8 Now will I shortly H7138 pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon thee, and accomplish H3615 mine anger H639 upon thee: and I will judge H8199 thee according to thy ways, H1870 and will recompense H5414 thee for all thine abominations. H8441
Or if I send H7971 a pestilence H1698 into that land, H776 and pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon it in blood, H1818 to cut off H3772 from it man H120 and beast: H929
And it came to pass, while they were slaying H5221 them, and I was left, H7604 that I fell H5307 upon my face, H6440 and cried, H2199 and said, H559 Ah H162 Lord H136 GOD! H3069 wilt thou destroy H7843 all the residue H7611 of Israel H3478 in thy pouring out H8210 of thy fury H2534 upon Jerusalem? H3389
Notwithstanding the children H1121 rebelled H4784 against me: they walked H1980 not in my statutes, H2708 neither kept H8104 my judgments H4941 to do H6213 them, which if a man H120 do, H6213 he shall even live H2425 in them; they polluted H2490 my sabbaths: H7676 then I said, H559 I would pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon them, to accomplish H3615 my anger H639 against them in the wilderness. H4057
But they rebelled H4784 against me, and would H14 not hearken H8085 unto me: they did not every man H376 cast away H7993 the abominations H8251 of their eyes, H5869 neither did they forsake H5800 the idols H1544 of Egypt: H4714 then I said, H559 I will pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon them, to accomplish H3615 my anger H639 against them in the midst H8432 of the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
As I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 surely with a mighty H2389 hand, H3027 and with a stretched out H5186 arm, H2220 and with fury H2534 poured out, H8210 will I rule H4427 over you:
But the house H1004 of Israel H3478 rebelled H4784 against me in the wilderness: H4057 they walked H1980 not in my statutes, H2708 and they despised H3988 my judgments, H4941 which if a man H120 do, H6213 he shall even live H2425 in them; and my sabbaths H7676 they greatly H3966 polluted: H2490 then I said, H559 I would pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon them in the wilderness, H4057 to consume H3615 them.
Yea, all Israel H3478 have transgressed H5674 thy law, H8451 even by departing, H5493 that they might not obey H8085 thy voice; H6963 therefore the curse H423 is poured H5413 upon us, and the oath H7621 that is written H3789 in the law H8451 of Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of God, H430 because we have sinned H2398 against him.
The same G846 G2532 shall drink G4095 of G1537 the wine G3631 of the wrath G2372 of God, G2316 which G3588 is poured out G2767 without mixture G194 into G1722 the cup G4221 of his G846 indignation; G3709 and G2532 he shall be tormented G928 with G1722 fire G4442 and G2532 brimstone G2303 in the presence G1799 of the holy G40 angels, G32 and G2532 in the presence G1799 of the Lamb: G721
The princes H8269 of Judah H3063 were like them that remove H5253 the bound: H1366 therefore I will pour out H8210 my wrath H5678 upon them like water. H4325
And he shall confirm H1396 the covenant H1285 with many H7227 for one H259 week: H7620 and in the midst H2677 of the week H7620 he shall cause the sacrifice H2077 and the oblation H4503 to cease, H7673 and for the overspreading H3671 of abominations H8251 he shall make it desolate, H8074 even until the consummation, H3617 and that determined H2782 shall be poured H5413 upon the desolate. H8074
Wherefore I poured H8210 my fury H2534 upon them for the blood H1818 that they had shed H8210 upon the land, H776 and for their idols H1544 wherewith they had polluted H2930 it: And I scattered H6327 them among the heathen, H1471 and they were dispersed H2219 through the countries: H776 according to their way H1870 and according to their doings H5949 I judged H8199 them.
