Ezekiel 9:2-11

2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side
4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion.
6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men 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 and began killing throughout the city.
8 While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown, crying out, “Alas, Sovereign LORD! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?”
9 He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’
10 So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.”
11 Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded.”

Ezekiel 9:2-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 9

In this chapter is contained a vision, representing the destruction of the idolatrous Jews, and the preservation of the godly that were among them, in which different persons were employed; they that were concerned in the destruction of the idolaters are described by their office; they had charge over the city; by their form and appearance, men; by their number, six; by the quarter from whence they came, the way of the higher gate northward; and by the weapons they had in their hands, slaughter ones; and by their place and posture, standing beside the brasen altar, Eze 9:1,2; among these were one clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side; to whom the glorious God of Israel, who was removed from the cherub to the threshold of the house, gave orders to go through the city of Jerusalem, and mark those that mourned over the abominations of it, Eze 9:3,4; and the rest he ordered to go through the city, and slay all of every age, and sex, and state, except those that had the mark; beginning at the sanctuary, and filling the courts with the slain; which orders were obeyed, Eze 9:5-7; upon which the prophet expostulates with the Lord, and intercedes for the people; but is not heard, because of the abounding of iniquity among them; their frequent shedding of blood; their perversion of justice; and their abominable infidelity and atheism; for which reasons he was determined to show them no mercy, Eze 9:8-10; and the chapter is closed with a report made by the man clothed with linen, that he had done as was commanded him, Eze 9:11.

Cross References 23

  • 1. S Leviticus 16:4; Ezekiel 10:2; Daniel 10:5; Daniel 12:6; Revelation 15:6
  • 2. S 1 Samuel 4:21; Ezekiel 10:4
  • 3. Ezekiel 11:22
  • 4. Jeremiah 25:29
  • 5. S Genesis 4:15; Exodus 12:7; 2 Corinthians 1:22; S Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4
  • 6. Psalms 119:136; Jeremiah 7:29; Jeremiah 13:17; Ezekiel 21:6; Amos 6:6
  • 7. Psalms 119:53
  • 8. S Jeremiah 13:14; S Ezekiel 5:11
  • 9. S Exodus 32:27; Isaiah 13:18
  • 10. Jeremiah 7:32
  • 11. S Jeremiah 16:6
  • 12. S Genesis 4:15; S Exodus 12:7
  • 13. Eze 8:11-13,16
  • 14. S 2 Chronicles 36:17; Jeremiah 25:29; S Ezekiel 6:4; 1 Peter 4:17
  • 15. Ezekiel 6:7
  • 16. S Joshua 7:6
  • 17. S Ezekiel 4:14
  • 18. S Ezekiel 7:8
  • 19. Ezekiel 11:13; Amos 7:1-6
  • 20. S Psalms 58:2; Jeremiah 12:1; Ezekiel 22:29; Habakkuk 1:4
  • 21. S Job 22:13; S Ezekiel 8:12; Ezekiel 14:23
  • 22. S Jeremiah 13:14; S Ezekiel 7:4; Ezekiel 8:18
  • 23. S Isaiah 22:5; S Isaiah 65:6; Ezekiel 11:21; Ezekiel 23:49
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