Ezekiel Chapter 6 · Verse 5
And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.
Original Language Analysis
וְנָתַתִּ֗י
And I will lay
H5414
וְנָתַתִּ֗י
And I will lay
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 12
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
פִּגְרֵי֙
the dead carcases
H6297
פִּגְרֵי֙
the dead carcases
Strong's:
H6297
Word #:
3 of 12
a carcase (as limp), whether of man or beast; figuratively, an idolatrous image
בְּנֵ֣י
of the children
H1121
בְּנֵ֣י
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 12
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
5 of 12
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לִפְנֵ֖י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֖י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
6 of 12
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֑ם
their idols
H1544
גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֑ם
their idols
Strong's:
H1544
Word #:
7 of 12
properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol
וְזֵרִיתִי֙
and I will scatter
H2219
וְזֵרִיתִי֙
and I will scatter
Strong's:
H2219
Word #:
8 of 12
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עַצְמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם
your bones
H6106
עַצְמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם
your bones
Strong's:
H6106
Word #:
10 of 12
a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern warfare often involved desecrating enemy religious sites. However, this is God judging His own people's worship sites, demonstrating His hatred of idolatry even among covenant members. The scattered bones fulfilled covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:26; Jeremiah 8:1-2). Archaeological evidence from 586 BC destruction includes mass graves and unburied remains, confirming the prophecy's literal fulfillment. The ritual defilement rendered the sites permanently unusable, ending idolatrous practices by destroying their infrastructure.
Questions for Reflection
- How does measure-for-measure justice (defiling worship sites with corpses) reveal God's poetic justice?
- What does the denial of proper burial signify about the ultimate worthlessness of idolatrous worship?
- How should this warning against false worship shape our approach to contemporary religious practices?
Analysis & Commentary
And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars. The Hebrew peger (פֶּגֶר, "carcase") emphasizes the degradation—not dignified burial but corpses left exposed, ultimate dishonor in ancient culture. Scattering bones "round about your altars" profanes the worship sites with ritual uncleanness (Numbers 19:16). The very places deemed sacred become mass graves. This judgment reverses the worshipers' intentions—they sought life and blessing through idol worship but received death and defilement. It also demonstrates measure-for-measure justice: they defiled the land with abominations; God defiles their worship sites with their corpses.