayer. The core of his plea hinges on the preservation of a "remnant." This concept is vital for the continuance of God's covenant promises. If "all the remnant" were destroyed, it would imply a complete end to God's plan for Israel, seemingly nullifying His earlier promises of future restoration and blessing. Ezekiel's distress reveals his profound understanding of both God's justice (in punishing the city's sins) and His mercy (which he hopes will preserve a portion of His people). His question, though framed as "Will You destroy," functions more as a fervent plea for God to temper His wrath for the sake of His covenant and His people's ultimate survival. This scene is a powerful testament to the prophet's role not merely as a bearer of judgment but also as an intercessor for God's chosen people, even when their sin warrants extreme punishment.

Practical usage:

• This verse can encourage believers to intercede for those facing dire consequences due to sin.
• It highlights the prophet's compassionate heart in the midst of a righteous but severe judgment.
• It reminds us of the importance of the remnant in God's ongoing redemptive plan.