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 in every direction all those who are around him—his staff and all his troops. I will pursue them with my sword. 15Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries. However, I will spare a few of them from wars, famines, and plagues. Wherever they go among the nations, they will realize that everything they did was disgusting. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ” 17The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 18“Son of man, shake as you eat your food. Tremble and be worried as you drink your water.

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“ ‘But I will let some people live. Some people will escape the battle among the nations and be scattered throughout the countries.
• Ezekiel 14:22But some people will survive. Some of your sons and daughters will be brought out. When they come out to you, you will see how they live. Then you will be comforted after the disasters that I will bring on Jerusalem, after every disaster that I will bring against it.
• Isaiah 1:9If the Lord of Armies hadn’t left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Isaiah 6:13Even if one out of ten people is left in it, the land will be burned again. When a sacred oak or an oak is cut down, a stump is left The holy seed will be the land’s stump.”
• Isaiah 10:22Although your people Israel may be as ⌞numerous as⌟ the grains of sand on the seashore, only a few will return. Destruction will be complete and fair.
• Isaiah 24:13That is the way it will be on earth among the nations. They will be like an olive tree which has been shaken or like what’s left after the grape harvest.
• Jeremiah 4:27This is what the Lord says: The whole earth will be ruined, although I will not destroy it completely.
• Jeremiah 30:11I am with you, and I will rescue you,” declares the Lord. “I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will correct you with justice. I won’t let you go entirely unpunished.
• Amos 9:8I, the Almighty Lord, have my eyes on this sinful kingdom. I will wipe it off the face of the earth. But I won’t totally destroy the descendants of Jacob, declares the Lord.
• Matthew 7:14But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate.
• Matthew 24:22If God does not reduce the number of those days, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.
• Romans 11:4But what was God’s reply? God said, “I’ve kept 7,000 people for myself who have not knelt to worship Baal.”
• Genesis 13:16I will also give you as many descendants as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then he could also count your descendants.
• Isaiah 10:19The trees that remain in the forest will be so few that a child could count them.
• Romans 9:27Isaiah also says about Israel: “Although the descendants of Israel are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore, only a few will be saved.
• Ezekiel 36:31Then you will remember your evil ways and the bad things that you did, and you will hate yourselves for all these wicked and disgusting things.

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