And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
Thus saith the Lord God; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.
And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.
Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord God; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.
Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.
So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the Lord have spoken it.
When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the Lord have spoken it.
Ezekiel 5 provides a stark and unforgettable depiction of the judgment that was to befall Jerusalem. God uses a dramatic symbolic act to communicate the severity of the situation and the consequences of Israel's disobedience. This chapter isn't just a historical account; it's a powerful reminder of God's holiness, justice, and the importance of remaining faithful to Him. Ezekiel’s signs were designed to call attention to the message he had for these first exiles in Babylon.
The Shaved Head and the Divided Hair (Ezekiel 5:1-4)
The chapter opens with a striking image: God commands Ezekiel to take a sharp sword and shave his head and beard (Ezekiel 5:1). This was undoubtedly a public spectacle, designed to grab the attention of the exiles in Babylon. The act of shaving, typically associated with mourning or disgrace, immediately signaled that something terrible was about to happen.
God then instructs Ezekiel to divide the shaved hair into three equal parts, each representing a different aspect of the coming judgment against Jerusalem and its people (Ezekiel 5:2-4). One-third was to be burned within a model of the city, symbolizing death by famine and plague within Jerusalem's walls. Another third was to be slashed with a sword around the model, representing death by war outside the city. The final third was to be scattered to the wind, signifying the exile and dispersion of the survivors.
However, Ezekiel was told to save a few strands and tuck them in his robe (Ezekiel 5:3). This seems to indicate that some would be shielded from judgment, but even some of them would be thrown in the fire that would spread . . . to the whole house of Israel (Ezekiel 5:3-4). This remnant would face further trials, highlighting that even those who remained faithful would not be entirely spared from the consequences of the nation's sin. Likely, God chose to deliver some so they would be a witness to the awfulness of Judah’s sin and the righteousness of God’s judgment, as indicated in Ezekiel 6:8-10.
Jerusalem's Unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 5:5-9)
The reason for this severe judgment is explicitly stated: Jerusalem had been unfaithful to God. God had set Jerusalem in the center of the nations as a city on a hill, populated by his chosen people, to be a witness to his holiness by their love and devotion to him. But Israel had rebelled against his ordinances and statutes and had become more wicked than the countries that surround her (Ezekiel 5:6). They had rejected His laws and defiled His sanctuary with their idolatry and abominations. Instead of being a light to the nations, they had become a source of shame and reproach.
Because of their wickedness, God declares that He will execute judgments on Jerusalem in the sight of the nations (Ezekiel 5:8). The coming judgment would be so severe that it would be unprecedented, even including the horror of cannibalism within Jerusalem as the siege grew worse (Ezekiel 5:8-10).
The Severity and Righteousness of God's Judgment (Ezekiel 5:10-17)
The relentless judgments of this chapter give us another insight into how hard Ezekiel’s ministry must have been. God swore by his own living character that he would have no pity on Israel because of the way its people had defiled his sanctuary (Ezekiel 5:11). God provides in Ezekiel 5:12 the interpretation of the symbolic acts Ezekiel performed with the three parts of his hair (Ezekiel 5:2). The few hairs hidden in his robe represent a righteous remnant preserved from immediate judgment. (Both Ezekiel 5:4 and the final verses of this chapter argue against their total safety.)
The principle at work here is this: The greater the sin, the greater the consequence. The chapter concludes with a further description of the desolation that will come upon Jerusalem (Ezekiel 5:14-17). The land will become a waste, a reproach and a warning to the surrounding nations. The repetition of the phrase I, the LORD, have spoken (Ezekiel 5:15, 17) emphasizes that these judgments are not arbitrary acts of vengeance but the just pronouncements of a holy and righteous God. It’s a reminder that Judah’s fate wasn’t about the hotheaded vengeance of an angry sovereign flying off the handle at his subjects. Rather, these are the pronouncements of Israel’s perfectly just and holy God whose righteous standards had been dragged through the dirt by the same people who had promised to uphold them in loving obedience. We must never extol the love of God at the expense of his just wrath against sin.
Implications for Today
While Ezekiel 5 speaks of a specific historical context, its message resonates with believers today. It serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of remaining faithful to God. We must never take God's grace for granted or presume upon His mercy. Just as God judged Israel for their unfaithfulness, He will hold us accountable for our actions.
Furthermore, Ezekiel 5 highlights the seriousness of being a witness for God. We are called to be a light to the world, reflecting His holiness and righteousness in our lives. When we compromise our values or embrace the ways of the world, we risk bringing reproach upon God's name and undermining our witness.
Ultimately, Ezekiel 5 calls us to examine our own hearts and lives, ensuring that we are living in obedience to God's Word. It is a call to repentance, humility, and a renewed commitment to following Christ. By heeding this warning, we can avoid the judgment that comes upon those who reject God and experience the blessings of His grace and faithfulness.
And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
Thus saith the Lord God; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.
And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.
Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord God; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.
Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.
So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the Lord have spoken it.
When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the Lord have spoken it.
Ezekiel 5 provides a stark and unforgettable depiction of the judgment that was to befall Jerusalem. God uses a dramatic symbolic act to communicate the severity of the situation and the consequences of Israel's disobedience. This chapter isn't just a historical account; it's a powerful reminder of God's holiness, justice, and the importance of remaining faithful to Him. Ezekiel’s signs were designed to call attention to the message he had for these first exiles in Babylon.
The Shaved Head and the Divided Hair (Ezekiel 5:1-4)
The chapter opens with a striking image: God commands Ezekiel to take a sharp sword and shave his head and beard (Ezekiel 5:1). This was undoubtedly a public spectacle, designed to grab the attention of the exiles in Babylon. The act of shaving, typically associated with mourning or disgrace, immediately signaled that something terrible was about to happen.
God then instructs Ezekiel to divide the shaved hair into three equal parts, each representing a different aspect of the coming judgment against Jerusalem and its people (Ezekiel 5:2-4). One-third was to be burned within a model of the city, symbolizing death by famine and plague within Jerusalem's walls. Another third was to be slashed with a sword around the model, representing death by war outside the city. The final third was to be scattered to the wind, signifying the exile and dispersion of the survivors.
However, Ezekiel was told to save a few strands and tuck them in his robe (Ezekiel 5:3). This seems to indicate that some would be shielded from judgment, but even some of them would be thrown in the fire that would spread . . . to the whole house of Israel (Ezekiel 5:3-4). This remnant would face further trials, highlighting that even those who remained faithful would not be entirely spared from the consequences of the nation's sin. Likely, God chose to deliver some so they would be a witness to the awfulness of Judah’s sin and the righteousness of God’s judgment, as indicated in Ezekiel 6:8-10.
Jerusalem's Unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 5:5-9)
The reason for this severe judgment is explicitly stated: Jerusalem had been unfaithful to God. God had set Jerusalem in the center of the nations as a city on a hill, populated by his chosen people, to be a witness to his holiness by their love and devotion to him. But Israel had rebelled against his ordinances and statutes and had become more wicked than the countries that surround her (Ezekiel 5:6). They had rejected His laws and defiled His sanctuary with their idolatry and abominations. Instead of being a light to the nations, they had become a source of shame and reproach.
Because of their wickedness, God declares that He will execute judgments on Jerusalem in the sight of the nations (Ezekiel 5:8). The coming judgment would be so severe that it would be unprecedented, even including the horror of cannibalism within Jerusalem as the siege grew worse (Ezekiel 5:8-10).
The Severity and Righteousness of God's Judgment (Ezekiel 5:10-17)
The relentless judgments of this chapter give us another insight into how hard Ezekiel’s ministry must have been. God swore by his own living character that he would have no pity on Israel because of the way its people had defiled his sanctuary (Ezekiel 5:11). God provides in Ezekiel 5:12 the interpretation of the symbolic acts Ezekiel performed with the three parts of his hair (Ezekiel 5:2). The few hairs hidden in his robe represent a righteous remnant preserved from immediate judgment. (Both Ezekiel 5:4 and the final verses of this chapter argue against their total safety.)
The principle at work here is this: The greater the sin, the greater the consequence. The chapter concludes with a further description of the desolation that will come upon Jerusalem (Ezekiel 5:14-17). The land will become a waste, a reproach and a warning to the surrounding nations. The repetition of the phrase I, the LORD, have spoken (Ezekiel 5:15, 17) emphasizes that these judgments are not arbitrary acts of vengeance but the just pronouncements of a holy and righteous God. It’s a reminder that Judah’s fate wasn’t about the hotheaded vengeance of an angry sovereign flying off the handle at his subjects. Rather, these are the pronouncements of Israel’s perfectly just and holy God whose righteous standards had been dragged through the dirt by the same people who had promised to uphold them in loving obedience. We must never extol the love of God at the expense of his just wrath against sin.
Implications for Today
While Ezekiel 5 speaks of a specific historical context, its message resonates with believers today. It serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of remaining faithful to God. We must never take God's grace for granted or presume upon His mercy. Just as God judged Israel for their unfaithfulness, He will hold us accountable for our actions.
Furthermore, Ezekiel 5 highlights the seriousness of being a witness for God. We are called to be a light to the world, reflecting His holiness and righteousness in our lives. When we compromise our values or embrace the ways of the world, we risk bringing reproach upon God's name and undermining our witness.
Ultimately, Ezekiel 5 calls us to examine our own hearts and lives, ensuring that we are living in obedience to God's Word. It is a call to repentance, humility, and a renewed commitment to following Christ. By heeding this warning, we can avoid the judgment that comes upon those who reject God and experience the blessings of His grace and faithfulness.