God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 9:4
4The Lord said to that person, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan about all the disgusting things that are being done in the city.”
Ezekiel 9:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
- New International Version (NIV)and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the Lord said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it."
- New King James Version (NKJV)and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”
Context of Ezekiel 9:4
2So six men came from the upper north gate. Each one brought a deadly weapon with him. Among them was a person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen. The men came in and stood by the bronze altar. 3Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the angels, where it had been, to the temple’s entrance. The Lord called to the person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen. The Lord said to that person, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan about all the disgusting things that are being done in the city.” 5Then he said to the others as I was listening, “Follow him throughout the city and kill. Don’t have any compassion, and don’t feel sorry. 6Kill old men, young men, old women, young women, and children. But don’t come near anyone who has a mark on him. Start with my holy place.” So they started with the old men in front of the temple.
Read all of Ezekiel 9Ezekiel 9:4 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלָ֔יו עֲבֹר֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר בְּת֖וֹךְ יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְהִתְוִ֨יתָ תָּ֜ו עַל־מִצְח֣וֹת הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַנֶּֽאֱנָחִים֙ וְהַנֶּ֣אֱנָקִ֔ים עַ֚ל כָּל־הַתּ֣וֹעֵב֔וֹת הַֽנַּעֲשׂ֖וֹת בְּתוֹכָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, Go throughעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- and setתָּוָהtâvâh · to markH8427
- a markתָּוtâv · markH8420
- upon the foreheadsמֵ֫צַחmêtsach · foreheadH4696
- of the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- that sighאָנַח'ânach · to sighH584
- and that cryאָנַק'ânaq · to groanH602
- for all the abominationsתּוֹעֵבַהtô‛êbah tô‛êbah · abominationH8441
- that be doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
Cross-references for Ezekiel 9:4
- Exodus 12:7They must take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they will eat the animals.
- Malachi 3:16Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord paid attention and listened. A book was written in his presence to be a reminder to those who feared the Lord and respected his name.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22In addition, he has put his seal ⌞of ownership⌟ on us and has given us the Spirit as his guarantee.
- Ephesians 4:30Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free ⌞from the world of sin⌟.
- 2 Timothy 2:19In spite of all that, God’s ⌞people⌟ have a solid foundation. These words are engraved on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Whoever worships the Lord must give up doing wrong.”
- Revelation 7:2I saw another angel coming from the east with the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been allowed to harm the land and sea,
- Revelation 9:4They were told not to harm any grass, green plant, or tree on the earth. They could harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
- Revelation 13:6It opened its mouth to insult God, to insult his name and his tent—those who are living in heaven.
- Revelation 14:1I looked, and the lamb was standing on Mount Zion. There were 144,000 people with him who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
- Revelation 20:4I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were allowed to judge. Then I saw the souls of those whose heads had been cut off because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God’s word. They had not worshiped the beast or its statue and were not branded on their foreheads or hands. They lived and ruled with Christ for 1,000 years.
- Ezekiel 6:11“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and say, “Oh no!” because the people of Israel have done evil and disgusting things. So they will die in wars, famines, and plagues.
- 2 Kings 22:13“On behalf of the people, all of Judah, and me, ask the Lord about the words in this book that has been found. The Lord’s fierce anger is directed towards us because our ancestors did not obey the things in this book or do everything written ⌞in it⌟.”
- Psalms 119:53I am burning with anger because of wicked people, who abandon your teachings.
- Isaiah 57:15The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.
- Jeremiah 13:17If you won’t listen, I will cry secretly over your arrogance. I will cry bitterly, and my eyes will flow with tears because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.
- 2 Corinthians 12:21I’m afraid that when I come to you again, my God may humble me. I may have to grieve over many who formerly led sinful lives and have not changed the way they think and act about the perversion, sexual sins, and promiscuity in which they have been involved.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 9:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh - This is in allusion to the ancient every-where-used custom of setting marks on servants and slaves, to distinguish them from others. It was also common for the worshippers of particular idols to have their idol's mark upon their foreheads, arms, etc. These are called sectarian marks to the present day among the Hindoos and others in India. Hence by this mark we can easily know who is a follower of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4mercy precedes judgment. So in the case of Sodom Luke 21:18, Luke 21:28; Revelation 7:1. This accords with the eschatological character of the predictions in this chapter (see the introduction of Ezekiel). A mark - literally, “Tau,” the name of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The old form of the letter was that of a cross. The Jews have interpreted this sign variously, some considering that “Tau,” being the last of the Hebrew letters, and so…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6The man dressed in linen (Ezekiel 9:2–3) marked those to be kept safe, similar to the first Passover (Exodus 12:7–13). Meanwhile, the angels of destruction carried out a complete judgment (Exodus 12:28–30). This time, they targeted everyone without the protective mark, including old and young, girls, women, and children. Unlike in Egypt, where only the firstborn males were affected, all who did not mourn over the city's sins were destroyed (compare…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. midst of ... city ... midst of Jerusalem--This twofold designation marks more emphatically the scene of the divine judgments. a mark--literally, the Hebrew letter Tau, the last in the alphabet, used as a mark ("my sign," Job 31:35, Margin); literally, Tau; originally written in the form of a cross, which Tertullian explains as referring to the badge and only means of salvation, the cross of Christ. But nowhere in Scripture are the words which are now…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 9:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 9
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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