Ezekiel 9
Expanded Bible
Vision of the Angels
9 Then he shouted with a loud voice in my ears, “You who are ·chosen [appointed] to ·punish [execute judgment on] this city, come near with your ·weapon [weapon of destruction] in your hand.” 2 Then six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his ·powerful weapon [war club] in his hand. Among them was a man dressed in linen with a writing case at his side. The men went in and stood by the bronze altar [Ex. 27:1–8].
3 Then the glory of the God of Israel [C his manifest presence] went up from above the ·creatures with wings [L cherubim], where it had been, to the place in the ·Temple where the door opened [L threshold of the house]. He called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing case at his side. 4 The Lord said to the man, “Go through Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who groan and cry about all the ·hateful [detestable; abominable] things being done among them [Rev. 3:12; 7:3; 9:4; 14:1; 22:4].”
5 As I listened, he said to the other men, “Go through the city behind the man dressed in linen and ·kill [strike]. Don’t [L let your eye] pity anyone, and don’t ·show mercy [spare them]. 6 Kill and destroy old men, young men and ·women [virgins], little children, and older women, but don’t touch any who have the mark on them. Start at my ·Temple [sanctuary].” So they started with the ·elders [or old men] who were in front of the ·Temple [L house].
7 Then he said to the men, “·Make the Temple unclean [Defile the temple; C ritually], and fill the courtyards with ·those who have been killed [the slain]. Go out!” So the men went out and killed the people in the city. 8 While they were ·killing the people [striking them down], I was left alone. I bowed facedown on the ground and I cried out, “Oh, Lord God! Will you destroy ·everyone left alive in [the whole remnant of] Israel when you ·turn loose your anger [pour out your wrath] on Jerusalem?”
9 Then he said to me, “The sin of the ·people [L house] of Israel and Judah is very great. The land is filled with people who murder, and the city is full of ·people who are not fair [injustice; corruption]. The people say, ‘The Lord has ·left [abandoned; forsaken] the land, and the Lord does not see.’ 10 But ·I [L my eye] will have no pity, nor will I ·show mercy [spare]. I will bring their ·evil [deeds; L way] back on their heads.”
11 Then the man dressed in linen with the writing case at his side reported, “I have done just as you commanded me.”
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Ezekiel 9
Amplified Bible
The Vision of Slaughter
9 Then [in my vision] I heard Him cry out with a thunderous voice, saying, “Approach now, executioners of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.” 2 Behold, six men [angelic beings] came from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with his battle-axe in his hand; and among them was a [a]certain man clothed in linen, with a scribe’s writing case at his side. They entered and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Then the [[b]Shekinah] glory and brilliance of the God of Israel (the cloud) [c]went up from the cherubim on which it had rested, to [stand above] the threshold of the [Lord’s] temple. And the Lord called to the man clothed with linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side. 4 The Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, throughout all of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh [in distress] and grieve over all the repulsive acts which are being committed in it.” 5 But to the others I heard Him say, “Follow him [the man with the scribe’s writing case] throughout the city and strike; do not let your eyes have pity and do not spare [anyone]. 6 Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women; but do not touch or go near anyone on whom is the mark. Begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple [who did not have the Lord’s mark on their foreheads].(A) 7 And He said to the executioners, “Defile the temple and fill its courtyards with the dead. Go out!” So they went out and struck down the people in the city. 8 As they were executing them and I alone was left, I fell face downward and cried out, “Alas, Lord God! Will You destroy all that is left of Israel [the whole remnant] by pouring out Your wrath and indignation on Jerusalem?”
9 Then He said to me, “The wickedness (guilt) of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of blood and the city is full of perversion and injustice; for they say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land; the Lord does not see [what we are doing].’ 10 But as for Me, My eye will have no pity, nor will I spare, but I will bring their [wicked] conduct upon their [own] heads.”
11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side, reported, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”
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- Ezekiel 9:2 The linen clothing of the seventh angel denotes his superior rank.
- Ezekiel 9:3 The word Shekinah does not appear in the Bible, but it was used by ancient Jews to refer to the physical presence of God among men; usually the Shekinah glory.
- Ezekiel 9:3 God begins His departure from the temple.
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