Ezekiel 7:25 — Word Study
WLCקְפָ֖דָה־ בָ֑א וּבִקְשׁ֥וּ שָׁל֖וֹם וָאָֽיִן׃
BSA◂Anguishqᵉphâdâh△ [intense fear, terror] is comingbôwʼ■ [approaching, drawing near] They will seekbâqash [search for, look for] peaceshâlôwm [completeness, wellness, shalom] but find noneʼayin [discover, come upon, nothing, no peace at all]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| קְפָ֖דָה־ | anguish | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| בָ֑א | it has come | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| וּבִקְשׁ֥וּ | and they will seek | Verb, Piel, sequential perfect third person common plural |
| שָׁל֖וֹם | peace | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וָאָֽיִן׃ | and not | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Anguish is coming! They will seek peace, but find none. |
| KJV | Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. |
| ASV | Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. |
| YLT | Destruction hath come, And they have sought peace, and there is none. |
| WEB | Destruction comes! They will seek peace, and there will be none. |
| BBE | Shaking fear is coming; and they will be looking for peace, and there will be no peace. |
Where they part company is שָׁל֖וֹם — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence begins with a strong declaration of anguish, followed by the actions of the people seeking peace and the stark reality of finding none.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectקְפָדָה
verbבּוֹא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 5 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ezekiel 7:25
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Prophecy of Judgmentgenerated
Ezekiel 7:25 is part of a larger prophecy where Ezekiel describes the coming judgment on Israel. The people are warned that anguish is approaching, and despite their efforts to seek peace, they will find none. This reflects the dire consequences of their actions and the absence of God's favor, as also seen in the surrounding verses that detail the calamity to come.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 57:21 | “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” |
| 2 | Isaiah 59:8–12 | The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 8:15–16 | We hoped for peace, but no good has come, for a time of healing, but there was only terror. |
| 4 | Lamentations 4:17–18 | All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us. |
| 5 | Micah 1:12 | For the dwellers of Maroth pined for good, but calamity came down from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — קְפָדָה, ke.Fa.dah-generated
The noun קְפָדָה (ke.Fa.dah) refers to a state of intense fear or anguish. It is derived from a root meaning to shrink or tremble, conveying a strong emotional response to impending disaster. The parsing indicates it is a feminine singular noun, emphasizing the weight of this anguish in the context of the prophecy.
This word captures the essence of dread that accompanies the judgment described in this verse. The KJV translates it as 'anguish' or 'destruction', reflecting the severity of the situation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs בָ֑א (it has come) and בִקְשׁ֥וּ (and they will seek) govern the clauses of the verse. The first clause introduces the coming anguish, while the second describes the people's futile search for peace.
The structure emphasizes the contrast between the imminent anguish and the absence of peace. The Hebrew word order places the anguish at the forefront, highlighting its significance in the prophecy.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates קְפָדָה as ἐχιλασμὸς, which conveys a sense of terror or distress. This choice aligns with the emotional weight of the Hebrew term, indicating a consistent understanding of the anguish described.
For שָׁל֖וֹם, the Septuagint uses εἰρήνην, which means peace, reflecting the same concept of completeness and wellness that the Hebrew conveys.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ezekiel 7:25 warns that anguish is coming, and despite the people's efforts to seek peace, they will find none. This verse highlights the seriousness of the situation and the consequences of their actions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The anguish refers to the intense fear and distress that will come upon the people as a result of impending judgment.
They will seek peace because they desire relief from their suffering, but their actions have led to a situation where peace is unattainable.
This verse is part of a larger prophecy that describes the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness, where anguish and disaster are imminent.
This verse serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from God and the futility of seeking peace without repentance.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I feel a sense of anguish or distress?
- How can I seek true peace in my life, and what steps can I take to find it?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of aligning my actions with God's will?
- How can I support others who are also seeking peace in their lives?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, noting the impending distress and the futility of seeking peace, highlighting a significant interpretation of the text.
