Ezekiel 21:25

25 And you, O profane[a]1wicked one, prince of Israel, 2whose day has come, 3the time of your final punishment,

Ezekiel 21:25 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 21:25

And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel
Meaning Zedekiah, the then reigning prince; who is so called, because he had profaned or violated the oath and covenant he made with the king of Babylon, as well as because of other sins he was guilty of; and his being a prince of Israel was an aggravation of his crimes: now, though it is "not fit" in common, or for ordinary persons, "to say to a king thou art wicked, and to princes ye are ungodly", ( Job 34:18 ) , yet a prophet from the Lord, and in his name, may say so; and he ought, when he has a commission from God for it: whose day is come;
the time of his downfall and ruin; and so the Targum,

``whose day of destruction is come:''
when iniquity shall have an end; a stop put to the torrent of it, both in the king and his subjects; they not having the opportunity and means of sinning in captivity as before; or when the measure of iniquity is filled up, then comes punishment; or when the punishment of iniquity shall be completed. So the Targum,
``the time of the recompence of his sins.''

Ezekiel 21:25 In-Context

23 But to them it will seem like a false divination. They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be taken.
24 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear--because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.
25 And you, O profanewicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment,
26 thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted.
27 A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also shall not be, until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.

Cross References 3

  • 1. [Ezekiel 17:19; 2 Chronicles 36:13; Jeremiah 52:2]
  • 2. ver. 29; Ezekiel 22:3, 4
  • 3. Ezekiel 35:5

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or slain; also verse 29
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.