The Vision of Slaughter

Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud (A)voice saying, “Draw near, [a]O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” Behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was (B)a certain man clothed in linen with a [b]writing case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Then the (C)glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the [c]temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. The Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a (D)mark on the foreheads of the men who (E)sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. [d]Utterly (F)slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not (G)touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall (H)start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the [e]elders who were before the [f]temple. And He said to them, “(I)Defile the [g]temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city. As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I (J)fell on my face and cried out [h]saying, “(K)Alas, Lord [i]God! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel [j]by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?”

Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is (L)filled with blood and the city is (M)full of perversion; for (N)they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!’ 10 But as for Me, (O)My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but (P)I will bring their conduct upon their heads.”

11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the [k]writing case [l]reported, saying, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 9:1 Lit you who punish
  2. Ezekiel 9:2 Or scribal inkhorn
  3. Ezekiel 9:3 Lit house
  4. Ezekiel 9:6 Lit To destruction
  5. Ezekiel 9:6 Or old men
  6. Ezekiel 9:6 Lit house
  7. Ezekiel 9:7 Lit house
  8. Ezekiel 9:8 Lit and said
  9. Ezekiel 9:8 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  10. Ezekiel 9:8 Lit by Your pouring
  11. Ezekiel 9:11 Or inkhorn
  12. Ezekiel 9:11 Lit brought back word

Judgment on the Idolaters

Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” 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(A) who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Now the glory(B) of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim,(C) 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 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem(D) and put a mark(E) on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament(F) over all the detestable things that are done in it.(G)

As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity(H) or compassion.(I) Slaughter(J) the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children,(K) but do not touch anyone who has the mark.(L) Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men(M) who were in front of the temple.(N)

Then he said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain.(O) Go!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown,(P) crying out, “Alas, Sovereign Lord!(Q) Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath(R) on Jerusalem?(S)

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.(T) They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’(U) 10 So I will not look on them with pity(V) or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.(W)

11 Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded.”