Ezekiel 7:9
And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Throughout the siege and conquest, survivors needed to understand that Babylon was merely God's instrument, not an independent power defeating Yahweh. Isaiah called Assyria "the rod of my anger" (Isaiah 10:5); similarly, Babylon served as God's sword executing judgment. The phrase 'I am the LORD that smiteth' established divine agency, teaching that Jerusalem's fall vindicated rather than contradicted God's sovereignty. Post-exilic theology correctly interpreted exile as God's disciplinary action, not His defeat, preparing for eventual restoration when discipline accomplished its purpose.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God identifying as 'the LORD that smiteth' prevent misattributing suffering to secondary causes?
- What does this teach about God's active involvement in historical events we might call 'natural' or 'political'?
- In what ways does recognizing God's hand in discipline shape our response to trials?
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Analysis & Commentary
And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth. This verse nearly repeats verse 4 with crucial addition: "I am the LORD that smiteth" (ki ani Yahweh makkeh, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה מַכֶּה). The participle makkeh means "the one striking/smiting"—Yahweh identifies Himself as the active agent of judgment. This prevents misattributing suffering to Babylon, fate, or bad luck. God Himself strikes His people for covenant violation. The recognition formula emphasizes that experiencing divine smiting teaches God's identity more clearly than experiencing blessing—sometimes only judgment pierces hardened hearts.