Ezekiel 6

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 6

1¶ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

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

3And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, [even] I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.

4And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain [men] before your idols.

5And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.

6In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.

7And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

8¶ Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have [some] that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.

9And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

10And they shall know that I [am] the LORD, [and that] I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.

11¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

12He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.

13Then shall ye know that I [am] the LORD, when their slain [men] shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.

14So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against the mountains of Israel, declaring God's impending judgment for their widespread idolatry. A sword will destroy their high places, altars, and idols, leading to the desolation of the land and many slain. However, a remnant will escape and be scattered among the nations, where they will remember God, loathe themselves for their abominations, and come to know His sovereignty.

Medium Summary

The prophet Ezekiel receives a divine command to direct his prophecy towards the mountains of Israel, denouncing the nation's widespread idolatry. The Lord declares that He will bring a sword upon the land, leading to the destruction of their high places, altars, and idols, and the desolation of their cities. The slain will fall before their abominable images, and their bones will be scattered, as a direct consequence of their departure from God. This severe judgment is intended to make the Israelites "know that I am the LORD." Despite the widespread destruction, God promises to preserve a remnant who will escape the sword and be scattered among the nations. These survivors will remember God in their captivity, recognizing their "whorish heart" and eyes that went after idols, and will loathe themselves for their evils. Through this, they will understand that God's pronouncements of judgment were not made in vain, and His fury will be accomplished through sword, famine, and pestilence.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with the word of the Lord coming to Ezekiel, instructing him to set his face towards the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them. God declares that He will bring a sword upon the land, specifically targeting the high places, hills, rivers, and valleys, which were sites of idolatrous worship. The altars will be made desolate, the images broken, and the slain bodies of the Israelites will be cast down before their idols, with their bones scattered around these altars. Cities throughout their dwelling places will be laid waste, and the high places made desolate, ensuring that all their idolatrous works and images are abolished. This widespread destruction and the falling of the slain are explicitly stated as a means for the people to "know that I am the LORD." Despite the severity of the impending judgment, the Lord reveals a promise of a remnant. Some will escape the sword and be scattered among the nations, rather than being completely annihilated. These survivors, carried captive, will remember God in their exile. They will reflect upon their "whorish heart" and eyes that pursued idols, leading them to loathe themselves for the abominations they committed. Through this experience, they will come to a profound understanding that God is the Lord and that His warnings of evil were not empty threats. Ezekiel is then commanded to express lamentation by striking his hand and stamping his foot, crying "Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel!" God reiterates that the people will fall by the sword, famine, and pestilence. Those far off will die by pestilence, those near by the sword, and those besieged by famine, thus fulfilling God's fury. The ultimate knowledge that God is the Lord will come when their slain lie among their idols on every high hill, mountain top, under every green tree, and thick oak—the very places where they offered sweet savour to their idols. Finally, God declares He will stretch out His hand, making the land desolate, even more so than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations, ensuring they "shall know that I am the LORD."

Core Concepts

  • Idolatry and High PlacesThe chapter strongly condemns the worship of idols and the practice of offering sacrifices on "high places," which were prominent sites of sin in Israel. God's judgment specifically targets these locations and the images associated with them.
  • Divine JudgmentGod's righteous wrath is manifested through the impending destruction by sword, famine, and pestilence, as a direct consequence of Israel's persistent rebellion and idolatry. This judgment is severe and widespread, affecting the land and its inhabitants.
  • Knowing the LordA recurring theme is that the purpose of God's judgment is for Israel to "know that I am the LORD." Through the fulfillment of His warnings and the desolation of their land, they will understand His sovereignty and justice.
  • The RemnantDespite the widespread destruction, God promises to preserve a small group, a "remnant," who will escape death and be scattered among the nations. This demonstrates God's mercy amidst His judgment.
  • Repentance and Self-LoathingThe surviving remnant, in their captivity, will remember God and reflect on their "whorish heart" and idolatrous eyes. This reflection will lead them to "lothe themselves" for their past abominations, signifying a form of repentance.
  • Desolation of the LandThe land of Israel, particularly its cities and places of worship, will be made utterly desolate. This physical destruction serves as a visible sign of God's judgment and the end of their idolatrous practices.