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 also scatter all the attendants who surround him and all his troops to every direction of the wind, and I will draw a sword to chase after them. 15They will know that I am the Lord when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine, and plague, so that among the nations where they go they can tell about all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” 17The word of the Lord came to me: 18“Son of man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with anxious shaking.

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 a remnant when you are scattered among the nations, for throughout the countries there will be some of you who will escape the sword.
• Ezekiel 14:22Even so, there will be survivors left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out. Indeed, they will come out to you, and you will observe their conduct and actions. Then you will be consoled about the devastation I have brought on Jerusalem, about all I have brought on it.
• Isaiah 1:9If the Lord of Armies had not left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would resemble Gomorrah.
• Isaiah 6:13Though a tenth will remain in the land, it will be burned again. Like the terebinth or the oak that leaves a stump when felled, the holy seed is the stump.
• Isaiah 10:22Israel, even if your people were as numerous as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction has been decreed; justice overflows.
• Isaiah 24:13For this is how it will be on earth among the nations: like a harvested olive tree, like a gleaning after a grape harvest.
• Jeremiah 4:27For this is what the Lord says: “The whole land will be a desolation, but I will not finish it off.
• Jeremiah 30:11For I will be with you — this is the Lord’s declaration — to save you! I will bring destruction on all the nations where I have scattered you; however, I will not bring destruction on you. I will discipline you justly, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.
• Amos 9:8Look, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, and I will obliterate it from the face of the earth. However, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob — this is the Lord’s declaration —
• Matthew 7:14How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
• Matthew 24:22Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.
• Romans 11:4But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.
• Genesis 13:16I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
• Isaiah 10:19The remaining trees of its forest will be so few in number that a child could count them.
• Romans 9:27But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, Though the number of Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved;
• Ezekiel 36:31“‘You will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and detestable practices.

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