Bible Strands

Ezekiel 9:6

Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord commands the executioners to initiate the slaughter at His sanctuary, specifically ordering them to start with the elders positioned before the temple. This directive immediately follows the sweeping command in Ezekiel 9:5 to pursue the city without pity or restraint.

The words — The text employs תַּהַרְג֣וּ (ta.har.Gu), literally "you will kill," as the primary imperative. It operates alongside לְ/מַשְׁחִ֗ית (le./mash.Chit), meaning "to destruction," which defines the operational scope of the violence.

The thread — The structural pattern of judgment originating at God's dwelling is paralleled in Jeremiah 25:29. The protective distinction between those bearing a mark and those without it anticipates the sealed preservation motif in Revelation 9:4.

Why it lands — The passage records a precise sequence where divine execution begins at the temple before moving outward. It requires the reader to accept that sacred proximity does not override the stated command, and that the marked are exempt solely by divine designation, not by location.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

זָקֵ֡ןza.Kenold [man]בָּח֣וּרba.Churyoung manוּבְתוּלָה֩u./ve.tu.Lahand/ virginוְטַ֨ףve./Tafand/ little one[s]וְנָשִׁ֜יםve./na.Shimand/ womenתַּהַרְג֣וּta.har.Guyou will killלְמַשְׁחִ֗יתle./mash.Chitto/ destructionוְעַל־ve./'al-and/ toכָּל־kol-anyאִ֨ישׁ'ishpersonאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whomעָלָ֤יו'a.La/v[is] on/ himהַתָּו֙ha./Tavthe/ markאַל־'al-may notתִּגַּ֔שׁוּti.Ga.shuyou draw nearוּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁ֖יu./mi./mik.da.Sh/iand/ from/ sanctuary/ myתָּחֵ֑לּוּta.Che.luyou will beginוַיָּחֵ֙לּוּ֙va/i.ya.Che.luand/ they beganבָּאֲנָשִׁ֣יםba./'a.na.Shimwith the/ menהַזְּקֵנִ֔יםha./ze.ke.Nim<the>/ oldאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.Sherwhoלִפְנֵ֥יli/f.Nei[were] <to>/ beforeהַבָּֽיִת׃ha./Ba.yitthe/ house

King James Version

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Cross-references