Ezekiel 12:16

Ezekiel 12:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Context of Ezekiel 12:16

14I will scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them. 15So they will know and understand fully that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the [pagan] countries. But I will leave a few [survivors] who will escape the sword, the famine, and the virulent disease, that they may confess all their repulsive (idolatrous) acts among the nations where they go, and may know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord.” 17Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, eat your bread with anxiety, and drink your water with trembling and with fear.

Ezekiel 12:16 word by word

וְהוֹתַרְתִּ֤י מֵהֶם֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר מֵחֶ֖רֶב מֵרָעָ֣ב וּמִדָּ֑בֶר לְמַ֨עַן יְסַפְּר֜וּ אֶת־כָּל־תּוֹעֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם בַּגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ שָׁ֔ם וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But I will leaveיָתַרyâthar · to remainH3498
• a fewמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
• menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• of them from the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• from the famineרָעָבrâ‛âb · famineH7458
• and from the pestilenceדֶּ֫בֶרdeber · pestilenceH1698
• that they may declareסָפַרsâphar · to recountH5608
• all their abominationsתּוֹעֵבַהtô‛êbah tô‛êbah · abominationH8441
• among the heathenגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
• whither they comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• and they shall knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for Ezekiel 12:16

• Ezekiel 6:8“Yet I will leave some of you alive [a remnant], for you will have some who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered throughout the countries.
• Ezekiel 14:22Yet, behold, survivors will be left in it [escaping the judgments], both sons and daughters. Listen carefully, they are going to come out to you [in Babylon] and you will see their [wicked] conduct and [despicable] actions; then you will be at peace in regard to the disaster which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought on it [has been deserved].
• Isaiah 1:9If the Lord of hosts Had not left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.
• Isaiah 6:13And though a tenth [of the people] remain in the land, It will again be subject to destruction [consumed and burned], Like a massive terebinth tree or like an oak Whose stump remains when it is chopped down. The holy seed [the elect remnant] is its stump [the substance of Israel].”
• Isaiah 10:22For though your people, O Israel, may be as the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; The destruction is determined [it is decided and destined for completion], overflowing with justice (righteous punishment).
• Isaiah 24:13For so it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, As the shaking of an olive tree, As the gleanings when the grape harvest is over [and only a little of the fruit remains].
• Jeremiah 4:27Therefore says the Lord, “The whole land shall be a desolation, Yet I will not cause total destruction.
• Jeremiah 30:11For I am with you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, But I will not destroy you completely. But I will judge and discipline you fairly And will by no means regard you as guiltless and leave you unpunished.’
• Amos 9:8Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful [northern] kingdom [of Israel’s ten tribes] And I shall destroy it from the face of the earth; But I shall not totally destroy the house of Jacob [that is, the entire nation of Israel],” Says the Lord.
• Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.
• Matthew 24:22And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened.
• Romans 11:4But what is God’s response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
• Genesis 13:16I will make your descendants [as numerous] as the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the [grains of] dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.
• Isaiah 10:19And the remaining trees of Assyria’s forest will be so few in number That a child could write them down.
• Romans 9:27And Isaiah calls out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is only the remnant [a small believing minority] that will be saved [from God’s judgment];
• Ezekiel 36:31Then you will remember [clearly] your [own] evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your sins and for your outrageous atrocities.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 12:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Few - literally, as in the margin; so few, that they can easily be counted Isaiah 10:19. The few who should escape destruction should make known to all among whom they should dwell how great had been the wickedness of the people, how just their punishment.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16The few unhappy survivors confessed their terrible sins to their captors. They did not do this out of repentance, but because they recognized that the Lord had judged them fairly.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. I will leave a few ... that they may declare ... abominations--God's purpose in scattering a remnant of Jews among the Gentiles; namely, not only that they themselves should be weaned from idolatry (see Eze 12:15), but that by their own word, as also by their whole state as exiles, they should make God's righteousness manifest among the Gentiles, as vindicated in their punishment for their sins (compare Is 43:10; Zec 8:13).Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 12:16

• Instruction
• Judgments
• Zedekiah

In the dictionaries

• Carefulness
• Ezekiel
• Zedekiah (2)

Commentaries on Ezekiel 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings