The big picture
Ezekiel 6 opens in verse 1 with “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD .”, and closes in verse 14 with “So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, idols, desolate, altars, Israel. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Ezekiel · King James Version · 14Ezekiel 6:1-7
1–7: The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 6:1–7 opens with “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” and reaches “And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD .” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, altars, desolate.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,” Naming Israel and Son keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD ; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Ezekiel 6:1-7
King James Version1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,
3And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD ; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.
4And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
5And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.
6In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
7And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD .
Ezekiel 6:8-14
8–14: Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the…
Ezekiel 6:8–14 opens with “Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations…” and reaches “So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, idols, know.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And they shall know that I am the LORD , and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Ezekiel 6:8-14
King James Version8Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.
9And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
10And they shall know that I am the LORD , and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.
11Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.
12He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.
13Then shall ye know that I am the LORD , when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.
14So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Ezekiel 6:1 begins with “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Ezekiel 6:13 forms a natural hinge: “Then shall ye know that I am the LORD , when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of…”
The final note
Ezekiel 6:14 leaves the reader with “So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, idols, desolate, altars, Israel, know help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
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.