Now is the end H7093 come upon thee, and I will send H7971 mine anger H639 upon thee, and will judge H8199 thee according to thy ways, H1870 and will recompense H5414 upon thee all thine abominations. H8441 And mine eye H5869 shall not spare H2347 thee, neither will I have pity: H2550 but I will recompense H5414 thy ways H1870 upon thee, and thine abominations H8441 shall be in the midst H8432 of thee: and ye shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068
He hath bent H1869 his bow H7198 like an enemy: H341 he stood H5324 with his right hand H3225 as an adversary, H6862 and slew H2026 all that were pleasant H4261 to the eye H5869 in the tabernacle H168 of the daughter H1323 of Zion: H6726 he poured out H8210 his fury H2534 like fire. H784
Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, mine anger H639 and my fury H2534 shall be poured out H5413 upon this place, H4725 upon man, H120 and upon beast, H929 and upon the trees H6086 of the field, H7704 and upon the fruit H6529 of the ground; H127 and it shall burn, H1197 and shall not be quenched. H3518
Go, H3212 enquire H1875 of the LORD H3068 for me, and for them that are left H7604 in Israel H3478 and in Judah, H3063 concerning the words H1697 of the book H5612 that is found: H4672 for great H1419 is the wrath H2534 of the LORD H3068 that is poured out H5413 upon us, because our fathers H1 have not kept H8104 the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 to do H6213 after all that is written H3789 in this book. H5612
And G2532 the first G4413 went, G565 and G2532 poured out G1632 his G846 vial G5357 upon G1909 the earth; G1093 and G2532 there fell G1096 a noisome G2556 and G2532 grievous G4190 sore G1668 upon G1519 the men G444 which G3588 had G2192 the mark G5480 of the beast, G2342 and G2532 upon them which worshipped G4352 his G846 image. G1504 And G2532 the second G1208 angel G32 poured out G1632 his G846 vial G5357 upon G1519 the sea; G2281 and G2532 it became G1096 as G5613 the blood G129 of a dead G3498 man: and G2532 every G3956 living G2198 soul G5590 died G599 in G1722 the sea. G2281 And G2532 the third G5154 angel G32 poured out G1632 his G846 vial G5357 upon G1519 the rivers G4215 and G2532 G1519 fountains G4077 of waters; G5204 and G2532 they became G1096 blood. G129 And G2532 I heard G191 the angel G32 of the waters G5204 say, G3004 Thou art G1488 righteous, G1342 O Lord, G2962 which G3588 art, G5607 and G2532 wast, G2258 and G2532 shalt be, G3741 G3801 because G3754 thou hast judged G2919 thus. G5023 For G3754 they have shed G1632 the blood G129 of saints G40 and G2532 prophets, G4396 and G2532 thou hast given G1325 them G846 blood G129 to drink; G4095 for G1063 they are G1526 worthy. G514 And G2532 I heard G191 another G243 out of G1537 the altar G2379 say, G3004 Even so, G3483 Lord G2962 God G2316 Almighty, G3841 true G228 and G2532 righteous G1342 are thy G4675 judgments. G2920 And G2532 the fourth G5067 angel G32 poured out G1632 his G846 vial G5357 upon G1909 the sun; G2246 and G2532 power was given G1325 unto him G846 to scorch G2739 men G444 with G1722 fire. G4442 And G2532 men G444 were scorched G2739 with great G3173 heat, G2738 and G2532 blasphemed G987 the name G3686 of God, G2316 which G3588 hath G2192 power G1849 over G1909 these G5025 plagues: G4127 and G2532 they repented G3340 not G3756 to give G1325 him G846 glory. G1391 And G2532 the fifth G3991 angel G32 poured out G1632 his G846 vial G5357 upon G1909 the seat G2362 of the beast; G2342 and G2532 his G846 kingdom G932 was G1096 full of darkness; G4656 and G2532 they gnawed G3145 their G846 tongues G1100 for G1537 pain, G4192 And G2532 blasphemed G987 the God G2316 of heaven G3772 because of G1537 their G846 pains G4192 and G2532 G1537 their G846 sores, G1668 and G2532 repented G3340 not G3756 of G1537 their G846 deeds. G2041 And G2532 the sixth G1623 angel G32 poured out G1632 his G846 vial G5357 upon G1909 the great G3173 river G4215 Euphrates; G2166 and G2532 the water G5204 thereof G846 was dried up, G3583 that G2443 the way G3598 of the kings G935 of G575 the east G395 G2246 might be prepared. G2090 And G2532 I saw G1492 three G5140 unclean G169 spirits