With impending distress, they will seek peace, and it will not be. This cannot possibly be reconciled with the Septuagint.Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 7 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 7:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDestruction cometh,.... Upon the temple, city, nation, and people; the king of Babylon, the destroyer of the Gentiles, and now of the Jews, being on his way, Jeremiah 4:7; and they shall seek peace,
Read John Gill on Ezekiel 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDestruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. They shall seek peace, and there shall be none - (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 7 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleDestruction; such as an angry, provoked power makes when it cuts off all root and branch. They shall seek peace; either by inquiring of prophets; or rather, suing to Nebuchadnezzar, whom, after so many affronts, they will attempt to pacify. There shall be none; no such thing can be had: they should seek it elsewhere, and appease their God, who could give them peace; as for the Chaldean, he will not, because God doth not.
Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEzekiel 7:25 Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and [there shall be] none.Ver. 25. Destruction cometh.] Not εξιλασμοςηκει, Mercy shall come, as the Septuagint ill render it, but utter excision, as when a weaver cutteth the web he hath finished out of the loom. They shall seek peace.] Of God, but all too late; of the Chaldees, but all in vain; for they were cockatrices, and would not be charmed. Note here how Jeremiah and Ezekiel say the same thing, as being acted by the same spirit.
Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 7 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(25) Destruction cometh.—This is another of the peculiar words occurring only in this chapter. It is generally explained of the dismay and horror accompanying great judgments, and vividly described by our Lord as “men’s hearts failing them for fear” (Luke 21:26).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 7 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 25. They shall seek peace] They see now that their ceasing to pay the tribute to the king of Babylon has brought the Chaldeans against them; and now they sue for peace in vain. He will not hear: he is resolved on their destruction.
Read AdamClarke on Ezekiel 7 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Anguish is coming! They will seek peace, but find none.
Destruction comes! They will seek peace, and there will be none.
Anguish is coming! They will seek peace, but find none.
Terror is coming! They will seek peace, but find none.
Tyndale line
Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
When destruction commeth, they shall seeke peace, and shall not haue it.
Strictly literal
Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, but there shall be none.
Destruction hath come, And they have sought peace, and there is none.
Destruction has come, || And they have sought peace, and there is none.
Destruction cometh: and they will seek peace, but there shall be none.
Fear will come! They will seek peace, but there will be none.
From the Latin
When distress cometh upon them, they will seek for peace and there shall be none.
Simplified
Absolutely terrified, the people will look for peace, but won't find it.
Shaking fear is coming; and they will be looking for peace, and there will be no peace.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of קְפָדָה and its context, with the Septuagint providing a direct correspondence for each Hebrew word. This consistency underscores the shared understanding of the prophecy across these ancient texts.
קְפָ֖דָה־ בָ֑א וּבִקְשׁ֥וּ שָׁל֖וֹם וָאָֽיִן׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ezekiel 7:25
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
קְפָדָה (qphadah) refers to a state of shuddering or anguish, derived from the root word for shrinking or terror. It is mentioned in Ezekiel 7:25, where it conveys a sense of destruction and distress.
[קְפָדָה] n.[f.] shuddering;—abs. Ez 7:25
ref
H7089 קְפָדָה
7089 qphadah kef-aw-daw'
from 7088; shrinking, i.e., terror:--destruction.
see HEBREW for 07088
קְפָדָה (qe.pha.dah) — anguish.
