Ezekiel 9:8
And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיְהִי֙
H1961
וַֽיְהִי֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כְּהַכּוֹתָ֔ם
And it came to pass while they were slaying
H5221
כְּהַכּוֹתָ֔ם
And it came to pass while they were slaying
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
2 of 23
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
וְנֵֽאשֲׁאַ֖ר
them and I was left
H7604
וְנֵֽאשֲׁאַ֖ר
them and I was left
Strong's:
H7604
Word #:
3 of 23
properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant
וָאֶפְּלָ֨ה
that I fell
H5307
וָאֶפְּלָ֨ה
that I fell
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
5 of 23
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פָּנַ֜י
upon my face
H6440
פָּנַ֜י
upon my face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
7 of 23
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וָאֶזְעַ֗ק
and cried
H2199
וָאֶזְעַ֗ק
and cried
Strong's:
H2199
Word #:
8 of 23
to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly
הֲמַשְׁחִ֣ית
wilt thou destroy
H7843
הֲמַשְׁחִ֣ית
wilt thou destroy
Strong's:
H7843
Word #:
13 of 23
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
אֵ֚ת
H853
אֵ֚ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
16 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
שְׁאֵרִ֣ית
all the residue
H7611
שְׁאֵרִ֣ית
all the residue
Strong's:
H7611
Word #:
17 of 23
a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
18 of 23
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
בְּשָׁפְכְּךָ֥
in thy pouring out
H8210
בְּשָׁפְכְּךָ֥
in thy pouring out
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
19 of 23
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
20 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
חֲמָתְךָ֖
of thy fury
H2534
חֲמָתְךָ֖
of thy fury
Strong's:
H2534
Word #:
21 of 23
heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
Cross References
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?1 Chronicles 21:16And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.Ezekiel 4:14Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.Joshua 7:6And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.Numbers 14:5Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.Numbers 16:45Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
Historical Context
Ezekiel's intercession mirrors Moses (Exodus 32:11-14), Abraham (Genesis 18:23-32), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 14:7-9, 19-22). Prophetic ministry combines unflinching truth-telling with compassionate intercession. Though Ezekiel proclaimed judgment for years, witnessing its visionary execution still moved him to pray for the remnant's preservation. God's response (verse 9) explains judgment's necessity while implying (through marking the remnant, verse 4) that total destruction won't occur.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Ezekiel's intercession model balancing truth-telling about judgment with compassionate prayer?
- What does the prophet's grief over judgment teach about maintaining tender hearts while proclaiming hard truths?
- In what ways should knowledge of coming judgment drive us to intercession rather than celebration?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?" Ezekiel intercedes, horrified by judgment's scope. His cry "Ah Lord GOD!" (ahah Adonai Yahweh) expresses anguished protest. The question "wilt thou destroy all?" reveals fear that total annihilation will leave no remnant. This demonstrates proper prophetic balance—faithfully declaring judgment while grieving its necessity and interceding for mercy. True prophets announce God's wrath without celebrating it.