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Ezekiel 9:7

Ezekiel 9:7 in Multiple Translations

Then He told them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city.

And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and smote in the city.

And he said to them, Make the house unclean, make the open places full of dead: go forward and send destruction on the town.

Then he told them, “Make the Temple unclean and fill the courtyards with dead bodies. Go ahead and do it!” So they went and started killing all through the city.

And he sayde vnto them, Defile the house, and fill the courtes with the slaine, then goe foorth: and they went out, and slewe them in the citie.

And they begin among the aged men who [are] before the house, and He saith unto them, 'Defile the house, and fill the courts with the wounded, go forth.' And they have gone forth and have smitten in the city.

He said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” They went out, and struck in the city.

And he said to them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

And he said to them: Defile the house, and ill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew them that were in the city.

Then Yahweh said to those men, “Pollute the temple by filling the courtyardwith the corpses of those whom you kill! Start now!” So they went out and starting killing people throughout the city.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 9:7

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Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Ezekiel 9:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵי/הֶ֜ם טַמְּא֣וּ אֶת הַ/בַּ֗יִת וּ/מַלְא֧וּ אֶת הַ/חֲצֵר֛וֹת חֲלָלִ֖ים צֵ֑אוּ וְ/יָצְא֖וּ וְ/הִכּ֥וּ בָ/עִֽיר
וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר ʼâmar H559 to say Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
אֲלֵי/הֶ֜ם ʼêl H413 to(wards) Prep | Suff
טַמְּא֣וּ ṭâmêʼ H2930 to defile V-Piel-Impv-2mp
אֶת ʼêth H853 Obj. DirObjM
הַ/בַּ֗יִת bayith H1004 place Art | N-ms
וּ/מַלְא֧וּ mâlêʼ H4390 to fill Conj | V-Piel-Impv-2mp
אֶת ʼêth H853 Obj. DirObjM
הַ/חֲצֵר֛וֹת châtsêr H2691 court Art | N-cp
חֲלָלִ֖ים châlâl H2491 slain Adj
צֵ֑אוּ yâtsâʼ H3318 to come out V-Qal-Impv-2mp
וְ/יָצְא֖וּ yâtsâʼ H3318 to come out Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3cp
וְ/הִכּ֥וּ nâkâh H5221 to smite Conj | V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp
בָ/עִֽיר ʻîyr H5892 excitement Prep | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 9:7

וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר ʼâmar H559 "to say" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
אֲלֵי/הֶ֜ם ʼêl H413 "to(wards)" Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
טַמְּא֣וּ ṭâmêʼ H2930 "to defile" V-Piel-Impv-2mp
This Hebrew word means to be foul or contaminated, often in a moral or ceremonial sense. It is used in the Bible to describe something that is unclean or polluted. In the book of Leviticus, it talks about being unclean and how to become clean again.
Definition: 1) to be unclean, become unclean, become impure 1a) (Qal) to be or become unclean 1a1) sexually 1a2) religiously 1a3) ceremonially 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to defile oneself, be defiled 1b1a) sexually 1b1b) by idolatry 1b1c) ceremonially 1b2) to be regarded as unclean 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to defile 1c1a) sexually 1c1b) religiously 1c1c) ceremonially 1c2) to pronounce unclean, declare unclean (ceremonially) 1c3) to profane (God's name) 1d) (Pual) to be defiled 1e) (Hithpael) to be unclean 1f) (Hothpael) to be defiled
Usage: Occurs in 142 OT verses. KJV: defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly. See also: Genesis 34:5; Leviticus 22:5; Psalms 79:1.
אֶת ʼêth H853 "Obj." DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
הַ/בַּ֗יִת bayith H1004 "place" Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
וּ/מַלְא֧וּ mâlêʼ H4390 "to fill" Conj | V-Piel-Impv-2mp
To fill means to make something full or complete, like filling a container or fulfilling a promise. This word is used in many contexts, including being full of joy or having a job completed.
Definition: 1) to fill, be full 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be full 1a1a) fulness, abundance (participle) 1a1b) to be full, be accomplished, be ended 1a2) to consecrate, fill the hand 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be filled, be armed, be satisfied 1b2) to be accomplished, be ended 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to fill 1c2) to satisfy 1c3) to fulfil, accomplish, complete 1c4) to confirm 1d) (Pual) to be filled 1e) (Hithpael) to mass themselves against Aramaic equivalent: me.la (מְלָא "to fill" H4391)
Usage: Occurs in 242 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly. See also: Genesis 1:22; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Psalms 10:7.
אֶת ʼêth H853 "Obj." DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
הַ/חֲצֵר֛וֹת châtsêr H2691 "court" Art | N-cp
A village in the Bible is a small settlement surrounded by walls. In Matthew 21:2, Jesus sends his disciples to a village to find a donkey, while in Mark 6:6, Jesus travels from village to village teaching.
Definition: 1) court, enclosure 1a) enclosures 1b) court
Usage: Occurs in 163 OT verses. KJV: court, tower, village. See also: Genesis 25:16; 2 Chronicles 24:21; Psalms 10:8.
חֲלָלִ֖ים châlâl H2491 "slain" Adj
This word describes something or someone that has been profaned or hurt, like in Numbers 35:33. It can also mean to be pierced or wounded, as in physically harmed.
Definition: : killed 1) slain, fatally wounded, pierced 1a) pierced, fatally wounded 1b) slain Also means: cha.lal (חָלָל ": wounded" H2491H)
Usage: Occurs in 85 OT verses. KJV: kill, profane, slain (man), [idiom] slew, (deadly) wounded. See also: Genesis 34:27; Isaiah 66:16; Psalms 69:27.
צֵ֑אוּ yâtsâʼ H3318 "to come out" V-Qal-Impv-2mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to go out or come out, and it's used in many different ways, like leaving a place or starting a new journey, as seen in Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
Usage: Occurs in 991 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. See also: Genesis 1:12; Exodus 9:33; Leviticus 26:45.
וְ/יָצְא֖וּ yâtsâʼ H3318 "to come out" Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3cp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to go out or come out, and it's used in many different ways, like leaving a place or starting a new journey, as seen in Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
Usage: Occurs in 991 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. See also: Genesis 1:12; Exodus 9:33; Leviticus 26:45.
וְ/הִכּ֥וּ nâkâh H5221 "to smite" Conj | V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.
Definition: 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill 1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast) 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten 1d1) to receive a blow 1d2) to be wounded 1d3) to be beaten 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain 1d5) to be attacked and captured 1d6) to be smitten (with disease) 1d7) to be blighted (of plants)
Usage: Occurs in 461 OT verses. KJV: beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. See also: Genesis 4:15; Joshua 10:20; 1 Samuel 29:5.
בָ/עִֽיר ʻîyr H5892 "excitement" Prep | N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.

Study Notes — Ezekiel 9:7

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 2 Chronicles 36:17 So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,
2 Ezekiel 7:20–22 His beautiful ornaments they transformed into pride and used them to fashion their vile images and detestable idols. Therefore I will make these into something unclean for them. And I will hand these things over as plunder to foreigners and loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile them. I will turn My face away from them, and they will defile My treasured place. Violent men will enter it, and they will defile it.
3 Lamentations 2:4–7 He has bent His bow like an enemy; His right hand is positioned. Like a foe He has killed all who were pleasing to the eye; He has poured out His wrath like fire on the tent of the Daughter of Zion. The Lord is like an enemy; He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for the Daughter of Judah. He has laid waste His tabernacle like a garden booth; He has destroyed His place of meeting. The LORD has made Zion forget her appointed feasts and Sabbaths. In His fierce anger He has despised both king and priest. The Lord has rejected His altar; He has abandoned His sanctuary; He has delivered the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have raised a shout in the house of the LORD as on the day of an appointed feast.
4 Psalms 79:1–3 The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble. They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.
5 Luke 13:1 At that time some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

Ezekiel 9:7 Summary

[Ezekiel 9:7 shows us that God is serious about sin and will not tolerate it in His presence. Just as the temple was defiled by the sins of the people, our lives can be defiled by our own sin. But God is also a God of mercy and forgiveness, as seen in Psalm 103:12 and 1 John 1:9. By repenting and turning to Him, we can be cleansed and made new.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to 'defile the temple' in Ezekiel 9:7?

To defile the temple means to make it unclean or polluted, which is a serious offense against God, as seen in Jeremiah 7:30 and Ezekiel 5:11.

Why were the elders before the temple the first to be slain, as mentioned in Ezekiel 9:6?

The elders were likely targeted first because of their prominent role in the spiritual leadership of Israel, and their failure to lead the people in righteousness, as warned in Isaiah 3:14 and Ezekiel 22:6.

Is God being cruel or unjust in commanding the slaughter of innocent people in Ezekiel 9:7?

While it may seem that way, God's judgment is always just and righteous, as stated in Genesis 18:25 and Deuteronomy 32:4, and is a response to the deep-seated sin and rebellion of the people, as seen in Ezekiel 9:9.

