Ezekiel5
English Standard Version
1And , O of , a . it as a and it your your . Then for and the hair.
2A you shall in the in the of the , when the of the are . And a you shall and with the all the city. And a you shall to the , and I will the them.
3And you shall a and them in the of your robe.
4And these you shall some and them into the of the and them in the . there a will come into the of .
5 the God: is . I have her in the of the , with all her.
6And she has against my by doing more the , and against my more the all her; they have my and have in my .
7 the God: you are the that are all you, and have in my my , and have even according to the of the are all you,
8 the God: , I, , am you. And I will in your in the of the .
9And of your I will with you I have yet , and the like of I will never .
10 shall their in your , and shall their . And I will on you, and any of you who I will to the .
11 , as , the God, , you have my with your and with your , will . My will , will have .
12A of you shall of and be with in your ; a shall by the all you; and a I will to the and will the them.
13Thus shall my , and I will my upon them and myself. And they shall am the Lord —that I have in my — when I my upon them.
14Moreover, I will you a and an object of all you and in the of who pass .
15You shall be a and a , a and a , to the all you, when I on you in and , and with — am the Lord; I have —
16when I against you the of , arrows for , I will to you, and when I bring more and you and your of .
17I will and you, and they will rob you of your . and shall you, and I will the you. am the Lord; I have .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A type of hair, showing the judgments about to come upon the Jews. (1-4). These awful judgments are declared. (5-17).
vv1-4
The prophet must shave off the hair of his head and beard, which signifies God's utter rejecting and abandoning that people. One part must be burned in the midst of the city, denoting the multitudes that should perish by famine and pestilence. Another part was to be cut in pieces, representing the many who were slain by the sword. Another part was to be scattered in the wind, denoting the carrying away of some into the land of the conqueror, and the flight of others into the neighbouring countries for shelter. A small quantity of the third portion was to be bound in his shirts, as that of which he is very careful. But few were reserved. To whatever refuge sinners flee, the fire and sword of God's wrath will consume them.
vv5-17
The sentence passed upon Jerusalem is very dreadful, the manner of expression makes it still more so. Who is able to stand in God's sight when he is angry? Those who live and die impenitent, will perish for ever unpitied; there is a day coming when the Lord will not spare. Let not persons or churches, who change the Lord's statutes, expect to escape the doom of Jerusalem. Let us endeavour to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Sooner or later God's word will prove itself true.
Key Words
אַתָּה: thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
חַד: sharp
חֶרֶב: drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
גַּלָּב: a barber
תַּעַר: a knife or razor (as making bare); also a scabbard (as being bare, i.e. empty)
עָבַר: to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Ezekiel 5Prophetic imagery of a razor hired to shave the head/beard represents humiliating judgment through a foreign king.
Supported by JFB
Priests were forbidden to make baldness; shaving the priestly prophet shows the ceremonial yielding to moral judgment.
Supported by JFB
Daniel confirms that the catastrophe upon Jerusalem was a unique judgment, unequaled under the whole heaven.
Supported by JFB
Lamentations verifies that Jerusalem's punishment surpassed even the sudden, historic overthrow of Sodom.
Supported by JFB
Fulfills the horrific covenant curse of parents eating their children during extreme siege conditions.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallel distribution of the people to specific appointed destines: death, sword, famine, and captivity.
Supported by John Calvin
Jeremiah remaining with Gedaliah represents the tiny remnant bound in the prophet's skirts.
Supported by JFB
The Chaldean captain left a small number of the poorest of the land as a remnant.
Supported by JFB
Ishmael's conspiracy represents the fire coming out from the remnant to consume others.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The nations did not change their false gods, but Israel shamefully changed their true Glory.
Supported by JFB
Detailed Pentateuchal warning of cannibalism during the desperate straits of a hostile siege.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The covenant curse of being scattered among the heathen while God draws out a sword after them.
Supported by John Calvin
Moses warns of God breaking the staff of bread, leaving the people hungry despite eating.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Song of Moses lists God spending His arrows of judgment and famine upon rebellious Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole