Ezekiel 6:9
And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
Original Language Analysis
וְזָכְר֨וּ
of you shall remember
H2142
וְזָכְר֨וּ
of you shall remember
Strong's:
H2142
Word #:
1 of 28
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
אוֹתִ֗י
H853
אוֹתִ֗י
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בַּגּוֹיִם֮
me among the nations
H1471
בַּגּוֹיִם֮
me among the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
4 of 28
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבּוּ
whither they shall be carried captives
H7617
נִשְׁבּוּ
whither they shall be carried captives
Strong's:
H7617
Word #:
6 of 28
to transport into captivity
שָׁם֒
H8033
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
8 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבַּ֜רְתִּי
because I am broken
H7665
נִשְׁבַּ֜רְתִּי
because I am broken
Strong's:
H7665
Word #:
9 of 28
to burst (literally or figuratively)
אֶת
H854
אֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
10 of 28
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
לִבָּ֣ם
heart
H3820
לִבָּ֣ם
heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
11 of 28
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
הַזֹּנ֕וֹת
which go a whoring
H2181
הַזֹּנ֕וֹת
which go a whoring
Strong's:
H2181
Word #:
12 of 28
to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
13 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מֵֽעָלַ֔י
H5921
מֵֽעָלַ֔י
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
15 of 28
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְאֵת֙
H854
וְאֵת֙
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
16 of 28
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
עֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם
from me and with their eyes
H5869
עֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם
from me and with their eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
17 of 28
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
הַזֹּנ֕וֹת
which go a whoring
H2181
הַזֹּנ֕וֹת
which go a whoring
Strong's:
H2181
Word #:
18 of 28
to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (
אַחֲרֵ֖י
after
H310
אַחֲרֵ֖י
after
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
19 of 28
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֑ם
their idols
H1544
גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֑ם
their idols
Strong's:
H1544
Word #:
20 of 28
properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol
וְנָקֹ֙טּוּ֙
and they shall lothe
H6962
וְנָקֹ֙טּוּ֙
and they shall lothe
Strong's:
H6962
Word #:
21 of 28
properly, to cut off, i.e., (figuratively) detest
בִּפְנֵיהֶ֔ם
themselves
H6440
בִּפְנֵיהֶ֔ם
themselves
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
22 of 28
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
25 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשׂ֔וּ
which they have committed
H6213
עָשׂ֔וּ
which they have committed
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
26 of 28
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Cross References
Ezekiel 20:43And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.Isaiah 7:13And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?Psalms 78:40How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!Job 42:6Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.Isaiah 43:24Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.Zechariah 10:9And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.Ezekiel 20:7Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.Jeremiah 51:50Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.Ezekiel 20:24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.2 Peter 2:14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
Historical Context
The exile would scatter Israelites 'among the nations,' forcing them to face the consequences of choosing foreign gods. Ironically, deportation to pagan lands would reveal those gods' emptiness, producing renewed hunger for the true God. Historical evidence shows that exile did indeed produce spiritual renewal—the post-exilic community largely abandoned idolatry. The experience of losing land, temple, and national independence under God's judgment produced the self-loathing and repentance God predicted. This demonstrates that even severe discipline serves redemptive purposes when received rightly.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing that your sin grieves and breaks God's heart affect your view of repentance?
- In what ways has God used painful consequences to produce genuine self-awareness and repentance in your life?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God promises concerning the remnant: 'And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.' The phrase 'I am broken' (nishbarti, נִשְׁבַּרְתִּי) remarkably attributes grief to God—His people's idolatry breaks His heart. The 'whorish heart' (leb zonam, לֵב זוֹנָם) depicts spiritual adultery against covenant relationship. Yet this judgment produces repentance: 'they shall lothe themselves' (niqotu, נָקֹטּוּ), indicating genuine remorse. True repentance involves both remembering God and recognizing one's own sinfulness. This shows judgment's redemptive purpose—to bring people to repentance.