Ezekiel 6:10
And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
For decades before exile, false prophets promised peace (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11; 23:17; 28:2-4; Ezekiel 13:10), contradicting true prophets who warned of judgment. Many dismissed Jeremiah and Ezekiel as pessimistic extremists. But when Jerusalem fell exactly as predicted, survivors recognized that true prophets spoke God's word while false prophets spoke their own imagination. The fulfilled prophecy established Ezekiel's credibility for later messages of restoration—if judgment prophecies proved true, restoration promises would likewise be fulfilled. God's word never returns void (Isaiah 55:10-11).
Questions for Reflection
- How does fulfilled prophecy vindicate Scripture's divine origin and reliability?
- What does God's word 'not being in vain' teach about taking biblical warnings seriously?
- How should the certainty of God's promises (both judgment and blessing) shape our lives?
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Analysis & Commentary
And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them. The recognition formula reappears with addition: not only will they know God's identity but also His word's reliability—"I have not said in vain" (lo-chinam dibarti, לֹא־חִנָּם דִּבַּרְתִּי). Hebrew chinam means "for nothing, without cause, in vain." God's prophetic warnings weren't empty threats or exaggerated rhetoric but certain predictions that must be fulfilled. The phrase "this evil" (hara'ah hazot) refers to the comprehensive judgments just described. When prophecy becomes history, skeptics become believers. Fulfilled prediction vindicates both God's knowledge and His veracity.