Ezekiel 9:9 kjv
Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
Ezekiel 9:9 nkjv
Then He said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!'
Ezekiel 9:9 niv
He answered me, "The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.'
Ezekiel 9:9 esv
Then he said to me, "The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.'
Ezekiel 9:9 nlt
Then he said to me, "The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very, very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city is filled with injustice. They are saying, 'The LORD doesn't see it! The LORD has abandoned the land!'
Ezekiel 9 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 9:4 | "...Go through the city... and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in its midst." | Ezek 6:12, Rev 7:3 (divine protection) |
| Exodus 12:13 | "The blood shall be a sign for you... and when I see the blood, I will pass over you." | Ex 12:23 (passing over in judgment) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability..." | 1 Cor 10:13 (God's provision in temptation) |
| Psalm 55:4 | "My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death are fallen upon me." | Ps 42:5, Ps 143:4 (anguish of the righteous) |
| Jeremiah 4:19 | "My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pangs of my heart! My heart moans within me; I cannot keep silent..." | Jer 8:21, Jer 4:31 (prophetic sorrow) |
| Luke 19:41 | "And when he drew near the city, he wept over it," | Lk 21:36 (Jesus weeping over Jerusalem) |
| Revelation 14:1 | "Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads." | Rev 7:3, Rev 14:1 (marked with God's name) |
| John 10:29 | "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand." | John 17:11-12 (protection of the redeemed) |
| Revelation 18:4 | "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, and lest you receive her plagues," | Rev 18:4 (call to come out of judgment) |
| Matthew 24:22 | "And if those days had not been cut short, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." | Mt 24:22 (saving remnant for the elect's sake) |
| Psalm 6:2 | "Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled." | Ps 38:3 (pleading for mercy in distress) |
| Isaiah 26:20 | "Come, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed." | Isa 57:1 (refuge in times of trouble) |
| 1 Peter 4:17 | "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" | 1 Pet 4:17 (judgment begins with the church) |
| Acts 1:16 | "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus." | Acts 1:16 (fulfillment of prophecy) |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." | John 11:26 (belief leads to eternal life) |
| Romans 8:37 | "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." | Rom 8:37 (victorious through Christ's love) |
| Philippians 3:20 | "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," | Phil 3:20 (heavenly citizenship) |
| Genesis 6:5 | "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." | Gen 19:13 (wickedness deserving judgment) |
| Lamentations 1:11 | "All her people groan; they seek bread; they have given their treasures for food, to restore their lives; see, O Lord, and consider, for I am despised." | Lam 1:20 (city groaning in distress) |
| Acts 17:30 | "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent," | Acts 17:30 (call to repentance) |
| Revelation 7:15 | "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them." | Rev 21:3 (God dwelling with His people) |
| 2 Samuel 24:16 | "And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity..." | 2 Sam 24:16 (angel of destruction halted) |
| Amos 5:15 | "Hate evil, and love good, and maintain justice in the gate..." | Amos 5:15 (justice and righteousness) |
| Zechariah 13:9 | "And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” | Zech 1:16 (God's refining process) |
| 1 Peter 1:6-7 | "...that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found resulting in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." | 1 Pet 4:12 (testing of faith) |
Ezekiel 9 verses
Ezekiel 9 9 Meaning
The verse signifies the desperate state of the faithful remnant during a time of great judgment. Those marked by God are spared from the ensuing destruction, highlighting God's discerning protection of His own amidst widespread wrath. The plea for sparing highlights the intense sorrow and grief for the sins and suffering of the people.
Ezekiel 9 9 Context
Ezekiel 9 occurs within the broader context of God's judgment upon Jerusalem and its people for their pervasive sin and idolatry. The vision is given to Ezekiel at a time when Jerusalem was facing siege and destruction by the Babylonians. The preceding chapter details abominations within the Temple itself, signifying a deep spiritual decay. This chapter depicts a divine assessment and judgment scene where God issues a command for executioners to bring destruction upon the city, sparing only those who bear a distinctive mark. This mark is placed on individuals by a scribe who receives his instructions from God, indicating a selective and divinely administered judgment, preserving a remnant. The groaning and sighing indicate a heart of repentance and sorrow for the widespread sin, which is the criterion for God's protection.
