Now 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.
Now 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. The "now" (atah, עַתָּה) stresses immediacy—not future threat but present reality. God will "send" (shillachti) His anger actively, not passively allow consequences. "Judge thee according to thy ways" (shefatticha kidrakhaich, שְׁפַטְתִּיךְ כִּדְרָכָיִךְ) emphasizes measure-for-measure justice—punishment precisely matches sin. "Recompense upon thee all thine abominations" (venatati alayich et kol-to'avotayich) means God will repay comprehensive judgment for comprehensive idolatry. This demonstrates perfect justice: neither arbitrary cruelty nor insufficient punishment but exact correlation between sin and consequence.
Historical Context
Israel's 'ways' included systematic idolatry (Ezekiel 8), social injustice (Ezekiel 22:6-12), false prophecy (Ezekiel 13), corrupt leadership (Ezekiel 22:25-28), and covenant violations too numerous to catalog. God's judgment would match these sins precisely: idols would be destroyed (Ezekiel 6:4-6), oppressors would be oppressed, false prophets would be silenced, corrupt leaders executed (2 Kings 25:18-21), and covenant curses fulfilled (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). History demonstrates God's justice is neither vindictive nor lenient but perfectly calibrated to sin's reality.
Questions for Reflection
How does 'now' emphasize judgment's immediacy and strip away presumption that God delays indefinitely?
What does judgment 'according to thy ways' teach about measure-for-measure divine justice?
In what ways should awareness of perfect justice drive us to Christ who bore our recompense?
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Analysis & Commentary
Now 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. The "now" (atah, עַתָּה) stresses immediacy—not future threat but present reality. God will "send" (shillachti) His anger actively, not passively allow consequences. "Judge thee according to thy ways" (shefatticha kidrakhaich, שְׁפַטְתִּיךְ כִּדְרָכָיִךְ) emphasizes measure-for-measure justice—punishment precisely matches sin. "Recompense upon thee all thine abominations" (venatati alayich et kol-to'avotayich) means God will repay comprehensive judgment for comprehensive idolatry. This demonstrates perfect justice: neither arbitrary cruelty nor insufficient punishment but exact correlation between sin and consequence.