Ezekiel Chapter 6 · Verse 4

Authorized King James Version

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And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.

Original Language Analysis

וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ shall be desolate H8074
וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ shall be desolate
Strong's: H8074
Word #: 1 of 8
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
מִזְבְּח֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם And your altars H4196
מִזְבְּח֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם And your altars
Strong's: H4196
Word #: 2 of 8
an altar
וְנִשְׁבְּר֖וּ shall be broken H7665
וְנִשְׁבְּר֖וּ shall be broken
Strong's: H7665
Word #: 3 of 8
to burst (literally or figuratively)
חַמָּֽנֵיכֶ֑ם and your images H2553
חַמָּֽנֵיכֶ֑ם and your images
Strong's: H2553
Word #: 4 of 8
a sun-pillar
וְהִפַּלְתִּי֙ and I will cast down H5307
וְהִפַּלְתִּי֙ and I will cast down
Strong's: H5307
Word #: 5 of 8
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
חַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם your slain H2491
חַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם your slain
Strong's: H2491
Word #: 6 of 8
pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted
לִפְנֵ֖י men before H6440
לִפְנֵ֖י men before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 7 of 8
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
גִּלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃ your idols H1544
גִּלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃ your idols
Strong's: H1544
Word #: 8 of 8
properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol

Analysis & Commentary

And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. The judgment targets both cultic objects and worshipers. "Altars shall be desolate" (shamemu, שָׁמֵמוּ) means laid waste, rendered useless. "Images" (chammanim, חַמָּנִים) likely refers to sun pillars or incense altars used in idol worship. God promises to break (nisbar, נִשְׁבָּר) these sacred objects, demonstrating their impotence. Most horrifically, worshipers' corpses will lie "before your idols"—the gods they trusted couldn't protect them. This macabre scene proves idols powerless to save (Psalm 115:4-8; Isaiah 44:9-20; Jeremiah 10:5).

Historical Context

Archaeological excavations throughout Israel have uncovered smashed altars, broken incense stands, and shattered images from the Babylonian destruction layer (586 BC), literally fulfilling this prophecy. The ironic reversal—dead worshipers lying before lifeless idols—vindicated Yahweh's exclusive deity. Those who worshiped stone and wood became like them (Psalm 115:8)—dead, powerless, unable to see, hear, or act. The physical evidence remained visible for generations, teaching survivors that idolatry leads to death.

Questions for Reflection