How does this verse relate to the concept of God's wrath?

Ezekiel 9:7 illustrates God's wrath as a response to the sins of His people, as also seen in Romans 1:18 and Revelation 6:16-17, highlighting the importance of repentance and obedience to God's commands.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some ways that I may be contributing to the 'defilement' of God's temple, my body, through my thoughts, words, or actions, and how can I repent and seek cleansing?
  2. How can I ensure that I am not among those who are 'slain' spiritually, but rather among those who are marked for salvation, as mentioned in Ezekiel 9:4 and Revelation 7:3?
  3. In what ways can I be a voice of warning and repentance to those around me, as Ezekiel was to the people of Israel, and how can I trust God to use me in this way?
  4. What are some areas in my life where I need to surrender to God's judgment and purification, and how can I trust in His goodness and mercy even in difficult times?

Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 9:7

And he said unto them, defile the house,.... The temple; do not be afraid of slaying any person in it, for fear of defiling it; they have defiled it with their abominations, and now do you defile it

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 9:7

And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 9:7

Defile the house; regard not the holiness of the temple: idolaters, whom you are to slay, have defiled it with the blood of idols, sacrifices, do you defile it with the blood of the idolatrous sacrificers; slay them where you find them, for there they sinned against me. Fill the courts with the slain; make a great slaughter, let every place be stained with their blood. There were the priests’ , the Levites’ , and the women’ s courts, and there will be found persons of a different character; but unless my mark be upon them, forbear none of them. Go ye forth; make haste, do not ye, for I do not, delay, nor will I. They went forth: here, as before, they show their ready obedience. Slew in the city: this slaughter was visional in the eye of the prophet, and a preface to the saddest butcheries Israel ever bled and groaned under.

Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 9:7

Ezekiel 9:7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.Ver. 7. Defile the house.] Once hallowed by myself, but now abhorred and rejected as a stew or sty of filthiness. Fill the courts.] That where they have sinned, there they may suffer, as did Ahab.

Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 9:7

(7) Defile the house.—The utmost possible pollution under the Mosaic economy was the touch of a dead body. (See Numbers 19:11; 1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 23:16.) It might be thought that the Temple would be spared this defilement; but not only must the execution of justice override all technicalities, as at the execution of Joab (1 Kings 2:28-31), but in this case the very defilement itself was a part of the judgment, since God was about to forsake His sanctuary, and give over even this to the desolations of the heathen. From the Temple the destroying angels passed out into the city.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 9:7

Verse 7. Defile the house] A dreadful sentence, Let it be polluted, I will no more dwell in it; I now utterly forsake it.

Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 9:7

7. Defile the house] The “house” embraces the temple house and its precincts, including the courts. The presence of dead in the courts defiled the whole.

Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 9:7

Defile the house - By filling the temple and its courts with the bodies of the slain. See Numbers 19:11.

Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 9:7

7. Defile the house — Beginning in the priests’ court, where they stood to receive this command (see note Ezekiel 9:3), they began to slay all who had not the mark of the cross on their foreheads.

Sermons on Ezekiel 9:7

SermonDescription
Chuck Smith (Through the Bible) 2 Chronicles 28-36 by Chuck Smith In this sermon, the speaker tells the story of Balaam and his donkey from the Bible. Balaam is tempted by the king's offer of wealth and power, but his donkey keeps veering off the
David Shirley Progress of Redemption #03 by David Shirley In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Solomon in the book of 1 Kings. He highlights how Solomon's disobedience to God's commands led to the decline and division of t
Sir Robert Anderson Daniel and His Times by Sir Robert Anderson Sir Robert Anderson delves into the life of the prophet Daniel, highlighting his unique role as a recipient of divine revelations rather than an inspired prophet. Daniel, living in
Chuck Smith A Psalm of Asaph by Chuck Smith In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army. He describes the defilement of the holy temple and the suffering of the people. Th
Phil Beach Jr. The Burden of the Hour by Phil Beach Jr. Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the urgency of recognizing the spiritual state of God's people as reflected in Psalms 79 and 80. He highlights the importance of humility and the cry for
Derek Prince Repentance - Part 1 by Derek Prince In this sermon, Derek Prince discusses the importance of repentance in the message of salvation. He highlights the role of John the Baptist as the forerunner who prepared the heart
C.H. Spurgeon Accidents, Not Punishments by C.H. Spurgeon In this sermon, the preacher reflects on a tragic incident where a couple is crushed and killed in an accident. The preacher emphasizes that this event should not be seen as a puni

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