Major Prophets · Chapter 9 of 48

Ezekiel 9

In continuing vision, God summons six executioners with slaughter weapons and a seventh man clothed in linen carrying a writer's inkhorn. The linen-clad man is sent through Jerusalem to mark the foreheads of all who sigh and cry over the city's abominations. Then the destroyers follow, sparing only the marked and beginning at the sanctuary. Ezekiel intercedes, but judgment proceeds.

What happens in Ezekiel 9

God cries with a loud voice for those charged over the city to draw near with destroying weapons. Six men come from the north gate, each with a slaughter weapon, and among them one clothed in linen with a writer's inkhorn at his side. The glory of God rises from the cherub to the threshold, and He commands the linen-clad man to go through Jerusalem and set a mark on the foreheads of all who sigh and cry over the abominations done in the city.

To the others He says to follow and smite without pity, sparing all who bear the mark, and to begin at His sanctuary. They begin with the elders before the house. As the slaughter proceeds, Ezekiel falls on his face and pleads whether God will destroy all the residue of Israel. God answers that the iniquity is exceeding great and He will not spare. The man in linen returns, reporting the marking done.

Ezekiel 9 in context

Part of the temple vision of chapters 8 to 11, this scene follows the exposure of Jerusalem's idolatry. The mark set on foreheads is the Hebrew letter tav, in ancient script a cross-like sign.

Beginning judgment at the sanctuary reflects the principle that judgment starts with the house of God. The scene recalls the Passover, where a mark spared the marked from the destroyer.

Main themes of Ezekiel 9

Ezekiel 9 (KJV)

1He 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. 2And, 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. 3And 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; 4And 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. 5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6Slay 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. 7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. 8And 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? 9Then 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. 10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. 11And, 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.

Verses to carry from Ezekiel 9

“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.”Ezekiel 9:4

“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.”Ezekiel 9:6

“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?”Ezekiel 9:8

Reflection

Do the abominations of your age grieve you, or have you grown numb? In Ezekiel's vision, holy sorrow over sin was the very mark that spared. Ask God for a tender heart that still weeps over what wounds Him, and rest in the deeper seal, the mark of belonging to Christ, that no destroyer can override.

A prayer from Ezekiel 9