Ezekiel 20:47
And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
Original Language Analysis
לְיַ֣עַר
to the forest
H3293
לְיַ֣עַר
to the forest
Strong's:
H3293
Word #:
2 of 32
a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees)
מִנֶּ֥גֶב
from the south
H5045
מִנֶּ֥גֶב
from the south
Strong's:
H5045
Word #:
3 of 32
the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)
שְׁמַ֖ע
Hear
H8085
שְׁמַ֖ע
Hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
4 of 32
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דְּבַר
the word
H1697
דְּבַר
the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
5 of 32
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָ֑ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 32
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כֹּֽה
H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
7 of 32
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
מַֽצִּית
Behold I will kindle
H3341
מַֽצִּית
Behold I will kindle
Strong's:
H3341
Word #:
12 of 32
to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate
וְאָכְלָ֣ה
in thee and it shall devour
H398
וְאָכְלָ֣ה
in thee and it shall devour
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
15 of 32
to eat (literally or figuratively)
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
17 of 32
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
20 of 32
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
23 of 32
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִכְבֶּה֙
shall not be quenched
H3518
תִכְבֶּה֙
shall not be quenched
Strong's:
H3518
Word #:
24 of 32
to expire or (causatively) to extinguish (fire, light, anger)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
29 of 32
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
פָּנִ֖ים
and all faces
H6440
פָּנִ֖ים
and all faces
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
30 of 32
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Cross References
Jeremiah 21:14But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.Luke 23:31For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?Ezekiel 17:24And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
Historical Context
This prophecy was fulfilled in 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar burned Jerusalem and the temple (2 Kings 25:8-9). The fire consumed everyone—even righteous people like Daniel's contemporaries went into exile. Ezekiel's audience initially mocked this as impossible (20:49).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's impartial judgment (consuming green and dry trees alike) challenge assumptions about earthly prosperity indicating divine favor?
- What does unquenchable fire symbolize regarding the seriousness of sin and rebellion?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I will kindle a fire in thee (הִצַּתִּי בְךָ אֵשׁ, hitsati vekha esh)—God Himself lights the judgment fire. The verb יָצַת (yatsat, to kindle) indicates deliberate ignition. Every green tree and every dry tree (כָּל־עֵץ לַח וְכָל־עֵץ יָבֵשׁ, kol-etz lakh v'khol-etz yavesh) means total destruction—both righteous (green) and wicked (dry) will be swept into exile.
The flaming flame shall not be quenched (לֹא תִכְבֶּה לַהֶבֶת שַׁלְהָבֶת, lo tikhbeh lahevet shalhevet) uses emphatic Hebrew repetition for an unstoppable conflagration. This fire is the Babylonian army (21:3-5), but ultimately represents God's wrath against covenant unfaithfulness. Jesus uses similar language for final judgment (Mark 9:43-48), where the fire is never quenched.