Ezekiel 24:9
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵ֗ן
H3651
לָכֵ֗ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 12
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
כֹּ֤ה
H3541
כֹּ֤ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
2 of 12
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוִ֔ה
H3068
יְהוִ֔ה
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עִ֣יר
city
H5892
עִ֣יר
city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
7 of 12
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הַדָּמִ֑ים
to the bloody
H1818
הַדָּמִ֑ים
to the bloody
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
8 of 12
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
גַּם
H1571
גַּם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
Cross References
Isaiah 30:33For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.Ezekiel 24:6Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.Habakkuk 2:12Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
Historical Context
Nebuchadnezzar's siege employed massive resources: siege walls, ramps, battering rams, and complete encirclement (2 Kings 25:1; Ezekiel 4:2). The Babylonian Chron icles describe the siege's intensity. Ezekiel prophesies that God Himself makes the siege great—the historical events fulfill divine intention.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's active involvement in judgment affect our understanding of historical catastrophes?
- What does it mean that God 'makes the fire great'?
- How should we respond knowing God controls judgment's intensity and duration?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! repeats the charge with emphasis. I will even make the pile for fire great announces God's personal involvement in intensifying judgment. The pile for fire represents the siege works and fuel for destruction. God Himself will make the fire great—He isn't a distant observer but active participant in historical judgment. Divine sovereignty means God orchestrates even the mechanisms of judgment. He controls how intensely, how long, and through what means His judgments fall. Nothing in judgment is random or excessive; it's all divinely calibrated.