Ezekiel 9 documents the arrival of 6 executioners and 1 scribe with an inkhorn, commanded to mark the foreheads of those who 'sigh and cry' over the abominations of the city. It portrays the terrifying start of judgment 'at the sanctuary,' where those who were closest to the truth were judged first.
v1-3: The Summoning of the Executioners
v4-7: The Marking of the Faithful and the Command to Slay
v8-11: Ezekiel's Intercession and the Scribe's Report
He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
Discover the divine distinction between those who participate in sin and those who are broken by it. Begin your study with ezekiel 9 summary.
The 'mark' on the forehead in Hebrew was the letter 'Tav,' which in the ancient script was a cross-like symbol (+ or X), used here as a sign of ownership. The 'Word Secret' is Anach, meaning 'to sigh' or 'groan,' indicating that God values our emotional alignment with His holiness. Discover the riches with ezekiel 9 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Unlock the hidden ezekiel 9 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.
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