King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 23:24 Mean?

Ezekiel 23:24 in the King James Version says “And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set agai...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.”

Ezekiel 23:24 · KJV

Context

22

Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side;

23

The Babylonians , and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.

24

And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.

25

And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.

26

They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels. fair: Heb. instruments of thy decking

Read Ezekiel 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels describes siege engines and military technology of Babylonian warfare. And with an assembly of people indicates massive troop numbers. Which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about details complete military encirclement—defensive equipment becoming offensive as soldiers surround the city. And I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments declares God delegates to Babylon execution of His judicial sentence. God's sovereignty extends over pagan kingdoms; He uses their judgments to accomplish His justice. This is compatibilism: human agency (Babylon judges) and divine sovereignty (God sets judgment before them) working simultaneously without contradiction.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Babylonian siege warfare was sophisticated: battering rams, siege towers, earthen ramps, and complete encirclement to starve cities into submission. Archaeological evidence from Lachish and other sites confirms devastating effectiveness of these methods. Jerusalem's walls were eventually breached after prolonged siege.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God use human agency to accomplish divine judgment?
  2. What does it mean that pagan judgments can fulfill God's justice?
  3. How should we understand divine sovereignty in historical catastrophes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וּבָ֣אוּ1 of 18

“And they shall come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

עָלַ֡יִךְ2 of 18
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הֹ֠צֶן3 of 18

“against thee with chariots”

H2021

a weapon of war

רֶ֤כֶב4 of 18

“wagons”

H7393

a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone

וְגַלְגַּל֙5 of 18

“and wheels”

H1534

a wheel; by analogy, a whirlwind; also dust (as whirled)

וּבִקְהַ֣ל6 of 18

“and with an assembly”

H6951

assemblage (usually concretely)

עַמִּ֔ים7 of 18

“of people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

צִנָּ֤ה8 of 18

“against thee buckler”

H6793

a (large) shield (as if guarding by prickliness)

וּמָגֵן֙9 of 18

“and shield”

H4043

a shield (i.e., the small one or buckler); figuratively, a protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile

וְקוֹבַ֔ע10 of 18

“and helmet”

H6959

a helmet

יָשִׂ֥ימוּ11 of 18

“which shall set”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

עָלַ֖יִךְ12 of 18
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

סָבִ֑יב13 of 18

“round about”

H5439

(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around

וְנָתַתִּ֤י14 of 18

“and I will set”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לִפְנֵיהֶם֙15 of 18

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם׃16 of 18

“judgment”

H4941

properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind

וּשְׁפָט֖וּךְ17 of 18

“them and they shall judge”

H8199

to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal

בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם׃18 of 18

“judgment”

H4941

properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 23:24 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 23:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Samuel 24:14Jeremiah 39:5-6Ezekiel 16:38Ezekiel 26:10Jeremiah 47:3Ezekiel 23:45

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