shuddering, anguish
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
an'-gwish: Extreme distress of body, mind or spirit; excruciating pain or suffering of soul, e.g. excessive grief, remorse, despair. Chiefly expressed in Old Testament, by four derivatives of tsuq, "straitened," "pressed," and tsar, and two derivatives signifying "straitness," "narrowness," hence distress; also shabhats, "giddiness," "confusion of mind"; hul "to twist" with pain, "writhe." So in the New Testament, thlipsis, "a pressing together," hence affliction, tribulation, stenochoria, "narrowness of place," hence extreme affliction; sunoche, "a holding together," hence distress. The fundamental idea in these various terms is pressure--being straitened, compressed into a narrow place, or pain through physical or mental torture. Used of the physical agony of child-birth (Jer 4:31; 6:24; 49:24; 50:43;
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
kum: The translation of many Hebrew and Greek words. In the phrase "The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him" (Jud 14:6,19; 15:14; 1Sa 10:10; 11:6; 16:13), the word is tsaleah; Jud 14:6; 15:14 "came mightily," which is the uniform translation of the Revised Version (British and American) (compare Jud 13:25 "to move," i.e. to disturb or stir up). In Jud 6:34; 1Ch 12:18; 2Ch 24:20, it is labhesh, "to clothe"; the Revised Version, margin "The Spirit .... clothed itself with Gideon" and .... "with Zechariah,"…
בָּקַשׁ (baqash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or search out, often in the context of worship or prayer. It encompasses a range of actions including asking, desiring, and requiring. The verb can appear in different forms, such as Piel and Pual, indicating various nuances of seeking or being sought.
[בָּקַשׁ] 224 vb. seek
Pi.
seek to find
seek to secure
seek the face
desire, demand
require, exact
exact equivalent or penalty for
(late) ask, request
Pu. be sought
base
H1245 בָּקַשׁ seek
1245 baqash baw-kash'
a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically
in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:--ask,
beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure,
(make) request, require, seek (for).
בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) — to seek.
1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to seek to find
1a2) to seek to secure
1a3) to seek the face
1a4) to desire, demand
1a5) to require, exact
1a6) to ask, request
1b) (Pual) to be sought
Conj | V-Piel-3cp — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person common pluralHc/Vpq3cp
שָׁלוֹם (shalom) conveys a range of meanings including completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace. It can refer to physical safety and health, as well as emotional states like tranquility and friendship, particularly in human relationships and with God. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be complete' and is used in various contexts, including greetings.
שָׁלוֹם 237 n.m. completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
completeness in no.
safety, soundness, in body
welfare, health, prosperity
peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment
peace, friendship
peace from war
as adj. those at peace with him
base
H7965 שָׁלוֹם completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
7965 shalowm shaw-lome'
or shalom {shaw-lome'}; from 7999; safe, i.e. (figuratively)
well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,
prosperity, peace:--X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend,
X great, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at)
peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty),
salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.
see HEBREW for 07999
שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace.
: peace
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
1a) completeness (in number)
1b) safety, soundness (in body)
1c) welfare, health, prosperity
1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
1e) peace, friendship
1e1) of human relationships
1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship
1f) peace (from war)
1g) peace (as adjective)
שָׁלוֹם (ye.ho.vah sha.lom) — Peace.
This name means completeness, peace
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace: well-being.
: well-being
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
1a) completeness (in number)
1b) safety, soundness (in body)
1c) welfare, health, prosperity
1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
1e) peace, friendship
1e1) of human relationships
1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship
1f) peace (from war)
1g) peace (as adjective)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
pes (shalom; eirene):
1. In the Old Testament:
Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom (both adjective and substantive), meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. In Ps 122:7, we have "peace" and "prosperity," and in 35:27; 73:3, shalom is translated "prosperity." In 2Sa 11:7 the King James Version, David asked of Uriah "how Joab did" (margin "of the peace of Joab"), "and how the people did (the Revised Version (British and American) "fared," literally, "of the peace of the people"), and…
אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.
אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought
to nothing, as nothing
cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
in circumst. clauses
with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
with prefixes
base
H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing
. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
. in circumst. clauses
. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
. with prefixes
369 'ayin ah'-yin
as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not
exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative
particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,
in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,
thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),
well-nigh, without. Compare 370.
see HEBREW for 0370
אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.
1) nothing, not, nought n
1a) nothing, nought neg
1b) not
1c) to have not (of possession) adv
1d) without w/prep
1e) for lack of
Conj | Part — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa