New King James Version
Ezekiel 12:16
16But 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.”
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 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 every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his troops; and I will draw out the sword after them. 15“Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. 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.” 17Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and anxiety.
Read all of Ezekiel 12Ezekiel 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, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.
- Ezekiel 14:22Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it.
- Isaiah 1:9Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah.
- Isaiah 6:13But yet a tenth will be in it, And will return and be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.”
- Isaiah 10:22For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, A remnant of them will return; The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
- Isaiah 24:13When it shall be thus in the midst of the land among the people, It shall be like the shaking of an olive tree, Like the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done.
- Jeremiah 4:27For thus says the Lord: “The whole land shall be desolate; Yet I will not make a full end.
- Jeremiah 30:11For I am with you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’
- Amos 9:8“Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” Says the Lord.
- Matthew 7:14Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
- Matthew 24:22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
- Romans 11:4But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
- Genesis 13:16And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
- Isaiah 10:19Then the rest of the trees of his forest Will be so few in number That a child may write them.
- Romans 9:27Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.
- Ezekiel 36:31Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries