Ezekiel 9:5-11

5 And to 1the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him, and strike. 2Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.
6 3Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but 4touch no one on whom is the mark. And 5begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the house.
7 Then he said to them, 6"Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out." So they went out and struck in the city.
8 And while they were striking, and I was left alone, 7I fell upon my face, and cried, 8"Ah, Lord GOD! 9Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel 10in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"
9 Then he said to me, 11"The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. 12The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For 13they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.'
10 As for me, 14my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; 15I will bring their deeds upon their heads."
11 And behold, 16the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, "I have done as you commanded me."

Ezekiel 9:5-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 9

In this chapter is contained a vision, representing the destruction of the idolatrous Jews, and the preservation of the godly that were among them, in which different persons were employed; they that were concerned in the destruction of the idolaters are described by their office; they had charge over the city; by their form and appearance, men; by their number, six; by the quarter from whence they came, the way of the higher gate northward; and by the weapons they had in their hands, slaughter ones; and by their place and posture, standing beside the brasen altar, Eze 9:1,2; among these were one clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side; to whom the glorious God of Israel, who was removed from the cherub to the threshold of the house, gave orders to go through the city of Jerusalem, and mark those that mourned over the abominations of it, Eze 9:3,4; and the rest he ordered to go through the city, and slay all of every age, and sex, and state, except those that had the mark; beginning at the sanctuary, and filling the courts with the slain; which orders were obeyed, Eze 9:5-7; upon which the prophet expostulates with the Lord, and intercedes for the people; but is not heard, because of the abounding of iniquity among them; their frequent shedding of blood; their perversion of justice; and their abominable infidelity and atheism; for which reasons he was determined to show them no mercy, Eze 9:8-10; and the chapter is closed with a report made by the man clothed with linen, that he had done as was commanded him, Eze 9:11.

Cross References 16

  • 1. [ver. 2]
  • 2. See Ezekiel 5:11
  • 3. [2 Chronicles 36:17]
  • 4. [Revelation 9:4]
  • 5. See Jeremiah 25:29
  • 6. Ezekiel 7:21, 22
  • 7. Ezekiel 11:13; [Numbers 14:5]
  • 8. See Ezekiel 4:14
  • 9. Ezekiel 11:13
  • 10. See Ezekiel 7:8
  • 11. See 2 Chronicles 36:14-16
  • 12. See Ezekiel 7:23
  • 13. See Ezekiel 8:12
  • 14. See Ezekiel 5:11
  • 15. See Ezekiel 7:4
  • 16. Ezekiel 10:2, 6, 7; Daniel 10:5; Daniel 12:6, 7
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.