Ezekiel 7:20-27

The Temple Profaned

20 'They transformed the beauty of His ornaments into pride, and 1they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things with it; therefore * I will make it an abhorrent thing to them.
21 'I will give it into the hands of the 2foreigners as plunder and to the wicked of the earth as spoil, and they will profane it.
22 'I will also turn My 3face from them, and they will profane My secret place; then robbers will enter and profane it.
23 '4Make the chain, for the land is full of 5bloody crimes and the city is 6full of violence.
24 'Therefore, I will bring the worst of the 7nations, and they will possess their houses. I will also make the 8pride of the strong ones cease, and their 9holy places will be profaned.
25 'When anguish comes, they will seek 10peace, but there will be none.
26 '11Disaster will come upon disaster and 12rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a 13vision from a prophet, but the 14law will be lost from the priest and 15counsel from the elders.
27 'The king will mourn, the prince will be 16clothed with horror, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. According to their conduct I will deal with them, and by their judgments I will judge them. And they will know that I am the LORD.' "

Ezekiel 7:20-27 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 16

  • 1. Jeremiah 7:30
  • 2. 2 Kings 24:13; Psalms 74:2-8; Jeremiah 52:13
  • 3. Jeremiah 18:17; Ezekiel 39:23, 24
  • 4. Jeremiah 27:2
  • 5. Ezekiel 9:9; Hosea 4:2
  • 6. Ezekiel 8:17
  • 7. Ezekiel 21:31; Ezekiel 28:7
  • 8. Ezekiel 33:28
  • 9. 2 Chronicles 7:20; Ezekiel 24:21
  • 10. Ezekiel 13:10, 16
  • 11. Isaiah 47:11; Jeremiah 4:20
  • 12. Ezekiel 21:7
  • 13. Jeremiah 21:2; Jeremiah 37:17
  • 14. Psalms 74:9; Ezekiel 22:26; Micah 3:6
  • 15. Jeremiah 18:18; Ezekiel 11:2
  • 16. Job 8:22; Psalms 35:26; Psalms 109:18, 29; Ezekiel 26:16

Footnotes 2

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