Ezekiel7
New Living Translation
1Then this message came to me from the Lord:
2“Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel: “The end is here! Wherever you look— east, west, north, or south— your land is finished.
3No hope remains, for I will unleash my anger against you. I will call you to account for all your detestable sins.
4I will turn my eyes away and show no pity. I will repay you for all your detestable sins. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
5“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Disaster after disaster is coming your way!
6The end has come. It has finally arrived. Your final doom is waiting!
7O people of Israel, the day of your destruction is dawning. The time has come; the day of trouble is near. Shouts of anguish will be heard on the mountains, not shouts of joy.
8Soon I will pour out my fury on you and unleash my anger against you. I will call you to account for all your detestable sins.
9I will turn my eyes away and show no pity. I will repay you for all your detestable sins. Then you will know that it is I, the Lord, who is striking the blow.
10“The day of judgment is here; your destruction awaits! The people’s wickedness and pride have blossomed to full flower.
11Their violence has grown into a rod that will beat them for their wickedness. None of these proud and wicked people will survive. All their wealth and prestige will be swept away.
12Yes, the time has come; the day is here! Buyers should not rejoice over bargains, nor sellers grieve over losses, for all of them will fall under my terrible anger.
13Even if the merchants survive, they will never return to their business. For what God has said applies to everyone— it will not be changed! Not one person whose life is twisted by sin will ever recover.
14“The trumpet calls Israel’s army to mobilize, but no one listens, for my fury is against them all.
15There is war outside the city and disease and famine within. Those outside the city walls will be killed by enemy swords. Those inside the city will die of famine and disease.
16The survivors who escape to the mountains will moan like doves, weeping for their sins.
17Their hands will hang limp, their knees will be weak as water.
18They will dress themselves in burlap; horror and shame will cover them. They will shave their heads in sorrow and remorse.
19“They will throw their money in the streets, tossing it out like worthless trash. Their silver and gold won’t save them on that day of the Lord’s anger. It will neither satisfy nor feed them, for their greed can only trip them up.
20They were proud of their beautiful jewelry and used it to make detestable idols and vile images. Therefore, I will make all their wealth disgusting to them.
21I will give it as plunder to foreigners, to the most wicked of nations, and they will defile it.
22I will turn my eyes from them as these robbers invade and defile my treasured land.
23“Prepare chains for my people, for the land is bloodied by terrible crimes. Jerusalem is filled with violence.
24I will bring the most ruthless of nations to occupy their homes. I will break down their proud fortresses and defile their sanctuaries.
25Terror and trembling will overcome my people. They will look for peace but not find it.
26Calamity will follow calamity; rumor will follow rumor. They will look in vain for a vision from the prophets. They will receive no teaching from the priests and no counsel from the leaders.
27The king and the prince will stand helpless, weeping in despair, and the people’s hands will tremble with fear. I will bring on them the evil they have done to others, and they will receive the punishment they so richly deserve. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The desolation of the land. (1-15). The distress of the few who should escape. (16-22). The captivity. (23-27).
vv1-15
The abruptness of this prophecy, and the many repetitions, show that the prophet was deeply affected by the prospect of these calamities. Such will the destruction of sinners be; for none can avoid it. Oh that the wickedness of the wicked might end before it bring them to an end! Trouble is to the impenitent only an evil, it hardens their hearts, and stirs up their corruptions; but there are those to whom it is sanctified by the grace of God, and made a means of much good. The day of real trouble is near, not a mere echo or rumour of troubles. Whatever are the fruits of God's judgments, our sin is the root of them. These judgments shall be universal. And God will be glorified in all. Now is the day of the Lord's patience and mercy, but the time of the sinner's trouble is at hand.
vv16-22
Sooner or later, sin will cause sorrow; and those who will not repent of their sin, may justly be left to pine away in it. There are many whose wealth is their snare and ruin; and the gaining the world is the losing of their souls. Riches profit not in the day of wrath. The wealth of this world has not that in it which will answer the desires of the soul, or be any satisfaction to it in a day of distress. God's temple shall stand them in no stead. Those are unworthy to be honoured with the form of godliness, who will not be governed by its power.
vv23-27
Whoever break the bands of God's law, will find themselves bound and held by the chains of his judgments. Since they encouraged one another to sin, God would dishearten them. All must needs be in trouble, when God comes to judge them according to their deserts. May the Lord enable us to seek that good part which shall not be taken away.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
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.)
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אֲדֹנָי: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
אֲדָמָה: soil (from its general redness)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
קֵץ: an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
Cross References
Ezekiel 7Amos's 'the end is come upon my people' directly parallels Ezekiel's announcement of Israel's end.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The rod of God's anger refers to the foreign instrument of judgment (Assyria/Babylon).
Supported by JFB
Paul's warning that buyers and rejoicers must live detached echoes Ezekiel's pre-exilic economic disruption.
Supported by JFB
The Jubilee law allowed land return, which exile now prevents for both buyer and seller.
Supported by JFB
Zephaniah echoes the warning that silver and gold cannot deliver in the Lord's wrath.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Establishes that wealth provides no security or soul-satisfaction in the day of wrath.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the day of trouble, crying, and tumult in the valley of vision.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The great day of the Lord is near and hastens quickly, bringing trouble.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Lord casts off His altar and abandons His sanctuary to polluting enemies.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Contrast between Aaron's life-giving rod that budded and the rod of pride/punishment.
Supported by JFB
The classic covenant curse: sword without and terror within, alongside famine and pestilence.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Lamentations mourning the loss of the law and visions from the prophets.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Repeats God's solemn declaration that His eye will not spare or have pity.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects violence and wicked works to the growing rod of judgment.
Supported by JFB
Descriptions of extreme mourning, baldness, and wearing of sackcloth during destruction.
Supported by Matthew Poole