What is the meaning of Ezekiel 9:5? And as I listened Ezekiel stands silently, ears and heart open. His listening models the posture God expects when He speaks—full attention and immediate readiness to obey (Ezekiel 3:10; James 1:22). The prophet does not question or negotiate; he receives. This reminds us that revelation is graciously given, not earned (John 15:15). He said to the others The “others” are the six executioners who appeared with weapons (Ezekiel 9:2). God personally commissions them, showing that judgment is never random but issued by the Holy One Himself (Isaiah 33:22). Their authority is delegated, yet the command originates with the Lord who “does whatever pleases Him” (Psalm 115:3). Follow him through the city “They are to trail the man clothed in linen” who marked the faithful in verse 4. Judgment comes only after mercy’s mark is offered, echoing the Passover pattern (Exodus 12:7, 13). The order—mark first, strike second—underscores that God “knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19) and protects them in the midst of wrath (Revelation 7:3). and start killing The Hebrew city of Jerusalem now becomes the battlefield of divine justice. What seems shocking to modern ears was foretold in Leviticus 26:25 and Deuteronomy 28:15–26: persistent covenant rebellion would end in the sword within the gates. God does not bluff; His warnings are promises as sure as His blessings (Numbers 23:19). do not show pity Mercy had been despised for generations, so the time for pity is past (Proverbs 1:24–28). The executioners reflect God’s perfect impartiality—He “shows no partiality nor takes a bribe” (Deuteronomy 10:17). Their lack of pity is not cruelty; it is holiness responding to entrenched sin (Habakkuk 1:13). or spare anyone! The command is absolute: “Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, little children and women” (Ezekiel 9:6). Corporate guilt brings corporate judgment (Joshua 7:1, 12). Yet even here God’s justice is measured: only the unmarked fall, proving that personal faithfulness still matters inside a corrupt culture (Genesis 18:23–32). summary Ezekiel 9:5 records the solemn moment when God’s patience expires and holiness demands action. The prophet listens, the angels obey, and judgment follows mercy’s mark. The verse assures us that God’s word is literal, His justice unsparing, and His care for the faithful unwavering. |
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