Ezekiel Chapter 7 · Verse 2
Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
Original Language Analysis
בֶן
Also thou son
H1121
בֶן
Also thou son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 16
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֗ם
of man
H120
אָדָ֗ם
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
3 of 16
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
כֹּה
H3541
כֹּה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
4 of 16
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
9 of 16
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
הַקֵּ֔ץ
An end
H7093
הַקֵּ֔ץ
An end
Strong's:
H7093
Word #:
10 of 16
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
הַקֵּ֔ץ
An end
H7093
הַקֵּ֔ץ
An end
Strong's:
H7093
Word #:
12 of 16
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
13 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Amos 8:2And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.Amos 8:10And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.Ezekiel 7:3Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.1 Peter 4:7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.Ezekiel 11:13And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?Lamentations 4:18They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
Historical Context
For centuries, prophets warned of coming judgment (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, Micah). Israel ignored these warnings, presuming God's patience was infinite or His threats empty. Ezekiel declares the accumulated delay has ended—God's forbearance is exhausted. The 'four corners' emphasizes no region escapes: northern Israel (fallen to Assyria 722 BC), southern Judah (about to fall to Babylon), and all territories between. The comprehensive scope meant nowhere in the land offered safety. Only exile beyond the land's borders might preserve a remnant.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the double emphasis 'the end, the end' challenge presumption on God's patience?
- What does comprehensive judgment ('four corners') teach about the impossibility of partial obedience?
- How should Christians balance confidence in God's grace with awareness that patience has limits?
Analysis & Commentary
Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land. The double emphatic "An end, the end" (qets ha-qets ba, קֵץ הַקֵּץ בָּא) creates drumbeat effect emphasizing finality. Hebrew qets means termination, conclusion, or boundary—Israel's time has run out. "Upon the four corners of the land" (al-arba kanfot ha-aretz, עַל־אַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ) indicates comprehensive, total judgment covering all territory. This announcement functions like death sentence—the verdict is final, execution imminent. The repetition throughout chapter 7 hammers home inevitability, stripping away all hope of escaping judgment through human effort.