Ezekiel 6:3

3 and say, ¹You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to ²the mountains and ³the hills, to ⁴the ravines and the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, ⁵and I will destroy your high places.

Ezekiel 6:3 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 6:3

And say, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God,
&c.] Since the people of the Jews would not hear the word of the Lord, the mountains are called upon to hear it; unless the inhabitants of the mountains are meant: thus saith the Lord God to the mountains and to the hills, to the
rivers and to the valleys:
these are addressed, because idols were worshipped here; as upon the mountains and hills, so by rivers of water, and also in valleys, as in the valley of Hinnom idols were worshipped; upon mountains and hills, because they thought themselves nearer to heaven; by rivers, because of purity; and in valleys, because shady and obscure, and had something solemn and venerable in them: behold I, [even] I, will bring a sword upon you;
that is, upon the idolaters, which worshipped in these places; otherwise different instruments, as pick axes would have been more proper. The Targum paraphrases it,

``them that kill with the sword;''

meaning the Chaldeans, who doubtless are intended: and I will destroy your high places;
the temples and altars, built on high places, and devoted to idolatrous worship, as follows:

Ezekiel 6:3 In-Context

1 The word of the Lord came to me:

2 “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

3 and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.

4 Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain before your idols.

5 And I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.

Cross References

• 1. 6:3 ch. 36:1, 4
• 2. 6:3 ch. 36:4, 6
• 3. 6:3 [ver. 13]
• 4. 6:3 [ch. 31:12; Isa. 57:5, 6]
• 5. 6:3 Lev. 26:30