What is the meaning of Ezekiel 6:12? He who is far off will die by the plague “ He who is far off will die by the plague ” • Ezekiel is addressing Israelites scattered or hiding in distant places, believing separation from Jerusalem would spare them. Yet God promises a pestilence that can cross every boundary (Deuteronomy 28:21; Jeremiah 24:10). • The verse underscores God’s omnipresence—no exile is beyond His reach (Psalm 139:7-10). • It also fulfills earlier warnings that persistent idolatry would bring “sickness” on the land (Leviticus 26:25). Distance without repentance offers no refuge. he who is near will fall by the sword “ …he who is near will fall by the sword ” • Those who stayed near their homes or in the besieged city faced military defeat (2 Kings 25:4-7). • The sword signifies direct, swift judgment (Jeremiah 21:7), reminding us that proximity to holy places never guarantees safety when hearts are rebellious (Matthew 3:9). • God’s earlier covenant curses included the sword for covenant breakers (Leviticus 26:17). Ezekiel shows that word coming to pass. he who remains will die by famine “ …and he who remains will die by famine ” • Survivors of sword and plague would wrestle with starvation as supply lines broke (Ezekiel 4:16-17). • Famine was one of the severest covenant penalties because it touched every daily need (Deuteronomy 28:23-24). • God’s judgment is thorough: plague, sword, famine—no human scheme can sidestep His holiness (Lamentations 4:9-10). So I will vent My fury upon them “ So I will vent My fury upon them ” • The triple disaster culminates in a statement of righteous wrath, not capricious anger (Nahum 1:2; Romans 1:18). • Israel’s centuries of idolatry, violence, and covenant-breaking demanded a decisive response (Ezekiel 5:11-13). • Yet even here, God’s fury has a redemptive aim: to purge sin and bring a remnant to repentance (Ezekiel 6:9-10; Hebrews 12:6). summary Ezekiel 6:12 shows that judgment for unrepentant sin is inescapable—distance, closeness, or stubborn survival strategies cannot shield anyone from God’s sovereign hand. Plague, sword, and famine form a threefold announcement that every avenue of self-reliance will fail. In venting His fury, the Lord vindicates His holiness and keeps His covenant word, while still holding out hope for those who turn back to Him. |
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