Ezekiel 9:7

7 Then He said to them, "Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go!" So they went out killing [people] in the city.

Ezekiel 9:7 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 9:7

And he said unto them, defile the house
The temple; do not be afraid of slaying any person in it, for fear of defiling it; they have defiled it with their abominations, and now do you defile it with their blood: and fill the courts with the slain;
the court of the priests, and the court of the Israelites, and the court of the women, and all the chambers where the priests and Levites were, and had their images portrayed: go ye forth;
from the brasen altar by which they stood, and out of the temple, after they had done their business there, and had slain all they should: and they went forth, and slew in the city;
they went out of the temple, and slew in the city all but those that had the mark.

Ezekiel 9:7 In-Context

5 To the others He said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him and start killing; do not show pity or spare [them]!

6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, as well as the [older] women and little children, but do not come near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.

7 Then He said to them, "Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go!" So they went out killing [people] in the city.

8 While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, "Ah, Lord God ! Are You going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem?"

9 He answered me: "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity. For they say: The Lord has abandoned the land; He does not see.