Ezekiel 7:23-27

23 1"Forge a chain![a]2For the land is full of bloody crimes 3and the city is full of violence.
24 I will bring 4the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. 5I will put an end to the pride of the strong, 6and their holy places[b] shall be profaned.
25 7When anguish comes, 8they will seek peace, but there shall be none.
26 9Disaster comes upon disaster; 10rumor follows rumor. 11They seek a vision from the prophet, while 12the law[c] perishes from the priest and 13counsel from the elders.
27 The king mourns, the prince is wrapped in despair, and the hands of the people of the land are paralyzed by terror. According to their way 14I will do to them, and according to their judgments I will judge them, 15and they shall know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 7:23-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 7

This chapter contains a prophecy of the speedy destruction of the Jews, as being just at hand; of the particular judgments that should come upon them; of the horror that should seize them, and the distress that all ranks of men among them should be in, a few only escaping, who are described as in mournful circumstances. The destruction in general is denounced as being very near; the end being come, which is often repeated; and as it is represented as sudden, so without mercy; which is declared, Eze 7:1-14; the particular judgments, sword, pestilence, and famine, are mentioned in Eze 7:15, and the few that should escape are compared to mourning doves, Eze 7:16; the trembling, horror, and shame that should be upon all, are intimated in Eze 7:17,18; the unprofitableness of their gold and silver to deliver them, and the unsatisfying nature of these things, are expressed, Eze 7:19; the profanation and destruction of their temple are prophesied of, Eze 7:20-22; and for their murder, rapine, and oppression, it is threatened that their houses should be possessed by the worst of Heathens, and their holy places defiled; and one calamity should come upon another; when their application to prophets, priests, and ancient men for counsel, would be in, vain, Eze 7:23-26; and king, prince, and people, should be in the most melancholy and distressed circumstances, Eze 7:27.

Cross References 15

  • 1. [Jeremiah 27:2]
  • 2. Ezekiel 8:17; Ezekiel 9:9; Ezekiel 11:6; Ezekiel 22:3, 4; Jeremiah 6:7
  • 3. [ver. 11]
  • 4. [ver. 21; Habakkuk 1:6, 13]
  • 5. [ver. 11]
  • 6. See ver. 20
  • 7. [ver. 2]
  • 8. [Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 8:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:3]
  • 9. [Jeremiah 4:20]
  • 10. See Job 1:16-19
  • 11. [Ezekiel 20:1, 3; Psalms 74:9]
  • 12. [Malachi 2:7]
  • 13. [1 Kings 12:6]
  • 14. [ver. 4]
  • 15. See Ezekiel 6:7

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Probably refers to an instrument of captivity
  • [b]. By revocalization (compare Septuagint); Hebrew and those who sanctify them
  • [c]. Or instruction
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.