G4151 like G3664 frogs G944 come out of G1537 the mouth G4750 of the dragon, G1404 and G2532 out of G1537 the mouth G4750 of the beast, G2342 and G2532 out of G1537 the mouth G4750 of the false prophet. G5578 For G1063 they are G1526 the spirits G4151 of devils, G1142 working G4160 miracles, G4592 which go forth G1607 G3739 G1607 unto G1909 the kings G935 of the earth G1093 and G2532 of the whole G3650 world, G3625 to gather G4863 them G846 to G1519 the battle G4171 of that G1565 great G3173 day G2250 of God G2316 Almighty. G3841 Behold, G2400 I come G2064 as G5613 a thief. G2812 Blessed G3107 is he that watcheth, G1127 and G2532 keepeth G5083 his G846 garments, G2440 lest G3363 he walk G4043 naked, G1131 and G2532 they see G991 his G846 shame. G808 And G2532 he gathered G4863 them G846 together G4863 into G1519 a place G5117 called G2564 in the Hebrew tongue G1447 Armageddon. G717 And G2532 the seventh G1442 angel G32 poured out G1632 his G846 vial G5357 into G1519 the air; G109 and G2532 there came G1831 a great G3173 voice G5456 out of G575 the temple G3485 of heaven, G3772 from G575 the throne, G2362 saying, G3004 It is done. G1096 And G2532 there were G1096 voices, G5456 and G2532 thunders, G1027 and G2532 lightnings; G796 and G2532 there was G1096 a great G3173 earthquake, G4578 such as G3634 was G1096 not G3756 since G3739 G575 men G444 were G1096 upon G1909 the earth, G1093 so mighty G5082 an earthquake, G4578 and so G3779 great. G3173 And G2532 the great G3173 city G4172 was divided G1096 into G1519 three G5140 parts, G3313 and G2532 the cities G4172 of the nations G1484 fell: G4098 and G2532 great G3173 Babylon G897 came in remembrance G3415 before G1799 God, G2316 to give G1325 unto her G846 the cup G4221 of the wine G3631 of the fierceness G2372 of his G846 wrath. G3709 And G2532 every G3956 island G3520 fled away, G5343 and G2532 the mountains G3735 were G2147 not G3756 found. G2147 And G2532 there fell G2597 upon G1909 men G444 a great G3173 hail G5464 out of G1537 heaven, G3772 every stone about G5613 the weight of a talent: G5006 and G2532 men G444 blasphemed G987 God G2316 because of G1537 the plague G4127 of the hail; G5464 for G3754 the plague G4127 thereof G846 was G2076 exceeding G4970 great. G3173
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 7
Commentary on Ezekiel 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 7
Eze 7:1-27. Lamentation over the Coming Ruin of Israel; the Penitent Reformation of a Remnant; the Chain Symbolizing the Captivity.
2. An end, the end—The indefinite "an" expresses the general fact of God bringing His long-suffering towards the whole of Judea to an end; "the," following, marks it as more definitely fixed (Am 8:2).
4. thine abominations—the punishment of thine abominations.
shall be in the midst of thee—shall be manifest to all. They and thou shall recognize the fact of thine abominations by thy punishment which shall everywhere befall thee, and that manifestly.
5. An evil, an only evil—a peculiar calamity such as was never before; unparalleled. The abruptness of the style and the repetitions express the agitation of the prophet's mind in foreseeing these calamities.
6. watcheth for thee—rather, "waketh for thee." It awakes up from its past slumber against thee (Ps 78:65, 66).
7. The morning—so Chaldean and Syriac versions (compare Joe 2:2). Ezekiel wishes to awaken them from their lethargy, whereby they were promising to themselves an uninterrupted night (1Th 5:5-7), as if they were never to be called to account [Calvin]. The expression, "morning," refers to the fact that this was the usual time for magistrates giving sentence against offenders (compare Eze 7:10, below; Ps 101:8; Jer 21:12). Gesenius, less probably, translates, "the order of fate"; thy turn to be punished.
not the sounding again—not an empty echo, such as is produced by the reverberation of sounds in "the mountains," but a real cry of tumult is coming [Calvin]. Perhaps it alludes to the joyous cries of the grape-gatherers at vintage on the hills [Grotius], or of the idolaters in their dances on their festivals in honor of their false gods [Tirinus]. Havernick translates, "no brightness."
