Ezekiel 6:11
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּֽה
H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 21
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוִ֗ה
H3068
יְהוִ֗ה
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הַכֵּ֨ה
Smite
H5221
הַכֵּ֨ה
Smite
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
5 of 21
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
בְכַפְּךָ֜
with thine hand
H3709
בְכַפְּךָ֜
with thine hand
Strong's:
H3709
Word #:
6 of 21
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-
וּרְקַ֤ע
and stamp
H7554
וּרְקַ֤ע
and stamp
Strong's:
H7554
Word #:
7 of 21
to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal)
בְּרַגְלְךָ֙
with thy foot
H7272
בְּרַגְלְךָ֙
with thy foot
Strong's:
H7272
Word #:
8 of 21
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
תּוֹעֲב֥וֹת
abominations
H8441
תּוֹעֲב֥וֹת
abominations
Strong's:
H8441
Word #:
13 of 21
properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e., (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol
בֵּ֣ית
of the house
H1004
בֵּ֣ית
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
15 of 21
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
16 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֲשֶׁ֗ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֗ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
17 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בַּחֶ֛רֶב
by the sword
H2719
בַּחֶ֛רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
18 of 21
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
Cross References
Ezekiel 5:12A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.Jeremiah 24:10And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.Joel 1:15Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.Ezekiel 14:21For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?Ezekiel 25:6For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;Ezekiel 9:4And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Historical Context
Prophets regularly used dramatic physical actions to communicate messages (Isaiah 20:2-3; Jeremiah 27:2; Hosea 1:2). Ezekiel's hand-smiting and foot-stamping would create memorable spectacle, embedding the message emotionally. The exile community watching would feel the prophet's grief and horror, internalizing the seriousness of Israel's sin. The threefold judgment—sword (war), famine (siege), pestilence (disease)—characterized ancient warfare and fulfilled covenant curses (Leviticus 26:25-26; Deuteronomy 28:21-22, 48-57). Babylon's conquest brought all three simultaneously.
Questions for Reflection
- How does physical expression of grief and horror model appropriate response to sin's devastating consequences?
- What does the triple judgment (sword, famine, pestilence) teach about sin's comprehensive destructive effects?
- In what ways should we demonstrate visceral grief over cultural and personal sins?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. God commands Ezekiel to perform dramatic gestures—smiting hand and stamping foot—expressing grief and horror at Israel's abominations. The Hebrew hach be-khapkha (הַךְ בְּכַפֶּךָ, "smite with thine hand") and reka be-raglekha (רְקַע בְּרַגְלֶךָ, "stamp with thy foot") create visceral, physical proclamation. The exclamation "Alas" (ach, אָח) expresses lament. The triple judgment (sword, famine, pestilence) repeats Jeremiah's formula (Jeremiah 14:12; 21:7-9; 24:10), emphasizing comprehensive destruction from all sources.