The big picture
Ezekiel 5 opens in verse 1 with “And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more…”, and closes in verse 17 with “So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and…” Repeated or prominent terms include judgments, LORD, nations, round, midst. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Ezekiel · King James Version · 17Ezekiel 5:1-6
1–6: Thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor…
Ezekiel 5:1–6 opens with “And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass…” and reaches “And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 5 develops its own movement around judgments, LORD, nations, round, midst, with particular weight carried by fire, midst, third.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include balances, barber’s, beard. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Ezekiel 5:1-6
King James Version1And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
2Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
3Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
4Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
5Thus saith the Lord GOD ; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
6And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.
Ezekiel 5:7-12
7–12: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Because ye multiplied more than the…
Ezekiel 5:7–12 opens with “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round…” and reaches “A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 5 develops its own movement around judgments, LORD, nations, round, midst, with particular weight carried by judgments, Lord, midst.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine…” The line’s distinctive content terms include abominations. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
Ezekiel 5:7-12
King James Version7Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;
8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.
9And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.
10Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
11Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD ; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
12A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
Ezekiel 5:13-17
13–17: Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest…
Ezekiel 5:13–17 opens with “Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be…” and reaches “So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 5 develops its own movement around judgments, LORD, nations, round, midst, with particular weight carried by famine, fury, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that…” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Ezekiel 5:13-17
King James Version13Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.
14Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.
15So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.
16When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
17So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Ezekiel 5:1 begins with “And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances…”
Where the chapter turns
Ezekiel 5:8 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.”
The final note
Ezekiel 5:17 leaves the reader with “So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words judgments, LORD, nations, round, midst, third help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the repeated ending make readers feel?
Death becomes the chapter's persistent refrain, even as generation follows generation.
What two interruptions offer hope?
Enoch's walk with God and Lamech's hope attached to Noah.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.