Ezekiel 24:21
Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
Original Language Analysis
לְבֵ֣ית
unto the house
H1004
לְבֵ֣ית
unto the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
2 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
3 of 23
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
כֹּֽה
H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
4 of 23
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
מְחַלֵּ֤ל
Behold I will profane
H2490
מְחַלֵּ֤ל
Behold I will profane
Strong's:
H2490
Word #:
9 of 23
properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִקְדָּשִׁי֙
my sanctuary
H4720
מִקְדָּשִׁי֙
my sanctuary
Strong's:
H4720
Word #:
11 of 23
a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of jehovah or of idols) or asylum
עֻזְּכֶ֔ם
of your strength
H5797
עֻזְּכֶ֔ם
of your strength
Strong's:
H5797
Word #:
13 of 23
strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)
מַחְמַ֥ד
the desire
H4261
מַחְמַ֥ד
the desire
Strong's:
H4261
Word #:
14 of 23
delightful; hence, a delight, i.e., object of affection or desire
עֵֽינֵיכֶ֖ם
of your eyes
H5869
עֵֽינֵיכֶ֖ם
of your eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
15 of 23
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם
and that which your soul
H5315
נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם
and that which your soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
17 of 23
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וּבְנֵיכֶ֧ם
and your sons
H1121
וּבְנֵיכֶ֧ם
and your sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
18 of 23
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וּבְנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם
and your daughters
H1323
וּבְנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם
and your daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
19 of 23
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
20 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עֲזַבְתֶּ֖ם
whom ye have left
H5800
עֲזַבְתֶּ֖ם
whom ye have left
Strong's:
H5800
Word #:
21 of 23
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
Cross References
Ezekiel 23:47And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.Psalms 27:4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.Jeremiah 7:14Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.Ezekiel 23:25And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.Psalms 84:1How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!Jeremiah 6:11Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.Ezekiel 24:16Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
Historical Context
The temple's destruction shocked the ancient world—could God allow His dwelling's desecration? Ezekiel explains: God Himself profanes what His people defiled through idolatry (Ezekiel 8). The glory departed (Ezekiel 10-11), then the building burned. This taught that true sanctity requires obedience, not merely sacred geography. The comprehensive loss (temple and children) created devastation forcing recognition that covenant violation brings total judgment, preparing hearts for eventual restoration.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God profaning His own sanctuary illustrate that holiness requires obedience, not mere designation?
- What does comprehensive loss (sanctuary and children) teach about sin's full consequences?
- In what ways should we avoid trusting religious forms while neglecting heart righteousness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword." God announces He will profane His own sanctuary—shocking reversal showing temple's sanctity derived from divine presence, not architecture. "Excellency of your strength," "desire of your eyes," "that which your soul pitieth" describe Israel's attachment to the temple. Its destruction plus children's death creates comprehensive loss. This fulfilled when Babylon burned the temple and slaughtered the population (586 BC).