Ezekiel 9

The Marking and Slaughter of Jerusalem

¹Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Cause those who are in charge of the city to draw near, each man with his destroying weapon in his hand.”

²Behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lies toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand. One man in the middle of them was clothed in linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. They went in, and stood beside the bronze altar.

³The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn by his side.

⁴The LORD said to him, “Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

⁵To the others he said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him, and strike. Don’t let your eye spare, neither have pity.

⁶Kill utterly the old man, the young man, the virgin, little children and women; but don’t come near any man on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” Then they began at the old men who were before the house.

⁷He said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” They went out, and struck in the city.

⁸While they were killing, and I was left, I fell on my face, and cried, and said, “Ah Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the residue of Israel in your pouring out of your wrath on Jerusalem?”

⁹Then he said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perversion; for they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD doesn’t see.’

¹⁰As for me also, my eye won’t spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way on their head.”

¹¹Behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, “I have done as you have commanded me.”

Previous Ezekiel 8

Next Ezekiel 10

In this dramatic vision, Ezekiel witnesses God's judgment upon Jerusalem through six executioners and one recorder clothed in linen. The man in linen first marks the foreheads of those who grieve over the city's abominations, protecting them from the coming slaughter. The executioners then systematically kill all unmarked inhabitants, beginning at the temple sanctuary itself, while Ezekiel pleads for mercy but receives confirmation that Jerusalem's extreme wickedness demands complete judgment.

Context

This chapter follows Ezekiel's temple vision of Jerusalem's abominations (chapter 8) and precedes the departure of God's glory from the temple (chapter 10).

Key Themes

Outline

1-2
The Executioners Arrive Six armed men and one scribe in linen appear at the temple's bronze altar.
3-4
The Marking Command God's glory moves to the temple threshold and commands the scribe to mark the righteous.
5-7
The Slaughter Begins The executioners receive orders to kill all unmarked people, starting at the sanctuary.
8-10
Ezekiel's Intercession The prophet pleads for Israel's remnant but God confirms the judgment is deserved.
11
Mission Completed The man in linen reports that the marking has been accomplished.

The Marking and Slaughter of Jerusalem

9:1–9:11

prophecy vision solemn

God commands the marking of righteous individuals who mourn over Jerusalem's sins, while ordering the destruction of the wicked. This vision depicts divine judgment that spares the faithful while executing justice on the corrupt.

person_contrast

Ezekiel's vision uniquely balances divine wrath with protective mercy, as God simultaneously commands both the marking of the righteous and the slaughter of the wicked.

Insight Character Study

Ezekiel's vision uniquely balances divine wrath with protective mercy, as God simultaneously commands both the marking of the righteous and the slaughter of the wicked.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Ezekiel 9:2 5 references

Lexicals 5

Daniel 10:5 Lexical

I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man clothed in linen, whose waist was adorned with pure gold of…

Ezekiel 9

The Marking and Slaughter of Jerusalem

The Marking and Slaughter of Jerusalem

Insights

Cross-References

Ezekiel 9:2 5 references

Ezekiel 9:3 5 references

Ezekiel 9:5 1 reference

Ezekiel 9:6 5 references

Ezekiel 9:8 5 references

Interlinear

Historical Context