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.
• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)But I will spare a few of them from death by war, famine, or disease, so they can confess all their detestable sins to their captors. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Context of Ezekiel 12:16

14I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword. 15“They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 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.” 17The word of the Lord came to me: 18“Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear 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 spare some, for some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the lands and nations.
• Ezekiel 14:22Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it.
• Isaiah 1:9Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.
• Isaiah 6:13And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
• Isaiah 10:22Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous.
• Isaiah 24:13So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.
• Jeremiah 4:27This is what the Lord says: “The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely.
• Jeremiah 30:11I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’
• Amos 9:8“Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lord are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth. Yet I will not totally destroy the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord.
• Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
• Matthew 24:22“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
• Romans 11:4And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
• Genesis 13:16I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.
• Isaiah 10:19And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few that a child could write them down.
• Romans 9:27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
• Ezekiel 36:31Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins 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