Ezekiel 9 9 Word Analysis
- וְהִנֵּה (və-hin-nēh): "And behold" or "And it happened." This particle introduces a new element or revelation, drawing attention to the significant vision about to unfold. It functions to signal a shift in focus or a dramatic appearance.
- אֲנָשִׁים (a-nā-shīm): "men" or "people." Refers to individuals. In this context, it signifies the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- שִׁשָּׁה (shish-shāh): "six." This is a significant number. In scripture, 'six' often appears in contexts related to humanity's imperfection or in preparation for a divine work (e.g., six days of creation, six men at the sin offering). However, here, it refers to the instruments of judgment.
- מִלְמַעְלָה (mil-ma-'al-ah): "from above" or "from upward." This prepositional phrase indicates the origin of these men. Their coming is from God or a heavenly realm, emphasizing divine authority.
- בְּדֶרֶךְ (bə-de-rekh): "by the way of" or "through the way of." Specifies the means or route of their arrival.
- שַׁ֥עַר (sha-‘ar): "gate." Specifically, "the upper gate" (שַׁ֣עַר הָֽעֶלְיוֹן֙ - sha'ar ha-'elyon), which faced the north. This gate was significant in Jerusalem's architecture and strategic location.
- שְׁעָרִים (shə-'a-rim): "gates." This repetition signifies thoroughness and coverage, implying passage through all accessible points of the city's fortifications or entryways.
- יוֹשֵׁבֶת (yō-shev-et): "inhabiting" or "dwelling." This feminine participle refers to the city as a feminine entity (Jerusalem is often personified as female).
- וּשְׁנַ֣יִם (u-shə-na-yim): "and two." Alongside the six, these two individuals are part of the divine workforce. The number "two" often represents confirmation or joint action.
- אִֽישׁ (ish): "man." Singular for the next individual.
- חֹתֵ֖ם (khō-tēm): "a scribe" or "one with an inkhorn." The noun indicates a professional of writing, here charged with a specific task of marking.
- בְּמַפָּתֶֽיהָ (bə-map-pā-teh-ha): "at his side" or "in his loins" or "by his inkhorn." The noun mappah refers to an inkhorn or writing case, suggesting the tool used for marking. The placement "at his side" implies readiness and accessibility for his duty.
Word Group Analysis
- "six men... and two men": The specific numbers, six and two, along with the scribal role, depict a divinely appointed, orderly, and effective task force executing God's judgment with precision.
- "from the upper gate which faces the north": The mention of a specific gate and direction can be symbolic. The north was often associated with the seat of power or aggression against Israel (Jer 1:14). Their approach from this direction might symbolize the power or even judgment emanating from God's ultimate sovereignty.
- "and another man in their midst with an inkhorn at his side": This individual is distinct, equipped with the tools for marking. His presence "in their midst" signifies integration and coordinated action within the group, highlighting the specific divine command to mark the foreheads.
Ezekiel 9 9 Bonus Section
The concept of divine marking for salvation is a recurring theme. In Exodus, blood on doorposts marked Israelite homes for passing over during the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 12:13). Similarly, in Revelation, those who are sealed bear the mark of God and the Lamb on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3; 14:1). Ezekiel's vision serves as a precursor, illustrating God's commitment to protect His faithful remnant even in the midst of judgment. The faithful "groaning" are identified by their inward grief for sin, mirroring the sorrow of prophets and even Jesus himself over Jerusalem's destruction (Jeremiah 4:19; Luke 19:41). This suggests that faithfulness is demonstrated not only by adherence to laws but by a heart that grieves over sin's presence.
Ezekiel 9 9 Commentary
This verse paints a stark picture of divine action during a period of unparalleled crisis for Jerusalem. The "six men" and "two men" represent supernatural agents of judgment. The number six, appearing with other instruments of destruction, amplifies the severity. Their entrance through the "upper gate," facing north, potentially signifies judgment arriving with imposing and irresistible force, mirroring celestial decrees. The pivotal figure is the scribe, "with an inkhorn at his side," symbolizing preparedness and the official nature of the mission. His specific task—to mark the foreheads—is not a general identification but a precise, personalized inscription signifying divine ownership and protection. This marking is an act of salvation amidst annihilation, ensuring that those marked, the ones "sighing and groaning," are preserved from the sweep of destruction that engulfs the unrepentant. This highlights God's perfect knowledge of His people and His sovereign power to separate them from judgment, even while it falls devastatingly upon the sinful city.