8, 9. Repetition of Eze 7:3, 4; sadly expressive of accumulated woes by the monotonous sameness.
10. rod … blossomed, pride … budded—The "rod" is the Chaldean Nebuchadnezzar, the instrument of God's vengeance (Isa 10:5; Jer 51:20). The rod sprouting (as the word ought to be translated), &c., implies that God does not move precipitately, but in successive steps. He as it were has planted the ministers of His vengeance, and leaves them to grow till all is ripe for executing His purpose. "Pride" refers to the insolence of the Babylonian conqueror (Jer 50:31, 32). The parallelism ("pride" answering to "rod") opposes Jerome's view, that "pride" refers to the Jews who despised God's threats; (also Calvin's, "though the rod grew in Chaldea, the root was with the Jews"). The "rod" cannot refer, as Grotius thought, to the tribe of Judah, for it evidently refers to the "smiteth" (Eze 7:9) as the instrument of smiting.
11. Violence (that is, the violent foe) is risen up as a rod of (that is, to punish the Jews') wickedness (Zec 5:8).
theirs—their possessions, or all that belongs to them, whether children or goods. Grotius translates from a different Hebrew root, "their nobles," literally, "their tumultuous trains" (Margin) which usually escorted the nobles. Thus "nobles" will form a contrast to the general "multitude."
neither … wailing—(Jer 16:4-7; 25:33). Gesenius translates, "nor shall there be left any beauty among them." English Version is supported by the old Jewish interpreters. So general shall be the slaughter, none shall be left to mourn the dead.
12. let not … buyer rejoice—because he has bought an estate at a bargain price.
nor … seller mourn—because he has had to sell his land at a sacrifice through poverty. The Chaldeans will be masters of the land, so that neither shall the buyer have any good of his purchase, nor the seller any loss; nor shall the latter (Eze 7:13) return to his inheritance at the jubilee year (see Le 25:13). Spiritually this holds good now, seeing that "the time is short"; "they that rejoice should be as though they rejoiced not, and they that buy as though they possessed not": Paul (1Co 7:30) seems to allude to Ezekiel here. Jer 32:15, 37, 43, seems to contradict Ezekiel here. But Ezekiel is speaking of the parents, and of the present; Jeremiah, of the children, and of the future. Jeremiah is addressing believers, that they should hope for a restoration; Ezekiel, the reprobate, who were excluded from hope of deliverance.
13. although they were yet alive—although they should live to the year of jubilee.
multitude thereof—namely, of the Jews.
which shall not return—answering to "the seller shall not return"; not only he, but the whole multitude, shall not return. Calvin omits "is" and "which": "the vision touching the whole multitude shall not return" void (Isa 55:11).
neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life—No hardening of one's self in iniquity will avail against God's threat of punishment. Fairbairn translates, "no one by his iniquity shall invigorate his life"; referring to the jubilee, which was regarded as a revivification of the whole commonwealth, when, its disorders being rectified, the body politic sprang up again into renewed life. That for which God thus provided by the institution of the jubilee and which is now to cease through the nation's iniquity, let none think to bring about by his iniquity.
14. They have blown the trumpet—rather, "Blow the trumpet," or, "Let them blow the trumpet" to collect soldiers as they will, "to make all ready" for encountering the foe, it will be of no avail; none will have the courage to go to the battle (compare Jer 6:1), [Calvin].
15. No security should anywhere be found (De 32:25). Fulfilled (La 1:20); also at the Roman invasion (Mt 24:16-18).
16. (Eze 6:6).
like doves—which, though usually frequenting the valleys, mount up to the mountains when fearing the bird-catcher (Ps 11:1). So Israel, once dwelling in its peaceful valleys, shall flee from the foe to the mountains, which, as being the scene of its idolatries, were justly to be made the scene of its flight and shame. The plaintive note of the dove (Isa 59:11) represents the mournful repentance of Israel hereafter (Zec 12:10-12).
17. shall be weak as water—literally, "shall go (as) waters"; incapable of resistance (Jos 7:5; Ps 22:14; Isa 13:7).
18. cover them—as a garment.
baldness—a sign of mourning (Isa 3:24; Jer 48:37; Mic 1:16).
19. cast … silver in … streets—just retribution; they had abused their silver and gold by converting them into idols, "the stumbling-block of their iniquity" (Eze 14:3, 4, that is, an occasion of sinning); so these silver and gold idols, so far from "being able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath" (see Pr 11:4), shall, in despair, be cast by them into the streets as a prey to the foe, by whom they shall be "removed" (Grotius translates as the Margin, "shall be despised as an unclean thing"); or rather, as suits the parallelism, "shall be put away from them" by the Jews [Calvin]. "They (the silver and gold) shall not satisfy their souls," that is, their cravings of appetite and other needs.
20. beauty of his ornament—the temple of Jehovah, the especial glory of the Jews, as a bride glories in her ornaments (the very imagery used by God as to the temple, Eze 16:10, 11). Compare Eze 24:21: "My sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes."
images … therein—namely, in the temple (Eze 8:3-17).
set it far from them—God had "set" the temple (their "beauty of ornament") "for His majesty"; but they had set up "abominations therein"; therefore God, in just retribution, "set it far from them," (that is, removed them far from it, or took it away from them [Vatablus]). The Margin translates, "Made it unto them an unclean thing" (compare Margin on Eze 7:19, "removed"); what I designed for their glory they turned to their shame, therefore I will make it turn to their ignominy and ruin.
21. strangers—barbarous and savage nations.
22. pollute my secret place—just retribution for the Jews' pollution of the temple. "Robbers shall enter and defile" the holy of holies, the place of God's manifested presence, entrance into which was denied even to the Levites and priests and was permitted to the high priest only once a year on the great day of atonement.
23. chain—symbol of the captivity (compare Jer 27:2). As they enchained the land with violence, so shall they be chained themselves. It was customary to lead away captives in a row with a chain passed from the neck of one to the other. Therefore translate as the Hebrew requires, "the chain," namely, that usually employed on such occasions. Calvin explains it, that the Jews should be dragged, whether they would or no, before God's tribunal to be tried as culprits in chains. The next words favor this: "bloody crimes," rather, "judgment of bloods," that is, with blood sheddings deserving the extreme judicial penalty. Compare Jer 51:9: "Her judgment reacheth unto heaven."
24. worst of the heathen—literally, "wicked of the nations"; the giving up of Israel to their power will convince the Jews that this is a final overthrow.
pomp of … strong—the pride wherewith men "stiff of forehead" despise the prophet.
holy places—the sacred compartments of the temple (Ps 68:35; Jer 51:51) [Calvin]. God calls it "their holy places," because they had so defiled it that He regarded it no longer as His. However, as the defilement of the temple has already been mentioned (Eze 7:20, 22), and "their sacred places" are introduced as a new subject, it seems better to understand this of the places dedicated to their idols. As they defiled God's sanctuary, He will defile their self-constituted "sacred places."
25. peace, and … none—(1Th 5:3).
26. Mischief … upon … mischief—(De 32:23; Jer 4:20). This is said because the Jews were apt to fancy, at every abatement of suffering, that their calamities were about to cease; but God will accumulate woe on woe.
rumour—of the advance of the foe, and of his cruelty (Mt 24:6).
seek a vision—to find some way of escape from their difficulties (Isa 26:9). So Zedekiah consulted Jeremiah (Jer 37:17; 38:14).
law shall perish—fulfilled (Eze 20:1, 3; Ps 74:9; La 2:9; compare Am 8:11); God will thus set aside the idle boast, "The law shall not perish from the priest" (Jer 18:18).
ancients—the ecclesiastical rulers of the people.
27. people of the land—the general multitude, as distinguished from the "king" and the "prince." The consternation shall pervade all ranks. The king, whose duty it was to animate others and find a remedy for existing evils, shall himself be in the utmost anxiety; a mark of the desperate state of affairs.
clothed with desolation—Clothing is designed to keep off shame; but in this case shame shall be the clothing.
after their way—because of their wicked ways.
deserts—literally, "judgments," that is, what just judgment awards to them; used to imply the exact correspondence of God's judgment with the judicial penalties they had incurred: they oppressed the poor and deprived them of liberty; therefore they shall be oppressed and lose their own liberty.